Warden’s job is ‘history’ at Enniscorthy school?

By Dan Walsh at Enniscorthy Municipal District Council monthly meeting

Following the retirement of a school warden recently comes the news that Wexford County Council will “not be replacing the school warden” at St. Aidan’s Primary School on Nunnery Road, Enniscorthy, which is claimed to be one of the largest schools of its kind in the country with almost 900 pupils on the rolls.

Addressing today’s monthly meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council at the Council Chamber, Presentation Centre, David Codd, Chief Technician and Roads Safety Officer with Wexford County Council told the members that “we will not be replacing the school wardens as we have three controlled pedestrian crossings spread over 400 metres and €300,000 was spent on the front of the school.”

Cllr Cathal Byrne felt the decision was “a mistake” and stated that “children don’t understand controlled crossings!” However, Mr Codd was firm in his decision although did concede that “assessment” could not be ruled out somrtime in the future.

Changes to the Nunnery Road front of school safety measures has been controversial. When The Active Travel team completed the ‘Safe Routes to School’ design and plans at St. Aidan’s Parish School last February there were calls to summon the team before a meeting of Enniscorthy Council to address concerns around the pencil bollards! which have become a feature at the school entrance.

The then(February 2024), Cathaoirleach Cllr John O’Rourke reminded the members that all six had agreed to the proposal at the November meeting, 2022, and said it was ‘a health and safety issue’. Back then the adoption of the plan was proposed by Cllr Owens and seconded by Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy and was accepted and financed under the Green Schools scheme supported by An Taisce, the National Transport Authority and Wexford County Council.

Cllr Aidan Browne spoke about safety outside the school and agreed “we did all vote for it.” Cllr Murphy added it was a “safety issue” and stated the barrier was removed to prevent a crush injury.

At this point, Cllr Cathal Byrne proposed to “bring the Active Travel team before the next meeting to address concerns. “Cllr Kathleen Codd-Nolan (now retired) seconded.

The pencil shaped bollards were amongst the safety measures proposed for the school zone in the ‘Safe Routes to School at St. Aidan’s Parish School’ and it was claimed in the plan that “Pencil bollards on footpaths highlight the front of school and prevents parking on the footpaths.” It also proposed the replacement of guard rails at the front of school with narrow planters and pencil themed bollards.

The work has included the addition of speed ramps, raised pedestrian crossing, changes to the paving surface within the school zone, widening of footpaths, micro art on footpaths, the iconic pencil bollards, and a periodic speed limit of 30km/h on Nunnery Road.

Has the saga of the pencil bollards outside the school finally closed? Time will tell!