By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council monthly meeting
Strong public opposition has emerged against the Safe Route To Schools programme in Ballaghkeen and Kiltealy, with Wexford County Council elected members mainly concerned about insufficient consultation. However, a Council official has denied the allegations.
The matter was confronted at Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council with new Cathaoirleach Cllr Joe Sullivan directing proceedings at the Council Chamber in County Hall.
Cllr Paddy Kavanagh reported that at a ‘public’ meeting in The Ballagh last Friday, attendees voted to reject the project. He claimed there was no consultation, including with himself.
Cllr Kavanagh stated that he personally held no objection to the Safe Route To Schools programme and added that safety aspects in the village were long overdue and stated that there was a need to slow down the traffic through The Ballagh village.
Apparently consultation was made with the Principal and School Board of Management,the parish priest and some business interests, but progress updates appears to have been lost along the way.
It is reported that 65% at last Friday’s meeting voted against the project which is estimated to cost €200,000 and details were posted in the local church and other public areas, but detail maps were either miniature or not made available at all.
Cllr Oliver Walsh told the meeting that a meeting was held with the hauliers, but stated “it was not an official meeting”.
But Deputy Chief Executive Eamonn Hore disagreed and read out a list of meetings with various interests and declared that there were 11 meetings with hauliers and individuals and the matter was presented at the June meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge District Council where it was approved by members!
Mr Hore said he was “not too sure about lack of consultation”, but expressed confidence that the project will go ahead! He added that there is ample parking at the church, crèche area and outside the graveyard, but admitted that the sidelines of the school was a disaster.
Cllr Pip Breen said that it is essential that this project goes ahead. He had been in contact with the hauliers and claimed that the first meeting in The Ballagh were supplied with copies of the plan.
Cllr Vicky Barron referred to the SRTS projects outside schools in Adamstown and Caroreigh and described them as “a blessing.” Cllr Barron suggested that by way of compromise bring people from these areas to a meeting and hear their stories.
Cllr Jackser Owens added his full support for the SRTS but informed the meeting that 525 names had registered their opposition to the project in the village of Kiltealy. The argument about ‘not consulted’ were again uttered by Cllr Owens.
WexfordLocal.com is informed that the Kiltealy situation will be raised at today’s (Tuesday’s) meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council and a political headache is facing some of the members! The Kiltealy Safe Route To Schools programme has not yet been financially costed as it is in the preliminary stages, but it is expected to be in excess of €200,000.
The Ballaghkeen project will be discussed today (Tuesday) by members at the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council, but I can’t tell readers anything about that because it is held ‘in committee’ and the Press is not allowed in!
