Penrose wants improved safety near Rochfortbridge playground

An accident at a roundabout near the playground at Rochfortbridge was raised by a concerned Mullingar Municipal District Committee (MMDC) member at the committee’s September meeting.

Cllr Johnnie Penrose asked that a safety barrier be erected outside the playground at the exit from the roundabout off the R446, stating that he believed this would be in the interests of the safety of pedestrians and children in the area.
The MMDC ruled out the provision of a barrier as a solution, stating that the location had been assessed by the county council’s transportation department, and as the playground area is within a 50kmh area, there was deemed to be no requirement for a safety barrier there.
Cllr Penrose was disappointed.
“I’m told there was an accident there recently and the car nearly came off and into the play area,” he stated, explaining that it was because of this incident that he had lodged the question.
“I wonder could it be looked at again?” he asked.
Council director of services, Martin Murray, said that the question of signage for that roundabout had been raised before, and as he recalled it, when the transportation department examined the junction, their recommendation was for the erection on one approach.
“But that was the only conclusion or recommendation,” he said.
However, Mr Murray said, the council would re-examine the junction to ensure the full recommendation made by the transport department was implemented.