By Sean Moriarty

Residents of Monastery Gardens have told the Killarney Advertiser that they feel “intimated” and have been “verbally abused” by motorists in the New Road area during the school runs.

One resident, Ruth Moram, has made a formal complaint to Gardai and school principals after she says she was verbally abused by a parent collecting children from school.

The New Road area has become a traffic blackspot with several complaints in recent years over people parking cars on footpaths, double parking and other problems.

Several solutions have been put forward, including the deployment of a traffic warden in the area to monitor inconsiderate parking.

The problems are even worse for local residents who have to endure gridlock every morning and evening at school drop off and collection times.

Ms Moram said that she's so sick of it that she has filed a complaint with Gardai and the schools that serve the street.

“Today [Wednesday], while trying to reach home at lunchtime, I was abused by an irate parent who got angry about the traffic," she told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Residents of New Road put up with being blocked at, or out of, home several times a day. I attempt to avoid school times but forgot that, on Wednesdays, schoolchildren leave at lunchtime. However, being verbally abused for trying to get home is unacceptable,” she told the Killarney Advertiser.

“Residents also put up with both noise and air pollution, especially since parents often leave their engines running. Some will turn their engines off if asked, others are abusive.”

Her neighbour, who did not wish to be named as she lives alone, says she too feels intimidated.

Both ladies stressed that they understood parents' needs to collect and drop-off children at school times.

SOLUTION

They are calling on Gardai, school principals and Killarney Municipal District to find a solution.

“We need a solution that works for everyone, the schools, parents and the residents,” added Ruth.

Meanwhile, following Ms Moram's letter to Killarney Gardai, she has been informed that various stakeholders will meet to discuss some proposals. Gardai are concerned that emergency vehicles will not be able to access the street at peak times.

CONFUSION

One of the problems associated with traffic on New Road is that the timing of the one-way street regulation does not coincide with school times.

The issue was highlighted by Cllr Donal Grady at a recent Killarney Municipal District meeting.

“At present there is confusion as children come out of school at 2.20pm whilst signs advise of roads closing at 2.45pm,” he told the meeting.

Previously, both prior and during the pandemic, Kerry County Council have held a series of meetings with An Garda Siochána and the school principals in order to improve traffic flow.

“In order to revise the times of the one-way system along New Road, Kerry County Council will have to go through a formal Section 38 [public consultation and/or planning permission] process,” said a Council official.

“A survey of the road has been undertaken and designs and short-term measures such as an increase in set-down areas and school bus set-downs have been developed and can be implemented subject to further consultation with the school principals and the [elected] members. As part of this further consultation, the matter of implementing the one-way system will be addressed.”