Laois County Council will soon begin the process of establishing a Town Team for Mountmellick.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken proposed the motion at the February meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District this week.
The Mountmellick Cllr said that a Town Team would “address the economic challenges that are impacting on the town.”
Mr Donal Brennan, Director of Services said “Laois County Council will look forward to working with Councillor Bracken and representatives from local community and business groups.”
The concept of Town Teams has proven successful in recent years for other towns across the county, with Portlaoise, Rathdowney and Mountrath all reaping the benefits.
“We need to something, becausethe whole centre of the town is in decline, ” Cllr Bracken said.
“It has been a tough time, economically, in the town – we’ve had a lot of business closures and a lot of vacancies.
“I look forward to working with the team and getting it up and running.”
The motion received strong support from fellow Fianna Fáil Cllr Seamus McDonald as well as Independent Cllr James Kelly.
Cllr Bracken also highlighted a recent grant of €300,000 awarded to Mountmellick from the Government’s Active Travel Programme as well as €50,000 fore Safe Cycle Routes to schools in the area.
“This will bring connectivity to a huge part of the town,” he said.
Cllr Paddy Bracken also called for the installation of traffic calming measures on the R422 road, Mountmellick; and that Cloncannon Upper and Forrest Lower in the Council’s Roads Programme 2024.
Mr James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer at the Roads Department said the Council “will investigate the possibility of the installation of a speed radar sign and additional road markings at Townsparks, Mountmellick.”
Regarding Cloncannon Upper and Forrest Lower, Mr Dowling said:
“Laois County Council have programmed strengthening works at Cloncannon upper and Forrest Lower in the draft 2024 roads programme.
“The delivery of the programme is subject to the to the Department of Transports Regional and Local Roads Grants 2024 which is expected in the coming weeks.”
SEE ALSO – Agreement reached for Council to carry out important safety works at Laois primary school
