We, the undersigned residents, parents and regular users of Church Lane in Greystones, wish to formally express our serious concerns regarding the ongoing dangers faced by pedestrians, particularly young children travelling to and from local schools.

Church Lane is a busy pedestrian route serving families attending St Patrick's National School, St Brigid's National School, St Kevin’s National School and nearby childcare facilities. Every morning and afternoon, significant numbers of children and parents walk along this road, often alongside moving traffic with little or no physical protection.

Despite recent resurfacing works and the reconstruction of speed ramps, we believe the fundamental safety issues remain unresolved.

Our principal concerns include:

1.  Lack of adequate footpaths: Significant sections of Church Lane have no proper pedestrian footpath, forcing children and adults to walk directly alongside moving vehicles.

2. Excessive vehicle speeds: Many motorists travel at speeds that we believe are inappropriate for a narrow road heavily used by schoolchildren. The existing speed ramps appear insufficient to slow traffic effectively.

3. Dangerous blind bends: Limited visibility, particularly approaching the bend near the church, creates serious risks for both pedestrians and motorists.

4. Inadequate pedestrian protection: Low kerbs and the absence of suitable barriers leave pedestrians vulnerable to vehicles mounting the kerb or encroaching onto pedestrian areas.

5. Poor visibility and lighting: Conditions are particularly concerning during dark winter mornings and afternoons, when children are travelling to and from school.

We believe it is only a matter of time before a pedestrian is seriously injured unless meaningful preventative measures are introduced.

We acknowledge that road improvements have been undertaken in the area, including the introduction of a pedestrian crossing near St Patrick's National School at the cinema entrance and upcoming Killinacarrig Village Enhancement Scheme. We welcome such improvements and believe Church Lane deserves similar attention, given the number of children and families using it daily.

We are calling on Wicklow County Council to:

1. Undertake an urgent, formal pedestrian and road-safety assessment of Church Lane, particularly during school drop-off and collection times.

2. Introduce effective traffic-calming measures designed to achieve a meaningful reduction in vehicle speeds.

3. Investigate the provision of continuous, protected pedestrian footpaths or other suitable measures to separate pedestrians from moving traffic.

4. Review pedestrian crossings, kerb heights, lighting and road layout to identify practical improvements.

5. Provide a written response and proposed action plan, including indicative timelines for any recommended improvements.

We recognise that some of these measures may require planning, funding or further consultation.

However, we strongly believe that the current situation is unacceptable and that the safety of children and other vulnerable road users must be prioritised.

We look forward to receiving a response outlining the next steps.

Yours sincerely,

The undersigned residents, parents and users of Church Lane, Greystones

Petition coordinated by local residents.