Ballyforan road safety plan approved

Councillors have approved planning permission for improved road safety measures for the village of Ballyforan.

At a meeting of the Athlone Municipal District, plans to improve pedestrian infrastructure on the western approaches of the village were given the green light.

The project will see site clearance works, the construction of a new zebra crossing, footpaths, and a raised table pedestrian priority crossing at the road junction.

It will also see the reconstruction of an existing boundary wall, junction improvements, road markings, and improved visibility at Ballyforan National School.

These measures will encourage active travel, create an environment which will accommodate all age groups and individuals with impaired mobility, and ensure safer, active travel infrastructure, the council said.

At the meeting, councillors were informed by Seamus Lough, executive engineer, that following public consultation for the R363 Claremount (Ballyforan) Active Travel Scheme, five submissions were received, raising some points of concern.

One submission said that while they were supportive of the proposal, they asked that the pedestrian crossing be relocated to between the community centre and the eastern school gate. Concern was also raised about the reduction in car parking and the need for traffic calming measures due to speeding.

In response to the issues raised, the design was reviewed and a number of changes were incorporated into the proposal, including the relocation of the pedestrian crossing.

The revised layout also improves drop off and collection arrangements at the front of the school, councillors heard.

Cathaoirleach of the MD Cllr Domnick Connolly welcomed the “comprehensive plan”, saying that road safety outside schools was a long standing concern for him.

Cllr Connolly said that the council should be more open to installing speed bumps.

Cllr Emer Kelly, who proposed the project for adoption, said the village had seen “massive” road safety issues due to speeding and that the project was needed.

Cllr Kelly thanked Mr Lough and the council staff for incorporating the community’s concerns into the finalised plan.

Cllr John Keogh also welcomed the project and he complimented Cllr Kelly, and other councillors, for their work on the issue.

He asked was funding now going to be sought for the project.

He agreed that traffic calming measures should be considered for all schools in the county.

He was informed that some funding was available but more was required to meet the full costs of the project.

It was hoped that work could start later this year, depending on funding.

Cllr Laurence Fallon said that traffic travelled at high speeds on the R363, “and anything that makes it safer is beneficial”.

“Ballyforan is a community that is poised for further development,” he said, and he praised the local community group there as excellent.

“This is a first step in many further developments.”

Cllr Valerie Duffy said she was very happy to support the planning application.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme