Road crossing safety boost

Road crossing safety boost

9 October 2024

THE safety of children who attend Dundrum’s Sacred Heart Primary School is in line for a major boost.

The Department of Infrastructure has confirmed that a new puffin crossing will be located outside the Main Street school and it hopes to secure the money to provide the crossing in the current financial year.

News that the crossing is included in the government department’s minor works programme has been welcomed by Slieve Croob councillor Alan Lewis who has been campaigning for enhanced pedestrian measures at this part of the village.

He said many children accompanied by their parents walk to school and have to cross the busy Main Street at various points.

Last year, Cllr Lewis visited Sacred Heart and spoke with parents at the school gates. He also met with the crossing patrol officer and before his retirement committed to lobbying for a permanent crossing.

“Sacred Heart is included in a temporary reduced speed zone and I am committed to ensuring the safety of pupils and children,” he continued.

“Anyone who spent a short time at the entrance to the school would be horrified to witness the speed at which vehicles come into Dundrum. There is a clear and present danger at both ends of the village.”

Cllr Lewis said Knockevin school is located at the opposite end of the village, highlighting the need for drivers to slow down and adhere to the speed limit. 

He was successful in securing a so-called speed indicator device on the approach to the village from Newcastle and revealed that according to data obtained from the device “it is doing its job” with a notable decrease in the speed of vehicles.

Cllr Lewis has also requested that additional signage is placed alerting drivers they are approaching Knockevin school, confirming this will in place within the coming weeks.

“No elected representative wants to be calling for speed checks and fines but there is a need to educate and advise drivers that schools are present and speed limits are in place for a reason,” he declared.

“Cars are becoming faster and drivers less patient, but there is no excuse, reason or good cause for speeding through a residential area, particularly early in the morning or late in the evening with parents and pupils walking to and from school.”

Also this week, Cllr Lewis has welcomed repairs carried out at the De Courcey Way play area in Dundrum, expressing frustration that there is regular damage in this part of the village.

He has been contacted by concerned residents who informed him that a basket swing and climbing frame was damaged and a fence broken. In addition, metal bars were damaged and left in a dangerous condition.

“It’s beyond me how an adult, never mind a child, could break and bend these bars,” he declared. “This is a regular problem and I would ask residents to report incidents of this nature immediately. It is extremely reckless behaviour.”

Cllr Lewis said play parks cost in excess of £100,000 to provide and are home to excellent equipment.

He added: “I’ve been addressing issues at this play park every six months which is disappointing as it is used by many. 

“I’m also very conscious of recent reports of anti-social behaviour and assaults and have requested an outreach event, focused on the locality of the park, a visit from the police mobile games unit along with intervention work to divert this type of behaviour.”