Lynn Road crossing danger identified by councillors

Concern at the danger to pedestrians using the Lynn Road was voiced by several speakers at the January meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, where the mayor, Cllr Ken Glynn, had a motion on the agenda calling on the district to introduce safety measures close to the two schools and the retail area on what was, he said, a busy road.

The official written response stated that there are a number of pedestrian crossings at that location but that the district would examine the area to see if further works were required.

Cllr Glynn said there are four different directions from which to approach the school and more than once there have been near misses. "On one occasion somebody actually fell off their bike," he said, as he listed the problems he witnesses there daily.

"There’s consistent rule breaking going on, which is not the executive’s fault, not our fault, but it is ongoing. And if we don’t act on it, there is going to be a serious accident there."

Support came from Cllr Bill Collentine, who said that due to traffic levels at that location, a crossing was badly needed.

Cllr Mick Dollard also supported the call, remarking that another issue threatening pedestrians at the moment is the number of motorists who are opting to jump the lights. "It’s a major problem," he said, and suggested that the district communicate with An Garda Síochána over the issue.

Cllr Aoife Davitt said she was aware of one retired man who crosses the road at that location each day to get his newspaper, but has to stand for long spells to wait for a break in traffic in order to be able to cross. "It is heartbreaking to see a person who may not have the agility of a younger person have to wait for traffic to stop," she said.

Clonmore request

Cllr Glynn also asked that the council include the Old Clonmore/ Clarkemount Avenue in the next road budget works programme, and was happy with the assurance that the district has included the L6202 Clarkemount Avenue as part of the 2026 Road Restoration Programme.

A further request by Cllr Glynn was that the district include the road to the rear of a house at St Bridget’s Terrace in the next road budget works programme. To that, the response was that the district had recently carried out resurfacing work along the rear lane there, and that further resurfacing works can be considered as part of the 2025 estimates.

Speeding

The issue of traffic speed along Tudenham Road was also on the list of concerns raised by Cllr Glynn at the meeting, and he asked that measures be included in the next budget works programme to reduce speed at that location. By way of reply, the district stated that signs and markings have been installed, but that the MKMD will, nonetheless, review the speed limit in 2025.