Wicklow parents' school safety fears heard by transport authority
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme launched in March 2021 and is an initiative of the Department of Transport and the Department of Education to encourage as many students as possible to walk or cycle to local schools, while also improving 'front of school' areas, which will enhance access to school grounds and create a safe space for students at the front of their school.
In the lower Vevay Road area of Bray there are three primary schools in close proximity to each other which have raised concerns for parents' associations, community gardai and principals who have been looking for enhanced safety measures for road and footpath users, as well as cyclists.
St Patrick's Loreto NS, Scoil Ui Cheadaigh and St Cronan's Boys NS are a stone's throw from each other and each morning the roads and footpaths are congested, cars mount pavements or stop in the middle of the road for children to disembark and, one side of the road that leads into Main Street, the path is only wide enough for one adult. A child could not walk alongside an adult on the path.
Recently, Wicklow Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore raised the grievances of parents and schools with the NTA, asking specifically about the implementation of the SRTS programme, while also looking at some of the nitty gritty stuff, such as a new bus stop (8278) which was installed and is impeding the front area of one school. An old shelter, at stop 4150, was also pinpointed as an obstruction and a blind-spot for path users approaching the lollipop person at the crossing spot.
In its response to Deputy Whitmore, the NTA has appeared to dash at least some of the hopes as the schools in question did not apply for the SRTS programme within the required time frame.
'In 2021 all schools across the state were invited to apply to the SRTS programme, and a total of 933 applications were received from every county, including 25 from the Wicklow County Council area,' it said.
'The schools in question, St Patrick's Loreto NS, Scoil Ui Cheadaigh and St Cronan's Boys NS , did not apply for the SRTS programme at that time. The NTA understands that many schools faced significant challenges in 2021 due to Covid-19 and may have missed the opportunity to apply, and we empathise with any sense of having missed out.
'However, it is important to note that many schools benefit from NTA-funded active travel projects beyond the SRTS programme and the NTA will recommend school zone features be included in any active travel scheme on Vevay Road.
'In relation to an active travel scheme on Vevay Road, Wicklow Council undertook optioneering and preliminary consultation with some key stakeholders including business owners, over the course of 2020-2022. A draft preliminary design has been prepared but there are still several key constraints that pose challenge to securing planning support. The main constraints are insufficient road width, land acquisition requirements, removal of carparking, changes in traffic movements and subsequent local buy in,' it continued.
'Notwithstanding the challenges, Wicklow County Council would like to progress this project soon once funding and resources are more available following completion of the Bray Dart Interchange project. The NTA support this intention and are open to receiving an application for funding for the scheme.
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'On the 8728 [bus stop] query, any request for 'slow school ahead' type road marking is outside the remit of the NTA and would be best directed to the council as the roads authority.
'On the removal of the shelter (at 4150), the NTA generally receives considerable complaints when bus shelters are removed not replaced, as it represents a disimprovement for passengers who use public transport.
'While it is not immediately evident that the existing shelter location does interfere with visibility of the school warden crossing 34m away, there may merit in removing the existing shelter and reinstating a new shelter.
'The NTA will raise the matter with Wicklow County Council who may wish to include for a shelter replacement in their Vevay Road active travel scheme,' it concluded.
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