Limerick County Council has taken steps to remove an unofficial pedestrian crossing that was painted on to one of the country's busiest roads by a group of college students.
A senior local authority figure yesterday described the action taken by the University of Limerick (UL) students at the Groody roundabout in Limerick as "very immature and potentially quite dangerous". A team of 15 students were involved in painting the "zebra" crossing at the roundabout which is located on the outskirts of the city on the main Limerick to Dublin road, late last Wednesday night.
The roundabout in question has no pedestrian crossing despite several requests to the council, according to UL Student Union president St John Ó Donnabháin.
Thousands of students living beyond the Groody roundabout make the daily journey to and from the college across this road, he added.
"Students' union representatives have been lobbying politicians and Limerick council without success to obtain this crossing for a number of years, and felt that it was time to take action after a student was hospitalised recently after she was knocked off her bicycle," explained Mr Ó Donnabháin.
However, Robert Gallagher of Limerick council said he was extremely disappointed with the action taken by the students, describing it as "immature and potentially quite dangerous".
Mr Gallagher said planning permission has been sought for the crossing and also a bus lane, the closing date for which was a week ago. "We are currently advertising the construction contract and we expect work to commence this summer," he added.