WITH approximately 1,000 students converging in the vicinity of Bantry’s hospital cross, Cllr Danny Collins (Ind Ind) said more needs to be done to make it pedestrian friendly, writes Jackie Keogh.

‘What can Cork County Council do to make it safer for students, and other pedestrians?’ he asked officials at a meeting of the West Cork Municipal District (WCMD).

Cllr Collins said parents and the principal of the amalgamated national school, which has 330 pupils, asked him to raise the issue as a notice of motion.

He pointed out that there are more than 700 students attending Bantry Community College, all of which is in close proximity to accommodation for the elderly and Bantry General Hospital.

The Independent Ireland councillor said he was aware that funding would be needed to carry out improvements, but urged the council’s roads department to ‘come up with a plan in the very near future.’

Even in the absence of a major scheme, the councillor suggested that the local authority could implement some safety measures at the bottom of the hospital and secondary school cross.

Cllr George Gill (FF) said it would be important to remove any concerns that parents might have, and Cllr Finbarr Harrington (Ind) agreed that there are a lot of vulnerable pedestrians at risk in that area.

Senior executive engineer, Aidan Prendergast, gave an undertaking to raise the concerns of the WCMD members with the regional and local roads design office and the sustainable travel unit.

Mr Prendergast said they would carry out investigations, and the necessary surveys, needed to determine what course of action should be taken.

Then, he said the proposals would go through design, planning, and a funding application process.