BALLYNAHINCH Primary School
pupils have been lobbying their local
elected representatives for urgent
improvements to road safety outside
their school.
The school’s P6 class, with the support of
their teacher Sharon Kirkland, recently
launched their ‘Fast and Furious’ campaign,
following what was described as “a near-miss
accident” involving their lollipop man.
In November, the pupils conducted a traffic
survey on the Dromore Road, and, over two 15-
minute sessions, recorded 319 vehicles in total.
Surprised by the volume of traffic, the class
agreed there was a need to improve the safety
of children crossing the busy road.
The pupils discussed features that would
improve the safety of the road, and agreed to
put these to their five local councillors in
Rowallane.
One pupil’s letter stated: “The problems are
that cars are going too fast past the entrance to
our school.
“Mr Morrow, our lollipop man, has been
clipped many times before and this needs to
stop!”
Another pupil’s letter read: “I’m not letting
anyone get run over, because people won’t want
to send their children to our school and I love
my school.”
Mrs Kirkland explained that she had been
asked by her class to “do something about the
busy road our school sits on”.
“As you can imagine, this took me by
surprise, as children are not normally
concerned about issues like this at their age, as
they are things for adults to sort out,” she said.
“Schools across the province have been
receiving traffic calming measures to help
protect the children, but, unfortunately, the
children of Ballynahinch are not seen as being
as important.
“There are numerous incidents of dangerous
encounters our now-retired crossing patrol
man has been subjected to over the years.
“These children have a right to be protected.
“These children have a voice and they are
using it now.”
Rowallane DUP councillor Callum Bowsie
visited Ballynahinch Primary School last
Wednesday to thank the P6 pupils for their
letters, and to give them an update on their
campaign.
“DfI (Department for Infrastructure) Roads
has now agreed to carry out a full road safety
assessment, which will start in the coming weeks,” he said.
“Roads officials have also agreed to assess
the road for a pedestrian crossing, in light of
there no longer being a crossing patrol as of
recent weeks.
“And the school will also be included in a
review of schools currently without a part-time
20mph speed limit.”
The local representative said that the pupils
were “delighted” to hear that his party
colleague, Michelle McIlveen MLA, had
“raised the issue in the Assembly and is
awaiting a response from the Infrastructure
Minister (John O’Dowd), whom we have
invited to the school to accept the pupils’
letters”.
He also advised that he and his colleagues
are meeting the PSNI this week to discuss the
matter.
“I want to commend Mrs Kirkland for
facilitating such a worthwhile and focused
campaign,” Cllr Bowsie concluded.
“The pupils’ letters are superbly written.
“I was really keen for the pupils to meet a
real person who had received their letters, and
to show them what they can and have achieved
so far.
“I also got to hear some of the ideas that
were left out of the letters.
“A zip-line across the street is definitely my
favourite suggestion.”
