‘Accident waiting to happen’ at Belcarra NS

Edwin McGreal

The serious lack of car-parking at Belcarra NS will lead to an accident unless action is taken immediately. This is the view of Mary Fitzgerald of Belcarra Community Council, which she aired when addressing local councillors last Thursday.
Ms Fitzgerald was speaking at the outset of the April monthly meeting of Castlebar Municipal District, which was held in Belcarra Community Centre.
The meeting took place at 3pm, allowing many councillors to see the traffic issues firsthand as they travelled to the community centre. There was widespread support for Ms Fitzgerald’s call for better parking facilities.
“There is a lot of congestion there; it is an accident waiting to happen,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
Currently there are seven teachers in the school, and over 140 pupils. Ms Fitzgerald explained that there is ‘minimal’ parking space, and that the road was ‘extremely dangerous’ during peak times, with many drivers simply having to wait on the main road for a space to become available.
According to Ms Fitzgerald, talks are taking place between a landowner and the council over the acquisition of land for a car park adjoining the school. This, she said, is ‘very positive news’.
Improved car parking facilities at the school was top of the priorities in the Belcarra Village Plan, details of which Ms Fitzgerald outlined to councillors.
Other priorities including the provision of parking in the centre of the village, greater provision of footpaths and lighting in the village, enhancement of the roads leading into the village and the provision of a multi-use games area.
The Belcarra Community Council and the wider community were praised by several councillors for their community spirit.