Drumconrath villagers launch petition to get pedestrian crossing

Drumconrath residents have launched a community petition calling on Meath County Council to provide increased pedestrian safety in the village.
Locals believe their concerns over road safety and the threat  from heavy goods vehicles speeding through the area are not being heard by Meath County Council.
“Over the past number of months both Cllr Sean Drew and I have made numerous calls on Meath County Council on behalf of local residents and businesses to carry out an assessment and a traffic survey in Drumconrath,” east Meath TD, Deputy Thomas Byrne stated.
“The council agreed to carry out this survey. We were deeply disappointed when we learned in recent weeks that the council is not in a position to recommend a pedestrian crossing having carried out the traffic assessment and survey,” commented Deputy Byrne.
“This is deeply frustrating. Both Cllr Drew and I are well aware of the dire need for a pedestrian crossing and increased road safety in Drumconrath village. It is one of the only villages of its size in the county without a pedestrian crossing.
“Drumconrath is extremely busy with lorries and other vehicular traffic making for a very dangerous environment for school children and residents.”
Businessman and resident, Dermot Muldoon commented that vehicles, in particular lorries travel through the village at high speed.
“Many of my customers have to drive up to the top end of the village simply to get to the opposite side of the street where the pharmacy is located along with other businesses, instead of just walking across the street, that is simply ridiculous. The situation requires immediate action”.
Local resident, Liz Dardis, commented: “There is going to be a child or an older person knocked down if the council doesn’t act. We are desperate for a solution. The most vulnerable people in our community, children and older people are being put in serious danger by the lack of a pedestrian crossing”.
Alice Monaghan added that along with the need for a pedestrian crossing there is a need for traffic calming measures in the village.
“The traffic that is coming through the village needs to be slowed down. It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed”.
Secretary of the Community Development Association, Ronan Murtagh added:  “I  have serious doubts as to the extent to which the county council carried out a traffic assessment or if it an assessment took place at all.
“I travel through the village several times each day and never noticed any assessment or survey taking place. Not one local resident was asked their opinion or views by the council as part of an assessment.
“We, the residents wouldn’t be going to such fuss if we didn’t wholeheartedly believe there is a serious need for safety measures to be carried out. 
“I will be writing to the council to obtain a copy of any such traffic assessment. It is high time for the council to realise that there is an urgent need for a pedestrian crossing in our village.”
It has been suggested by Cllr Sean Drew that a delegation be formed of local residents and businesses to attend a Meath County Council meeting to present the petition and highlight the urgent need for action.
Commenting in light of the petition launch, Cllr Sean Drew said he would be making further representations on behalf of the local community to Meath County Council and calling on the Council to reinvestigate the prospect of installing a pedestrian crossing. The community petition is available in local shops and businesses.
In a statement Meath County Council said “In light of requests for the provision of a controlled pedestrian crossing in Drumconrath, Meath County Council carried out an assessment on the 17th November 2016 in the village at two locations (outside the school and at the Carrickmacross Junction).
“The assessment was based on the National Roads Authority Pedestrian Crossing Specification and Guidance document and showed that the pedestrian and vehicular numbers/movements were insufficient to justify the provision of a pedestrian crossing.
“The assessment was carried out scientifically on traffic and pedestrian counts and was not a subjective opinion based survey.”