A child who was knocked down near the newly realigned Sacred Heart junction in Castlebar on Tuesday sustained minor cuts and bruising.
But the incident, according to Labour councillor Harry Barrett, shows the urgent need for a highly visible pedestrian crossing at two locations in this area.
Cllr Barrett was reacting to the news of the incident which happened when the child was walking home from school. He was hit by a passing car at Davitt’s Terrace near the Pontoon Road/Turlough Road junction on Tuesday afternoon.
Cllr Barrett said he would be raising the issue as a matter of emergency at town council level. “I am annoyed at the layout of this junction for children attending local schools and for other pedestrians,” he added. “It is a busy junction at rush hour for pedestrians. I will be calling on both Castlebar Town Council and Mayo County Council to put in place a safe crossing for children in at least two locations at this junction as an emergency measure.
“No provision has been put in place for young children, the elderly, and other pedestrians at this junction. As ever, the needs of the pedestrian are sidelined in this town.” Cllr Barrett said this was not acceptable in 2010.
