Major road safety concerns raised in area of Kilkenny

Community representatives from Templeorum in South Kilkenny recently raised serious concerns about road safety in the area with elected officials and Kilkenny County Council.

Representatives from the village delivered an in-person presentation at this month’s meeting of Piltown Municipal District.

Of particular concern to the residents was the existing transport infrastructure around Templeorum National School.

Templeorum resident Catherine Carroll told elected members about the need for ‘safe road crossings’.

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“There are two speed ramps in the village but they are not heeded,” she said.

“Vehicles whip around the bend and the road is busier than it was in the past now too with bigger vehicles,” she added.

Ms Carroll also raised the issue of ‘limited lighting’ in the village and the lack of adequate footpaths.

“There is also an elderly lady who is afraid to walk around the village,” she stated, putting it down to the limitations of the current transport infrastructure.

Another resident, Brian O’Driscoll, informed elected officials that there are no cycle paths.

“My little one would love to cycle to school but there’s no way I’d let her,” he said.

“She often has to walk on grass verges and gets wet on the journey. The current situation in the village is a hazard and accident waiting to happen.”

His sentiments were echoed by another resident, Mark McGrath, who also raised the issue of drainage in the village after heavy rain.

“I live in the lower village, and the filling on my lane is continually washed away,” he said.

Another issue raised during the meeting was the ongoing provision of new housing in the village, meaning that more children will be attending the local national school in the coming years.

It was also noted that the local community hall is located directly across the road from the national school and regular trips are made by schoolchildren between both buildings.

Present at the meeting was Local Area Engineer, John Tennyson, who assured the residents that ‘drainage works are starting in the next two weeks’.

“We will look at your presentation and can explore funding for lighting under the Active Travel scheme,” he said.

“Although the area is not eligible for CLÁR funding, there are discretionary grants available,” he added.

“From an engineering point of view we’ll see what’s involved and what funding streams are available.”

Cllr Tomás Breathnach noted that improved road markings ‘are a relatively cheap measure that can be delivered quickly’.

Cllr Ger Frisby stated that a speed survey would also ‘be a good starting point’, but that “we have to find funding to put some measures in place.”

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