Children's lives at risk!

This week the SDLP in Strabane has called for the Department of Regional Development to act before a tragedy occurs at a local primary school.

West-Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne said “The SDLP in Strabane is greatly concerned with the traffic flow outside of St. Anne’s Primary School, during both the morning and evening school runs. Our office on Butcher Street has been inundated with parents, terrified in case a child is badly injured or worse to speeding traffic.”

“In the area there are two Primary Schools and a local church which brings a lot of traffic flow especially in the morning. We have witnessed the traffic problem for ourselves and were shocked at how dangerous it actually was. We have contacted DRD Roads Service on a number of occasions an insisted on action being taken but any meaningful precautions has yet to take place.”

West-Tyrone SDLP Constituency Representative Daniel McCrossan said “The area is an absolute death trap at peak traffic times. When the children are leaving the school they must manoeuvre around both parked cars and moving traffic, whilst parents and residents watch on in the hope that no one is hurt. We have been informed the school crossing patrol officer has also had a few near misses whilst trying to safe guard the children.”

“This is simply not good enough, and the SDLP believe the health and safety of our children should be of paramount importance to any public body. We have raised this to Roads Service on a number of occasions, yet have been constantly told the area is as safe as it needs to be. We believe this is the wrong attitude and I would call on Roads Service to take action before it’s too late.”