Calls have been made to urgently introduce speed reduction measures at schools and sporting facilities in east Donegal.
The issue was raised by Cllr Martin Harley at today’s meeting of the Lifford-Stranolar Municipal District (MD).
He said there was a ‘need to educate road users’ about their behaviour around Gleneely National School (main pic), near Crossroads, Killygordon.
“I don’t want incoming elected members being blamed for inaction if there’s a fatality there,” Cllr Harley said.
He also said traffic calming measures were needed outside the new St Mary’s NS, Stranorlar, and that he received a request for speed ramps outside Ballybofey and Stranorlar Golf Club.
“Some people think because there’s an 80 kph speed limit that they can drive at that speed past schools and sporting facilities,” he added.
Speaking in agreement, Cllr Patrick McGowan said spending was the single biggest issue on our roads.
“There must’ve been something in that Covid vaccine as everyone seems to be driving twice as hard as they were,” Cllr McGowan said.
He also wanted to know when the signs and lights and the raising of the road were going to be put in place for the controversial pedestrian crossings in the Twin Towns.
Cllr Gary Doherty said it’s clear there is a ‘serious issue’ with speeding at Gleneely NS. He said there were a ‘number of near misses’ there and that something needs to be done on an interim basis.
“Signs are no good if drivers are just going to ignore them,” he said.
“We need speed vans and garda checkpoints, we just don’t see them. I can’t remember the last time I was stopped by the guards. That has to be a deterrent.”
Council Area Engineer, Adrian McCool, said his department had put in place all the necessary speed reduction infrastructure at Gleneely. These include the repair of the flashing lights, the erection of speed signs and markings on the road.
However, he added, there was a problem with the lack of parking outside the school, meaning a lot of cars were being parked on the public road.
“The speed limit will be reduced there from 80 kph to 60kph under the new regulations, but a lot of it is down to enforcement by Gardai,” Mr McCool said.
“One of the biggest issues at Gleneely is a lack of parking and that’s an issue for the school, or the Department of Education. We have raised this with the Road Safety Engineer and he said all the measures that were funded are now in place.”
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