2024 Remembered: Rathdowney urged to ‘move with the times’ amid accusations of discrimination against rural Laois towns

A local County Councillor called for Rathdowney to “move with the times” when addressing a council meeting in July. 

A local County Councillor has called for Rathdowney to “move with the times,” while another has accused Laois County Council of “discrimination” against rural towns and villages.

Fine Gael Councillor John King, speaking at the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District meeting last week, began the discussion.

Cllr King called on the County Council to install a big belly solar bin in the square, Rathdowney, saying the area is now “extra busy” during the summer season.

“They have them in Portlaoise, and I don’t see why we, in our smaller towns like Rathdowney and Mountrath and Durrow, aren’t entitled to one of them as well.

“These bins are able to hold three or four times the amount (of rubbish) as the ordinary bin, and they’re very safe – we need to move with the times.

“We have to beg so much to get so little in our small towns, and I think it’s not fair.”

Independent councillor, James Kelly supported the motion, but questioned the cost of the big belly bins and questioned where the money to pay for them would come from.

“Obviously you’re not expecting it to come out of the councillors’ discretionary fund,” he said. “It should come out of the environment section, or some section here in Laois County Council.”

Fellow Independent councillor, Ollie Clooney also supported the motion, and went on to accuse Laois County Council of discrimination.

“It’s discrimination is what it is,” Cllr Clooney said. “If you’re small, you’ll get nothing, and that’s going to have to stop.

Mr James Dowling, Senior Executive engineer at the Council’s Roads Department said he would meet Cllr King in Rathdowney “to discuss the location of a big belly bin.”

Cllr King also asked that the Council “remove small area of embankment to create layby at the entrance to the Charleville Road, Ballaghmore, Borris-in-Ossory.”

Mr Dowling responded again saying District Engineers would need to meet Cllr King on site “to discuss the provision of a layby.”

SEE ALSO – Check out all our top stories from our 2024 Remembered series here