Bid to restrict speeding drivers outside primary

Bid to restrict speeding drivers outside primary

19 October 2016

TRAFFIC must slow down outside Carrickmannon Primary School to prevent a tragedy, the local principal has warned.

Sharon Lennon fears a child will be seriously injured if efforts are not made to slow traffic or to create a parking area from which parents and carers can safely access the Ballygowan school with the children.

She has called on Transport NI to work with the PSNI to consider ways to improve safety for pupils arriving and leaving the primary every day.

Mrs Lennon said she breathes a sigh of relief every Friday when she knows her pupils have managed to safely leave the school for the weekend.

While school governors and staff have tried several times to persuade road officials to reduce the speed limit from 60mph outside the school gates, she said parents had now arranged a meeting at the school for Friday to kick-start a new campaign.

“Parents are the ones running the gauntlet every day,” she said.

“Officials have said flashing lights and road markings are sufficient but we want to show everyone on Friday just how dangerous things are. We need to see if anybody can come up with another suggestion.

“Police have come out and tested the speed of cars and said no car was travelling at more than 46mph when they were here, but even at that speed a child has no chance of survival.

“This is such a big concern as the road is constantly busy. On a Friday, once the cars leave, I feel myself giving a big sigh of relief that everybody has got home safely.”

Mrs Lennon, who was appointed principal three years ago, said there were plans at that time to develop a car park adjacent to the school. She said these were later ped for financial reasons.

”Ideally we would have this car park to take cars off the road,” she said.

“A lot of money was spent on the preliminary work for this scheme, a price had been agreed and a ground survey done.

“Just this week a parent was almost clipped by the wing mirror of a bus. We are trying to be proactive and do not want to wait until something bad happens before we do something about this.

“We do not want to do this in a militant way, but we do need to slow traffic down.”

Strangford MP Jim Shannon helped arrange Friday’s meeting with Road Service and PSNI after speaking to concerned parents and staff.

He said the issue was particularly urgent following the death of a child outside a Newtownards primary school, which he  described as a “terrible warning to all.” 

“This little school is a thriving little hub, with the after schools programmes a great draw, however there are safety issues for parents leaving children off and collecting them and this is something that must be addressed,” he said.

“The speed limit simply must be reduced not only at this school – but all schools in this area and I fully support this call. 

“I look forward to meeting with the school and PSNI and Transport NI and finding a solution to a problem which has only intensified with time.”