'A child is going to be killed' on rat run lane in Kilkenny
‘A child is going to be killed’ if something isn’t done to stop vehicles using a lane near a school in Thomastown, according to one local councillor.
Fears of a future tragedy have been raised by Cllr Deirdre Cullen who said cars are not meant to be using Chapel Lane “but they are.”
Speaking at the May meeting of Callan Thomastown municipal district councillors, Cllr Cullen said parents, grandparents and others bringing children too and from the school are using the lane, despite the vehicle ban.
The local councillor said she was aware the council could not close off the lane, as it is needed for emergency access, but she asked if measures like removable bollards, that could be removed by emergency services, could be put in place.
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Area Engineer, Declan Murphy, said he had received communication from the school itself, in relation to the issue.
No traffic is meant to use the lane and cars driving up there are “breaking the law on a daily basis,” he confirmed.
Mr Murphy said he would look at the area in conjunction with Kilkenny County Council’s road design team and he will need to liaise with gardaí and emergency services “to do what’s right for everybody.”