A Laois County Councillor has hit out at the lack of “basic public transport infrastructure” throughout the County, saying “you’d think we were living in a third world country.”
Sinn Féin Cllr Aidan Mullins made the remarks at the April meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District this week.
Cllr Mullins began by calling on Laois County Council to arrange for bus shelters to be installed in Portarlington but went on to say:
“Every bus stop in Ireland should have a bus shelter; you’d think we were living in a third world country.”
In response, Mr Diarmaid Donohue, Senior Executive Engineer said the County Council “is liaising with the NTA (National Transport Authority) regarding the upgrade of bus stops across the county.
“There are a number of bus stop locations in Portarlington, and the Council will work with the NTA to agree the appropriate treatment at each one.”
Cllr Mullins said: “it’s a joke that the NTA need to be pressed on this.
“We need basic public transport infrastructure if we want to take people out of their cars and into public transport.”
There was support from Cllr PJ Kelly, who described the equivalent public transport infrastructure in Portlaoise as “extravagant.”
Cllr Mullins then asked for a progress-update for the upgrade of the People’s Park in Portarlington.
Ms Denise Rainey, Town Regeneration Officer said: “the detailed design in respect of the central plaza and edible garden are currently being finalised by the appointed landscape architects.
“The area office has undertaken to complete these works. A timeframe on completion can be provided at the end of April.
“The tender has been advertised in respect of the upgrade of the playground equipment and once a supplier is appointed in mid-May, a definite timeframe for completion can be provided.
“Quotations are currently being sought for park furniture and every effort will be made to have this in place for the summer months.”
Cllr Mullins said was glad to see “movement on this, at last,” adding that the condition of the park is “not good,” and not “well maintained,” siting several incidents of vandalism.
Cllr Mullins concluded by calling for the Council to take charge of Lansdowne Estate in Portarlington, saying the roads in the estate are “in an awful state.”
The estate was “built in the height of the boom,” Cllr Mullins said, adding that the poor condition of the estate’s road network was “a disgraceful situation.”
Ms Evelyn Brownrigg, Officer at the Council’s Planning Department responded saying:
“To date we have not received a formal request from Kingscroft Developers to have this estate taken in charge as there are remaining phases to be constructed under Planning application 18/ 422.
“Once we have a request from either the developer or a plebiscite of owners within the estate relating to a completed phase of development, we can then initiate proceedings to commence the process.”
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