With the proposed changes to the speed limits on the Ennisnag/Kilkenny Road out of Stoneyford based on the creation of the new footpath out of the village, I feel this is surely an opportunity to add a reduction to the speed limit on entry to the village from the Thomastown/Mount Juliet Road (L4206) alongside the Primary school. I use this road several times a day for the last 8 years to drop and collect from the school and have witnessed cars, lorries and farm machinery driving by the school at excessive speeds that are just not safe, particularly as the road as a downward gradient and coming to a stop is more difficult. There is little visbility of the school until you are almost on top of it, and at 50 or 60kph, it's just too fast and too dangerous.
Speed Limit Bye Laws from as far back as 1994 and as recently as 2017 have failed to address this issue. With the school having grown by over 20% to 122 in recent years, especially at the junior end of the school, there are more and more families with small children walking to the school daily, as we have no parking facilities at the school. This increase in numbers is set to continue with a planned extension to the school in the coming year or two.
An addition to the Second Schedule of proposed Speed Limit changes for this junction for at least 100m South of the junction with the school is surely warranted here to ensure the safety of our children, our school's staff and all road users now and into the future. A simple change surely, to help prevent any unfortunate accidents.
I would be obliged if this would be taken into account and changes proposed to this 2022 Bye Law Review to ensure the safety of our community and of visitors to and from our village.
Le meas,
Adele Walsh
Reduce Speed limit passing National School
Safety of pupils and their familes, school staff and road users.