Mayo students 'feel let down' by failure to address safety concerns outside school

Students in a Mayo secondary school feel they have been let down by Mayo County Council for not providing pedestrian crossings to their school.

Third year students from Balla Secondary School along with their teacher wrote a letter to councillors in the Castlebar Municipal District calling for an urgent review of safety issues in and around the school and village.

As part of the class's CSPE module, the third year class group have highlighted the lack of pedestrian crossings near the school which they say is affecting the accessibility of all students, particularly those who use wheelchairs and have mobility issues.

In the letter to councillors, CSPE class student, Sophie Byrne, outlined the issues affecting the school students on a daily basis which they say 'must be addressed urgently'.

“Currently there is no pedestrian crossing at the entrance to our school near the petrol station in Balla. Wheelchair users and other pedestrians are forced to travel further up the footpath to find a safe crossing point, especially when heading to the nearby supermarket. This situation is not only inconvenient, but also poses a significant safety risk, especially during busy traffic periods.

“We are disappointed that despite recent major road works carried out in Balla town last November 2024, no crossing was installed near our school. As a school community we feel let down by this oversight, as ensuring safe access should have been a priority.

“We are calling on you to take immediate action to rectify this issue and demonstrate your commitment to the wellbeing of our community. It would also show your commitment to making our town a safer, more inclusive place for everyone.

“Please let us know how you plan to address this issue, we look forward to hearing from you soon,” she wrote.

Castlebar-based Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne who was one of the recipients of the letter stated that he will be raising the students' concerns at the next Castlebar Municipal District meeting and he will be fully supporting their request for safer access to the school.