Council rules out safety improvements on this busy Kildare road

“I really need something to be done about this”, pleaded one Celbridge councillor, who raised a motion on road safety at this month's Celbridge-Leixlip Municipal District meeting, held on Friday June 20 last.

Cllr Rupert Heather (LAB) was speaking in relation to his motion, which called on Kildare County Council to implement measures “that will significantly improve the safety of Shackleton Road in the vicinity of Scoil na Mainistreach, Celbridge.”

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Cllr Heather said he was concerned about the safety of students attending Scoil na Mainistreach, and explained that both the school principal and the parents association had contacted him with regard to safety concerns for Shackleton Road.

He said that the MD seemed to discuss safe routes to school in the district “a lot”, and that this was because there is an issue related to increased traffic and the size of the town itself increasing.

While he accepted the council had put in safety measures, “frankly”, he said, he did not believe it was enough.

Cllr Heather said he had“no doubt” but that the school principal and parents association had also been in touch with other councillors in the area calling for the need for increased safety.

He said that while the school itself must take responsibility for trying to get onto the Green Schools initiative, however, “I do believe that more can be done.”

Asking why the principal and parents association of Scoil na Mainistreach would write to him regarding safety concerns unless they were valid concerns, he said: “It's plain to see, there's a huge amount of traffic on the Shackletown Road...and I really need something to be done about this.”

He accepted the council “is trying”, and he was aware it had “limitations”, but he'd like to put it back to the executive what can be done because it is a safety issue.

Supporting Cllr Heather's motion, Cllr David Trost (FF) said that he had also been contacted by parents and by the school directly.

There was an issue, he said, due to the increase in traffic volume, the increase in speed, that there was a need for additional signage.

The Shackleton Road, he said, is particularly problematic, and needs “attention.”

Safety concerns, he noted, could be raised for many other schools, but “it's very much highlighted for this school at the moment.”

Cathaoirleach, Cllr Bernard Caldwell (FF) suggested implementing garda 'speed traps' on Shackleton Road, and while he was averse to speed ramps – and said it was council policy not to use them – he noted they did seem to be effective in slowing traffic down.

“Every town and village in Ireland has them, and they do slow you down, there's no doubt about it”, he said.

He said unfortunately with signage, motorists tend to ignore it, so maybe it was time for the council to review its policy on speed ramps.

A report issued by the council stated: “Scoil na Mainistreach, Celbridge is not currently one of the schools on the approved list of schools for the An Taisce/National Transport Authority Green Schools Initiative.”

The report concluded: “There is significant existing active travel infrastructure located at and connecting the school to local residential areas. Students and their guardians can cross the Shackleton Road at the signalised crossing located lose to the entrance to the school.”