Exterior work to a rural Laois cemetery “just makes sense” and is “something everybody wants.”
That is according to Fine Gael Councillor Conor Bergin who has asked that Laois County Council widen the existing entrance into St Fergal’s Cemetery in Camross.
Cllr Bergin, who also asked that a new set of entrance gates to the cemetery be erected, said this work is necessary to allow hearses and cars to access the graveyard.
“This is a no-brainer,” Cllr Bergin said. “It’s something everybody wants and it just makes sense.
“It would suit suit everyone – it would suit the land owners, it would suit the priest, it would suit the parish, even the undertakers.
“This is a Laois County Council cemetery at the end of the day and we have responsibility for it.”
Ms Georgina Ireland, Senior Executive Officer at the Council’s Community Department, said the Council is currently assessing the existing entrance at the cemetery “with a view to determining a scope of works which may be required to improve vehicular access, together with the associated costs of any such work.”
Cllr Bergin then turned his attention to road safety in his locale, calling on the Council to address road traffic issues and install traffic calming measures on the Rathdowney Road in Borris-in-Ossory and on the R434 Road in Aghaboe.
Senior Engineer, Mr Paul McLoughlin, said there will be a traffic and speed survey carried out on the Rathdowney Road in Borris-in-Ossory and that a traffic calming scheme “will be designed and costed, if required.”
Referencing the R434 Road in Aghaboe, Mr McLoughlin said: “Aghaboe is currently located within a 80km/h speed zone on the R434.
“There is advance warning signage and road markings on each approach to Aghaboe Abbey.
“Given the horizontal alignment and local constraints on the road the operational speed through Aghaboe is likely to be below the posted speed limit.
“The Roads and Transportation section will undertake speed surveys in the coming weeks to inform matters.”
Cllr Bergin insisted more needs to be considered than simply speed limits, saying drivers “regularly flout these limits.”
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