Icy roads to Laois primary schools urged to be salted by council

Roads to rural primary schools in Laois must all be salted, including one in particular, say Portlaoise councillors.

Tobar an Léinn school is beside a hill in Raheen village, and got new pedestrian crossings and speed ramps this year to make it safer for children to cross the busy road. 

Cllr Willie Aird is urging Laois County Council to add it to the limited list of roads treated during icy weather.

"Thank you for the roads programme, but you cannot leave it in the harsh weather without salting it. You have small kids crossing the road, you have t obe aware of people in propelled vehicles as well. Imaging us coming in here after a fatal accident and we are getting the start of that weather now," Cllr Aird said.

He tabled a motion to the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, requesting that the hill into Raheen beside the new crossing be included in the road gritting programme.

He was not happy with the reply, which said that there is no more capacity to grit extra roads in Laois, and treating Raheen village would mean taking another road out of the programme. 

"I totally reject that reply. I remember the very same reply for the Heath NS and after a huge debate the council agreed," he said.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald seconded the motion.

"This is essential. A pedestrian crossing on a hill to a large school and getting larger by the day. Cars and agricultural vehicles use the road. It is dangerous in fairness, it should be given priority," she said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said all schools should have the roads gritted to them.

"I honestly believe they should be done outside every school. We need more funding if that's what's necessary. We hear of elderly people falling and breaking hips or arms," she said.

Cllr Noel Tuohy agreed and said many grandparents walk children to school, and all must have a safe environment to do so.

Cllr Barry Walsh added that a creche and playschool are across from the school, and the hill was "a very steep incline".

Laois County Council's director of services for roads Simon Walton offered instead to buy a salt bin and place it in Raheen for local people to spread.

"It could be implemented before Christmas," he said.

He said that the council can treat just under a fifth of the roads in Laois, sending out seven people in seven gritters on average 65 to 70 times over the winter season, more than many other counties he said. He said buying a new gritter could cost €250,000 and a grant would only cover half the cost.

"We simply don't have additional capacity, but perhaps a solution could be to creat a salt bin available for all workers or active peole in the community to deploy at the creche, school and pedestrian crossing," Mr Walton said.

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Cllr Aird suggests that an existing council lorry could be used by adding a spreader behind it.

"I think we have one in the shed. I'm not opposed to a salt bin," he added.

The Director said that in very extreme frosts and snowfalls, there are other vehicles deployed.