Safety works for road junction in suburb near Limerick school

COUNCIL is to carry out safety works on a road junction in Castletroy, after members raised fears around the welfare of children walking to school.

Independent councillor Elena Secas moved at the metropolitan meeting that the Golf Links Road-Dublin Road junction be redesigned.

She described the area as “hostile, cramped and unsafe”.

Teachers at Milford National School carried out a safety audit as part of its Green Schools programme.

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This showed that the biggest barrier parents had from letting their children walk to school is this junction.

She highlighted a narrow footpath, which forces pedestrians dangerously close to moving traffic.

Vehicles she added, also often cut the corner putting children under threat.

Cllr Secas wants to see the footpath widened.

Her call was supported by fellow City East Independent councillor Ursula Gavan alongside Joe Pond, Fianna Fail and Peter Doyle, Fine Gael.

Cllr Pond, who works in Milford School said he hears first hand about this junction, and why parents don’t use it.

“When kids walk to school, we take another cart off the road - our area is so congested,” he said.

Engineer John Sheehan said council will examine what works can be done with the current funding in place.