Pedestrian crossing could be on site in central Mayo town by year end

A NEW pedestrian crossing in Balla could be on site before the end of the year, if TII get behind the project and support it.

Stage one - a pedestrian count - is in hand, and the national roads design office is confident the figures will stack up as to the need for a pedestrian crossing.

The next stage is a feasibility and options report, a Castlebar Municipal District meeting was told.

A crossing at the secondary school access point is warranted.

If TII support the project, at best it could be on site by the end of the year.

Councillor Michael Kilcoyne did wonder why, when paving works were being done in Balla last year, was the crossing not put in place then.

He was told those works were funded under TII's annual pavement programme, where the crossing fell under the TII's safety scheme.

The primary school is another location that needs to be looked at, said Councillor Cyril Burke, as there's chaos there.

Councillor Donna Sheridan welcomed the report, having been disappointed last year when they didn't receive funding for an active travel plan for Balla. But this was part of the links joining up different points around the town.

The lack of a safe crossing is a source of local concern, with secondary school students in Balla leading a campaign for a pedestrian crossing to be installed.