Upgrade to footpath connecting village schools sought

Councillors have been told there will be “no quick fix” in relation to upgrading the footpath connecting St Aidan’s National School to nearby secondary college, St Mogue’s College, in the west Cavan village of Bawnboy.

Faced with demands for the existing footpath to be repaired in the interests of “safety”, councillors were told that a much larger investment would be needed, which included possible engagement with local landowners.

Fianna Fáil’s Sean Smith had described the footpath from St Aidan’s NS into the village as “unacceptable”, emphasising how Tidy Towns representatives were hoping for the walkway to be mended in time for future adjudications.

He added that a pedestrian crossing is also needed “in the interest of safety”, and that the same issue had been on the agenda before.

Cllr John Paul Feeley supported his party colleague, saying that “pressure” was growing on local elected officials within the community to lobby for action and for the council to “take the bad look” off the pathway.

Fine Gael’s Peter McVitty said that a new pathway would “make things a lot safer” for families and young children walking between the village’s two schools.

The motion was supported unanimously.

Senior engineer for the Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District area, Paul Mulligan, “agreed 100 per cent in principle” with what was said, and that he would “love to say it was a quick fix”, but said in reality a more considered solution is needed.

To mend what was there already, would simply be “papering over the cracks” and that, to do the job properly, Mr Mulligan said a foundation needed to be put in, as well as additional supports.

“We need to do the right job, not a quick fix,” he said, pointing to where part of the path banked onto land with “deep shuck” and hedging.

This would require shoring up, said the engineer, who committed to exploring funding sources, including the Safe Route to School scheme.