People crossing Convent Street 'at their peril'

People using Main Street and Convent Street in Tallow are crossing the road ‘at their peril’, according to local councillor Mairead Tobin.

Cllr Tobin stated that the roads are being used like ‘race tracks’ by motorists and she called for funding to put in place a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the Medical Centre in the West Waterford town.

Speaking about the increase in doctors practising in Tallow, as well as the increase in patients due to new arrivals to the area and a recently retired doctor in a neighbouring area, Cllr Tobin noted how busy Convent Street has now become.

The councillor also noted that the public library is also located nearby and that many children and elderly people use the area.

“It’s an accident waiting to happen on

Convent Street with the amount of people there using the healthcare centre and the library and needing to cross the road. They’re crossing the road at their peril there because people seem to think that Convent Street and the Main Street in Tallow is a race track and they don’t have to abide by any speed or speeding restrictions in the town,” Cllr Tobin said.

'A HAZARD'

Director of Services, Kieran Kehoe, noted that the council could apply for schemes elsewhere, however, noted that Active Travel and other such schemes which did not receive funding previously may not necessarily transfer to schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Raising the matter once again with Waterford City and County Council’s Roads Department, Cllr Tobin said the location is becoming a ‘hazard’ for people.

“It is becoming a priority. If there is any way of doing something to try and calm the traffic, even if the pedestrian crossing isn’t feasible at the moment. It is becoming a hazard for people,” she said.

District engineer, Josephine McGrath stated that the council would look to other sources of funding, such as the possibility of a low-cost scheme.

“We might look at temporary lining there for the moment ahead of getting funding for the actual crossing,” Ms McGrath said.