‘Once they pass the school, they put the foot down’

Fears for the safety of children and other pedestrians in Robinstown have been expressed by local residents who have highlighted the need for a redesign of the junction in centre of the village and for traffic calming measures.

Speeding, poor sight lines, inadequate footpaths and the need for a pedestrian crossing are among the issues being raised by residents who are warning there will be a serious accident there if safety measure aren't put in place.

Local resident, Shirley Lennon said one of the big concerns in the speeding on the Trim Road. “Once they pass the school, they put the foot down. They rarely slow down on the Dunderry to Connells Cross Road.

“People living in Hollybrook find it very difficult to get out of the estate with speeding traffic, it is very dangerous. On the Trim Road , there is a 50metre stretch between two footpaths, where there is no path.”

She said it was chaotic at school drop off and collection times, with the queues of traffic, trucks and tractors.

“There are no pedestrian crossings in the village, we need a redesign of the junction, wider footpaths and the completion of the footpath on the Trim Road,” she said.

Cllr Emer Tóibín said there was an urgent need for a safety led design of Robinstown Village Junction

“The council has received numerous representations from residents over the years, raising serious and ongoing safety concerns within this small but vibrant village.”

“In fairness some improvement works have been carried out in Robinstown in recent years, but they haven't addressed the core issue: the poorly designed junction at the heart of the village.

“Visibility at the junction is restricted. Residents have repeatedly highlighted this, and it continues to be the subject of frequent concerns and complaints.

“Unfortunately, while poor driver behaviour is a widespread issue across Meath, it is especially pronounced in this area, where speeding and reckless driving are frequently reported and visible daily.

“These problems are considered to be amplified by poor road design. The result is an unacceptable level of risk for pedestrians, schoolchildren, and other path users.

“It is a young community, with many young children sadly not allowed to walk freely through their own village due to safety fears. That is deeply regrettable and must be addressed.

“I am calling on the council to commit to a full redesign of the Robinstown village junction, with safety as the central priority — not only to improve flow or appearance, but to make unsafe driving behaviour physically difficult or impossible.”

She said the construction of a wider footpath from the former pub up to the crossroads would narrow the carriageway to naturally slow traffic, facilitate a central island or other traffic-calming measures and create a safer, more visible pedestrian environment — especially for schoolchildren.

Cllr Tóibín called for a Safe Routes to School audit and that the council explore the possibility of acquiring the green area in the centre of the village which could form a key part of a redesigned village core — improving safety and possibly offering some community value in the process.

A spokesperson for Meath County Council said the Transportation Section will be undertaking a traffic and speed audit on Robinstown Village in the coming weeks to assess the traffic situation in the village.

Any traffic calming or road improvement works would be dependent on the outcome of the survey, the funding available and would be in keeping with RSA guidelines.