Walking to school in Cork village described as ‘frightening’

A Cork county councillor has called for urgent action to be taken to alleviate road safety dangers for pedestrians walking to schools in Coachford.

Fine Gael councillor Kate Lynch said the route that children and parents have to take to the primary and secondary schools in Coachford is “chaotic and actually frightening”.

Raising the issue at the recent Macroom municipal district council meeting, Ms Lynch highlighted the dangers posed for children and parents walking to school in Coachford at rush hour times.

“There are a lot of mothers that walk to school from the village itself,” Ms Lynch told The Echo.

“There is no footpath on one side. There is a narrow footpath on the other side, but it doesn’t start at the end of the road. There is about 100 yards where you have no footpath whatsoever.

“There is no pedestrian crossing.”

Both Coachford National School and Coachford College secondary school are located on the Glebe Rd.

“At the best of times, that road is very narrow for two cars to pass anyway,” she said.

“I went down there one morning and from 7.45am to 9am it was chaotic there.

“I stood across the road with a few parents. It was actually frightening.

“Both schools have grown so much in the last couple of years. There are 1,000 children going up that road every morning,”

Although welcoming a potential short-term measure from the council of better road signage, Ms Lynch said that a permanent solution is required, before an accident causes serious injury or a fatality.

A spokesperson from Cork County Council told The Echo: “Cork County Council is aware of the issues relating to pedestrian access along the Glebe Rd from Coachford village to the schools.

“Under Round 2 of the Safe Route to School Programme, funding has been made available from the National Transport Authority to design improved access in the area. This design is at an early stage.

“Construction of any scheme will be dependent on future funding and the co-operation of landowners in the area,” said the spokesperson.