Concern over speeding in Drumlish as bollards ‘mowed out of it’ by motorists

Cllr Paraic Brady has called on Longford County Council to provide clarity regarding the raised pedestrian crossing in Drumlish from the playground on the Mill Road.
The motion was raised at the November meeting of Granard Municipal District.

“In the last few days, some motorists have brought the whole lot with them and this is not the first time this has happened. Since that has been put in, this is the third time this has happened,” he said, referring to bollards which have been in place on the pedestrian crossing.

“If that is happening on a regular basis with bollards, what chance do children have? They have no chance. Coming in there, you have at least 40% of the houses from the village on the opposite side of the road.

“There’s a huge volume of kids going across to the playground who haven't the sense to even know the rules of the road and are running across that road.
“There’s an issue with speeding in the village. It’s something that’s needed. We have infrastructure already in place. In fairness to you, last time we put in works there, we were told that it can be made into a pedestrian crossing.
“It’s been going on for a number of years now and I’d just like an update on it and I hope you don’t say to us that we’ve no money,” he said.
Area Engineer David Coppinger said there is no specific works programme for a pedestrian crossing at that location at the moment.
“It was discussed a couple of years ago, but there was nothing specifically agreed and there was no application for funding,” he said.

“There is no funding available for it. I’m sorry to say it but that’s the reality.”
He also pointed out that in the last few years there has been “a number of requests” for pedestrian crossings in Drumlish.

“There are three that I can recall - three different locations. Obviously not all of them can be accommodated, so I would suggest we ask road design to have a look at pedestrian crossing requirements in Drumlish and let them come up with proposals as to what is needed.
“The only thing I do have to point out is that road design are quite busy at the moment but hopefully they will get an opportunity to review it.”

Cllr Brady explained that bollards have been put in on a number of occasions but “they’re getting mowed out of it” by motorists.

“We have to do something about speed coming into that village. I’m all for the safety of the kids. I’ve brought it up a number of times with Superintendent Seamus Boyle and our local guards and, in fairness, they’ve put a speed van out the road where everybody knows where he is,” said Cllr Brady.
“But I do think if he was in the village in Drumlish from half seven in the morning to nine o’clock, he might slow down a lot of it.”