Plea to St Colman’s parents to use church car park

A plea to parents dropping off children at St Colman’s NS to use the car park at the adjoining St Paul’s Church was made by Cllr Mick Dollard at the March meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.

Cllr Dollard asked formally at the meeting that the district put in place traffic calming measures on the N52 road that services St Colman’s.

In its written response, the executive stated that it has erected bollards along the footpath adjacent to the school. “Road markings, signage and a set down has also been installed at this location,” the response concluded. Thanking the district engineer for carrying out the works, Cllr Dollard said he wished now that motorists dropping off children at St Colman’s would park at St Paul’s.

“There’s a footpath between St Paul’s Church and the school. It would eradicate a lot of that traffic congestion there,” he said.

At the same meeting, Cllr Dollard asked that the district arrange to repair a handrail and to re-install a gate on the Active Travel trail between Beechgrove and Bellview Heights at an early date. The response confirmed that both the railing and gate had been damaged during a recent storm, and that the district has engaged a contractor to repair both. “It is expected these repairs will be carried out in the next three weeks,” the response concluded.

Speed at Newtown

Concerns over the speed of traffic on the road opposite Newtown Lawns persist, Cllr Dollard informed the executive as he asked if traffic calming is planned for the Ballinderry/Newtown Road. “There’s a long run now from Newtown all the way as far as Oakcrest at Newtown Road,” he stated, adding that numerous councillors had brought the issue to the attention of the district in the past. In response, the executive stated that it will examine the location to determine what works may be required.

District engineer, Pat Kavanagh, said that construction of an estate of in excess of 100 houses has begun on that road. He had just that morning met the contractor and their consultant on site, and it was agreed that traffic calming would be introduced on the Russellstown Road. “There’s a number of issues and they’ll have to submit their proposals following the meeting for approval as part of their planning conditions,” Mr Kavanagh said.

Other requests by Cllr Dollard were for repairs to a fence at Glenview Heights, and that trees at Great Oaks, close to the N52, be cut back. To the fence request, the response stated that the district is continuing to repair damage following Storm Éowyn, on the trees at Great Oaks, that they would be examined. “The bird nesting season is now in place. If works are required they will be added to the pruning schedule,” the response concluded.