The area from Junction 17 Portlaoise Plaza towards Portlaoise Rugby Club and on to Togher Woods is in urgent need of new lighting and footpaths Laois County Council has heard.
The issue was raised at the meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District this week, with Cllrs Marie Tuohy and Willie Aird both insisting public lighting be installed as soon as possible from Portlaoise Plaza to the rugby club.
The Cllrs called on Laois County Council install the lighting “as this is a very busy area for pedestrians, including children, to and from the club”
Mr Wes Wilkinson, Senior Executive Engineer said the Council’s Road Design Department will provide a cost estimate for the installation of public lighting in the area.
Cllr Tuohy told the Council that those who are not members of the rugby club may not realise the huge levels of footfall in the aforementioned area.
“There are hundreds of children going to the rugby club two or three nights a week for training, but there is no public lighting between there and Portlaoise Plaza,” the Labour Cllr said.
The motion received unanimous support from the other Cllrs in attendance, with Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley adding that the area is a very popular route for walkers.
Mr Simon Walton, Director of Services said that such public lighting would be included in the Council’s ongoing plans for a footpath between Junction 17 and Togher Woods, which would take in the area of the rugby Club.
Mr Walton said the public lighting costs would be added to the footpath costs and once prepared, a total budget would be put in front of Cllrs.
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