Town redesign raises serious health and safety concerns

Roscrea’s Market Square, once hailed as a modern upgrade, is now under fire for posing what some call a major pedestrian hazard. Despite a 2021 redesign intended to improve traffic flow, local leaders are calling it one of the county’s worst health and safety risks.

The main issue centres on three pedestrian crossings placed too close to the junction’s stop line, creating confusion for both drivers and pedestrians. Larger vehicles often block crossings entirely, forcing people to walk into traffic zones. Calls for urgent review have reignited following a near-accident reported by a local resident, sparking renewed scrutiny from council engineers.

For decision-makers, this highlights a critical takeaway: infrastructure upgrades without proper behavioural observation and real-world stress testing can expose organisations—and the public—to avoidable risk.

Read the full article to explore the lessons for safer urban design.