By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting at County Hall
At the September meeting of Wexford County Council Enniscorthy District Cllrs Aidan Browne and Cllr Jackser Owens joined forces and proposed that a school warden be hired for St Aidan’s Parish School at Nunnery Road, Enniscorthy, and the matter was raised again today at the October meeting of Wexford County Council held at County Hall, Wexford.
Cllr Browne told the meeting that while he welcomed the investment at the school he regretted “the traffic lights being taken out and getting rid of the manned crossing” as the traffic was being held up and he feared for the safety of the children.
Cllr Owens, who was a school warden for 10 years, agreed with the sentiments expressed by Cllr Browne and felt that removing the school warden was “a massive mistake by officials”. He continued; “Someone is going to be killed. It is not safe. It is catastrophic in the mornings! How much money can you put on a child’s life,” he asked.
Eamonn Hore, Director of Services said the improvements had taken place under the Safe Routes to School programme, it covered 350 metres at the school entrance, is controlled and has the support of the School Principal and An Taisce (Green Schools) programme, cost €310,000. “It is a safe place to cross,” added Mr Hore. He added that there is no necessity for an adult school warden outside St Aidan’s Parish School.
Cllr Owens disagreed. “It is a fantastic job. It is state-of-the art but it is putting children at risk. It is a massive mistake.”
Cllr Pat Kehoe described the current situation as “an accident waiting to happen.” Cllr Cathal Byrne lamented that it was not explained that traffic wardens would not be replaced when the scheme was in planning!
Mr Hore said that school wardens obey the rules. The warden has been replaced by a million-euro scheme. When asked “who is carrying the risk”, Mr Hore said the NTA (National Transport Authority), An Taisce and the Safe Routes to School is carrying the risk.
Mr Hore said that David Codd, Chief Technician and Roads Safety Officer with Wexford County Council and his team has reviewed the work at St Aidan’s Parish School.
Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe stated that “the risks are the drivers who don’t obey the signs” and he described them as “Irresponsible, reckless and engaged in unsafe driving.” He also pointed out that traffic wardens only help unaccompanied children to cross, however, he promised to review the situation without the traffic warden and to oversee that the design is working safely and that will be done in the near future.
WexfordLocal.com 