Set down parking area at Holy Family NS was ‘urgently needed’
COUNCILLOR Margaret Gormley is hopeful that work on the set-down area at Holy Family National School in Tubbercurry will be completed before the children return to school later in the year.
Cllr. Gormley has campaigned strongly for this over the years, and is relieved to see work finally being done.
“It is great to see work taking place eventually on the much needed set down parking area at Holy Family N.S. which is urgently needed and for which has been the subject of many motions by myself and other councillors.
“Over the years this has been a bone of contention, but it’s the parents committee of 2011 whom I have worked closely with that decided to pursue this matter because they became very concerned for the safety of both children and parents due to the increased number of children attending the school and the increased traffic on the R294,” she said.
With nowhere suitable to park for set-down or collection in the evenings, it was extremely dangerous on the road.
“Add to that the fact that they had to park on the road to drop off and collect children while vehicles using the road had to mount the footpath on the opposite side to get past.”
Councillor Gormley outlined the campaign that has eventually got as far as it has.
“In May 2011 they carried out a Traffic Congestion Survey which highlighted the serious problem. This was sent to the Department of Education and the Minister at that time Ruairi Quinn requesting that he and his department enter into discussions with the HSE as they owned the property. This request was refused.
“Attention then turned to the HSE requesting them to transfer the lands to the school authorities for a nominal fee. They agreed but that it would be at market value. As this was not acceptable, attention then turned to the HSE transferring it to Sligo Co Council and them in turn transferring it to the school authorities. This came about by the disposal of land that the council owned adjacent to North West Hospice to the HSE in exchange for the lands at Holy Family N.S. Tubbercurry. This was a major breakthrough. The deed of transfer came through in September 2015.
“The lands were finally transferred to the St Nathy’s Diocesan Trust earlier this year,” Cllr. Gormley explained.
With work now underway, Cllr. Gormley says this will allow a pedestrian crossing to be put in place also.
“Thankfully work has now commenced on the much needed set down parking area. This will allow the pedestrian crossing to be put in place and the erection of a Speed Safety Sign funding received under the Clar programme. I would hope that this work will be complete before the children return from their summer holidays.
“I want to thank the parents committee, the board of management, former principal
“Sr Mary Richardson and the Marist Sisters, present Principal Bernadette Ryan, Sligo Co Council area engineer David Golden and his staff, Bartley Gavin Director of Services, former staff of the council Senior Executive Engineer Seamus O’ Toole, Val Baynes Safety Officer, the Garda Siochana, and the HSE for all their help and assistance to bring this to a conclusion.”