Sophie Byrne is a Junior Cycle student at Balla Secondary School. The teenager , who attends one of the school’s additional needs classes, has courageously looked at a local road safety issue and has sought the assistance of Mayo County Councillors to address the problem.
The almost 500 strong student school population daily attempt to cross the main street in Balla at the avenue entrance to the school, to access local shops and facilities. It’s a busy crossing, along the main N60 route connecting Castlebar to Claremorris, where they believe that safety could be enhanced by a pedestrian crossing.
Sophie and her classmates, accept that there are two other pedestrian crossings in the town, but argue that they are located a good distance away from the school entrance.
She decided to take to her keyboard and sent an email to elected members of Mayo County Council to look at this particular location and to ask for a pedestrian crossing to be installed.
Midwest News Editor Teresa O'Malley met Sophie and other students in Balla Secondary School over recent days and spoke to her about her campaign and it’s success to date….