A local County Councillor has urged for a reduction in toll charges for heavy goods vehicles using the Toll Plaza at Fatharnagh, Mountrath, Portlaoise (Midlink M7/M8).
Fine Geal Cllr PJ Kelly tabled the motion at the January meeting of Laois County Council earlier this week.
“Toll charges (which are set by the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland) for lorries have gone from €6.80 to €7.30,” Cllr Kelly said.
“This high cost is forcing those vehicles back into the towns and villages that the motorway was built to take them out of.
“We’re wondering why our towns are being chocked up with traffic – it’s because these lorries are trundling through.
“I was contacted by a couple of businesses that operate lorries. One told me he has a contract for five lorries to draw from Foynes in Limerick to Edenderry.
“For the five lorries for the full year, it’s costing him €18,980. That’s a serious figure just for using a toll bridge, and it’s going up and going up.
“He told me he can’t afford to stay going through the motorway toll bridge; he’s going to back through the towns.
“If the charge on the motorway is going to rise, the same will apply to cars in no short time as well. And then they will be forced in off the motorways as well.
“We’re going to smother our villages again and our small towns – and the whole idea of the motorway was to open up these towns but it’s going in reverse now.
Fianna Fáil Cllr John Joe Fennelly supported the motion, and suggested an incentive scheme could be implemented which would see a considerable reduction in toll charges for nigh-time driving.
Independent Cllr James Kelly also supported the motion, highlighting the problems in Mountrath and Borris-in-Ossory with vehicles coming in off the motorway.
There was also support from Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird, who said “it’s all about profit.”
