Part-time speed zone to be installed at Strabane school

A STRABANE school has been named among a further 34 schools that will have part-time 20mph speed limit schemes installed.

Five schools in West Tyrone have been included in the latest round of the scheme, and among them is Gaelscoil Uí Dhocartaigh.

This will be the fourth tranche of schools to benefit from the road safety initiative scheme which will see a total of 307 schools benefitting from the scheme since 2020/21.

Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, said: “Children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable groups using our roads and I remain committed to doing what I can to improve their safety.

“Once again these 34 schools identified will be located on rural roads where the national speed limit applies and traffic is generally faster.

“Last year I announced the measure for 40 rural schools and I am pleased that the majority of those are now operational, with the remainder to be completed shortly.

“Children, parents and staff have a fundamental right to feel safe as they travel to and from school whether they are walking, wheeling, cycling, driving or taking public transport.

“The introduction of the part-time speed limits helps slow traffic down at the start and end of the school day as pupils arrive and leave to go home.”

Local Sinn Féin councillor, Collette McAllister, welcomed the inclusion of the Strabane school which is located on Strahans Road, just off the Great Northern Link bypass.

"The introduction of part-time 20mph zones at schools across the north is a significant intervention that has helped to ensure that children, parents and staff- as they travel to and from local schools,” she said.

"This also greatly decreases the risk of devastation from fatal or severe road collisions."