Enda Hanniffy, Cllr Frank McDermott, Cllr Una D'Arcy and Pat Gallagher, county manager.

Landowners' gifts make school crossing a reality

Securing Clár funding of €23,500 was not enough to ensure that the pedestrian crossing at St Fechin’s National School in Fore would go ahead.

The location for which representations to the council were made was deemed unsuitable when the road design team considered it for a crossing.

“It was on a corner with poor sightlines,” said Cllr Una D’Arcy, “so while having a crossing right at the school linking the school pathways to St Fechin’s way, which gives off-road access to the school fields, would have been perfect, it was not a safe location for a crossing.

“This was a big concern – the Clár money would just about cover the cost of a crossing and there was not another funding source to access.

“The bottom line was that land on both sides of the road further along would be needed to make the crossing a reality.”

The solution presented itself in the generosity of two local landowners who gifted land to the project.

“The landowner on the same side of the road as the church gave a strip of his land adjacent to the road to allow the crossing to go ahead,” said Cllr D’Arcy.

“He lives locally, and told me he just wants the best for the school and the village and was happy to help.

“The other landowner, is well-known about Westmeath County Council – the cathaoirleach, Cllr Frank McDermott, who owns a plot of land that wraps around the school.

“He has also gifted the front of this field for the crossing and to create a future access into the school from that location.

“When the community works with the council, great things can be achieved,” said Cllr McDermott when he stopped by the works last week.

While he and Cllr D’Arcy were looking at the works getting under way they were joined by the county manager Pat Gallagher and health and safety officer Enda Hanniffy.