Rathwire speeding problems causing concern at school

Frustration was expressed by Cllr Emily Wallace at the March meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad over an ongoing speeding problem at St Joseph’s NS, Rathwire.

“I know this was brought before this chamber in October or November and it was agreed there would be consultation with the school on what could be done – but nothing, to date, has been done,” she told colleagues.

Cllr Wallace had a motion on the agenda seeking an update on the works carried out to alleviate speeding at the school. From the executive, the official written response stated that council staff would examine the location to investigate what measures were required.

Cllr Wallace suggested that at a minimum, if the height of the pedestrian crossing there were raised, it would help slow the speed of traffic. “There is legislation [coming] about dropping speed in towns and villages, but there is a real issue at Rathwire school, and we need to slow traffic at that location,” she said.

She added that a signalised junction would not be enough: “Unfortunately, cars and people travelling do not obey – so if they are afraid to get the back of their car destroyed, it might slow them down.”

Cllr Frank McDermott said: “I think it’s an ongoing issue and needs to be resolved.” He did not know how: “I have to say it’s a tremendous piece of a road, well constructed, but it appears that traffic is watching the lights change and will rush at the last minute to get through the pedestrian crossing, trying to beat them, and then the child that is any way slow, or a parent, could get clipped very easily.”

Cllr Denis Leonard said he had raised the issue in the past too, and that was why he is anxious for a meeting to discuss speed limits.

“Myself and Cllr Davitt, in the last County Development Plan, were pushing for safety at schools in general,” he said, adding that when the speed limits are dropped to 30kmh, the council would need to look at how to get those limits implemented in school areas.

Cllr Leonard said that in the US, in advance of schools, signs with flashing lights were erected warning motorists to reduce their speed, and Ireland needed to follow this model.

“Once you leave Thomastown, there’s a long straight stretch of road right to Killucan village and people are speeding up that road constantly,” he said. “We need to warn people with signage. We need ramps. We need a plan in place. And it’s one of the blackspots around the county that needs to be dealt with.”

The mayor, Cllr John Shaw, also supporting the motion, said that in his view there was an obvious solution: ramps either side of the traffic lights.

“It’s disappointing that it is just a new school and we’re back here retrofitting something when it should be dealt with at planning stage. That’s the most disappointing aspect,” he stated.

Responding to the points made, district engineer Pat Kavanagh said that there is a new traffic calming policy for all villages in Westmeath, and he hoped to start this year with Collinstown: “It is my understanding that there will be some funding for this throughout the county, and we will then prioritise villages and school approaches,” he said, explaining that the intention was that there was “a suite of standards” that could be applied on the approaches to villages. He added that some Active Travel funding could be used for the work also.

Cllr Wallace remarked that regardless of whatever else is done, speed around schools should be regarded as a priority.