‘Pedestrian will be injured if crossing isn't moved' – Glynn

A pedestrian is going to be seriously injured unless the pelican crossing at the roundabout at Mullingar hospital is moved.

That's the warning from Cllr Ken Glynn, who voiced his concerns at the July meeting of Mullingar Municipal District.

Cllr Glynn says that he is worried that there will be a fatality at the pedestrian crossing unless it is moved further from the busy roundabout.

The Fianna Fáil man added that he is regularly contacted by worried parents whose children attend St Finian's College about “near misses” at the crossing.

“The has been an issue for a number of years. It has been highlighted by me and other councillors.

“The busy crossing is literally just off the roundabout and you are taking your life in your hands when you use it.”

Responding to Cllr Glynn's concerns, director of services Martin Murray said that improvements were carried out at the pedestrian crossings at both sides of the roundabouts in 2015 and that there are now “no issues” at the location.

Cllr Glynn, who also believes that the council should conduct a safety review at the pedestrian crossing from the hospital to St Mary's, told the Westmeath Examiner that he was “flabbergasted” by the response.

“While you have to take engineers' advice into account, I would still dispute what they are saying about the crossing and I will continue to raise the issue.

“I would like to see safety enhancements installed at the crossing at St Mary's and the other crossing left there. It doesn't make sense having it in its current location.

“A lot students from St Finian's use the crossing every day during the school year and there are a lot of housing estates nearby.

“My concern is that will we wait for something to happen before doing something about it.

“I don't think that the crossing is safe enough at present. My concern is a pedestrian is going to be hit as a result of it [the crossing] being too close to the roundabout.”