Road safety ‘now the number one issue in Laois’ amid growing concerns in Camross and Ballyfin

“Road safety is now the number one issue in Laois,” a local County Councillor has said, amid growing concerns in both Camross and Ballyfin.

Cllr James Kelly made the statement at the July meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District this week.

“The six councillors in this Municipal District have put forward 18 notice of motions,” Cllr Kelly said. “And almost all of them are in relation to road safety.

The Independent councillor said more funding will need to be allocated to alleviate these concerns, as current budgets are insufficient.

Cllr Kelly first called on Laois County Council to carry out road safety measures at Scully’s Cross on the L-1031 at Longford Camross “as a matter of urgency.”

Next, Cllr Kelly called for road safety measures to be carried out on the R423 regional road in Ballyfin at areas in both Brockera and Cavansheath.

He added that these works should form part of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021 – 2024, saying: “What’s needed now is action, not words.”

Mr James Dowling Senior Executive Engineer at the Council’s Roads Department said District engineers would meet with Cllr Kelly at these locations “to discuss implementation of potential remedial measures.”

Finally, Cllr Kelly looked for an update on the repair works to be carried out on the bridge at Drim Water Treatment Plant in Paddock, Mountrath.

Cllr Kelly noted that the bridge had been damaged by an independent company during works carried out all the way back in January, with no news on the repairs.

Mr Dowling responded, saying: “Laois County Council have been seeking to work with the party responsible for the damage in order to be able to expedite the repair.”

It emerged that Irish Water/Uisce Éireann are the compny in question whose driver caused the damage.

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