Speed survey to be conducted outside Ballina school

Members of Ballina Municipal District were informed at their meeting last week that a speed survey will be conducted at St Micheal’s National School on Church Road in Ballina to assess the need for a pedestrian crossing there. 

Cllr Annie May Reape had called on Mayo County Council to construct a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the school to allow for safe journeys for students walking and cycling to school. She also called on the council to repair the school's entrance road, which is "in a very poor state of disrepair". 

Declan Ginnelly, who is an executive engineer in Ballina Municipal District, said he would arrange for a speed survey to be carried out in order to evaluate traffic speeds along this section of road. 

"Land dedication agreements will be required to provide enough ground to construct a new controlled pedestrian crossing. The Ballina Local Transport Plan includes for upgraded pedestrian facilities (two-way length) along Church Road." 

Mr Ginnelly said funding will be sought from the National Transport Authority for the project. In relation to the entrance to St Michael’s National School, he said it is private property and "any slight repair works necessary will have to be carried out by a competent contractor appointed by the school’s board of management".

Cllr Reape noted the response but said the situation is causing a lot of headaches for teachers who have to chaperone children into the school. Cllr John O’Hara agreed that it was causing a traffic problem along the road. 

“The parents cannot get in. It is a school, we should do the road for that reason, there should be an access road in and out.” 

Cllr Marie Therese Duffy supported the call, saying the road surface is very poor and is eroded and cracked and that the school entrance is very narrow and traffic can’t get in or out. 

Area engineer Orla Bourke responded: “The access road is a private road so the council cannot do anything there. However, it is included in the local area plan and will be an overall scheme that will come on in due course. We can refresh the line marking for now.” 

She also suggested that works could be done there through a low-cost safety scheme, adding: “We can look at some safety improvement works in 2026 but it is a matter for the school itself to fund its own access route.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.