'Reckless' parking endangering children at Portlaoise school

"Reckless drivers are putting children in danger" when they park and wait at a busy Portlaoise school, according to a Laois county councillor who is also a teacher there.

Drivers are not using a carpark and drop-off zone but instead cars are "abandoned" on paths, reports Cllr Tommy Mulligan.

The recently elected councillor's school is Scoil Bhride NS in Knockmay with over 750 pupils, and he tabled a motion to the September meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking Laois County Council to address the traffic and parking concerns.

It is in consultation with the board of management, parents association, new principal Michael McEvoy and residents of Harpur's Lane, all who want change.

"They have serious concerns over parking at opening and closing times. The main concern is cars are parking on paths, it's not safe for children to cycle or walk to school. Cars are parking in the bus bays, busses are finding it hard to pull out.  

"There is a carpark but it's only used by a handful, we have to get a culture to incentivise and encourage them to use it. 

"Cars are pulling out of the carpark and children walking or cycling by don't see them," he said.

Cllr Mulligan said that Treo Nua community resource centre is not happy that cars are taking up their carpark, while residents of housing estates have their entrances blocked up.

"Trucks on the Mountmellick road see the overheight sign and are turned down Harpur's Lane, often at school times, they can't get through, cars can't get through, it's a standstill. It's a serious issue.

"Lights aren't working on one pedestrian crossing, the other has no lights or signs so cars aren't aware they should be stopping. 

"It's an accident waiting to happen, there's very little safety and too many hazards," he said.

He suggests pencil bollards to stop parking on paths, an An Taisce funded scheme already in Abbeyleix and Mountmellick, and said Scoil Bhride has applied for the grant.  He also suggests removing the speed ramp and making both of the pedestrian crossing raised and controlled by lights. 

In response, acting Director of Services Paul McLoughlin told him that council staff met the Gardaí and the principal three times, gaining agreement from the LOETB to use their Portlaoise College carpark next door for the school.

"It caters for 80 spaces with a readymade drop-off zone. We want not to ticket people but to encourage them, it's a behavioural change, with all parties working together.

"There are other areas where roadsides are flittered with bollards, we want to encourage people to obey the law. The pencils are costly but an excellent initiative by An Taisce, I'd encourage all schools to participate with them," he said.

He said further safety and traffic managemnt measures "can and will be considered having first ensured that the existing available facilties are effectively being used".

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley supports the motion.

"You hit the nail on the head, there's a field (carpark) to the side and we can't get people to go in there," she said.

She listed the work she did in the past on what is a long term problem.

"I called for a road safety audit and to be fair the council carried it out. There were loads of recommendations but we haven't managed to match them with funding. I paid for bollards with my discretionary fund, and the ramp. When Covid came the gate was closed and that exacerbated things. 

"I was at my first meeting of Treo Nua as the chair, we will be inviting the principal onto the board," she said.