PLANS for a car park at a Donegal school once dubbed the “most dangerous in Ireland” because of the notoriously dangerous stretch of road it sits on are advancing to final stages.
Magherabeg National School near Manorcunningham sees a significant amount of daily traffic pass by on the road just outside the school.
There have been numerous crashes on the road in recent years. Inadequate car parking for parents as they drop their children off and pick them up during rush hours compounded fears that a serious accident was just waiting to happen.
The Parents’ Association, staff and the wider school community campaigned to have a variable speed limit introduced during pick-up and drop off points. Since being approved a few years ago, the road now has a reduced speed limit from 100kph to 60kph during those morning and afternoon times.
While the varied speed limit has greatly helped, a car park will go even further to ensure everyone’s safety, said Chair of the Parents’ Association, Emmet Murray.
The Parents’ Association fundraised for a new car park beside the school, on land on the Letterkenny side. More than €20,000 has been raised.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Emmet Murray said the contract was on the verge of being signed, but there are one or two matters to iron out.
“I would like to think we will sign the contract no later than the end of November. All of the money is there, and we were lucky enough to have raised it before the pandemic hit.”
Diggers
Mr Murray said nothing solid is yet known about when diggers can get on site.
“In terms of construction, we don’t know when that will be because we have been told by the council that we won’t be on the list until the land is in our pocket.
“The Parents’ Association and volunteers have done a lot of work around this, and for many they won’t see the car park in the school life span of their own children, but to know that it will be there is reflective of their dedication.
“We all just want to see that car park in place as soon as possible. The clock is ticking, and children could be injured outside the school without a safe parking point for drop off and collection.”
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