The need for a long sought-after pedestrian crossing on a very busy stretch of roadway leading to and from a soccer club grounds has again been highlighted in Killarney.
Cllr John O’Donoghue said previous replies to calls for the crossing to be provided on the Woodlawn/Ballycasheen road claimed that there was insufficient footfall but, he stressed, that can no longer be offered as an excuse.
He said Killarney Athletic AFC, whose grounds at Ferndale are in the densely populated Woodlawn area, currently has almost 800 playing members, the vast majority of whom are juvenile.
“They must get dropped to the field in cars which seems contrary to current Active Travel aspirations,” Cllr O’Donoghue said.
“As the Woodlawn road is so busy, it is not currently safe for children to walk to the club.
“I have raised the issue previously of parents I know, who live a couple of minutes’ walk from the club, but they cannot allow them their children to walk to the ground as the road is not safe to cross,” he added.
Cllr O’Donoghue said he is delighted to see that Killarney Athletic soccer club is doing so well but, with numbers booming at underage level, it brings its own problems around accessibility.
“I was told at the time that there was not the necessary footfall to require a pedestrian crossing but I hope that my membership figures now render that argument obsolete.
“We, as a local authority, should be doing all we can to facilitate children walking and cycling. The club is very willing to engage with and work with the council on this matter and I hope that we will see progress before long,” he said.
Council officials said they will conduct a survey of the L-3907 Woodlawn/Ballycasheen Road at the entrance to Killarney Athletic AFC.
Officials will work with all property owners and club officials to explore the option of a pedestrian crossing at the entrance.
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