A Laois County Councillor has called for action as he says the roads in one town are not fit to cope with parking and the volume of trucks and tractors that are passing through.
Fine Gael Councillor John King raised the matter in relation to Rathdowney at a recent meeting of the Borris-In-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District.
Cllr King asked that the Council ‘investigate’ the parking problems at Main Street Rathdowney ‘as a matter of urgency’ due to the heavy volume of trucks, tractors and other vehicles passing through the town ‘on a daily basis’.
Cllr King said: “The streets are narrow and if cars are parked, people have to pull over in order to pass each other.
“These towns were designed originally to cope with horse and carts.
“We haven’t those any more and now we have a situation where the traffic can’t flow freely.
“I appreciate some people need to park close to wherever they are going to, but perhaps we could have some age parking.”
In response, engineer Rory O’Callaghan said the Area Office would investigate possible ways of alleviating traffic problems associated with parking.
He said: “Any measure proposed will be reviewed and agreed by the Councillors.
“Any proposed works will be dependent in available funding.”
In a second motion, Cllr King asked for an update on safety works at the regional road at Donaghmore and Middlemount.
He said: “There have been five fatalities along here in recent years.
“This is the third or fourth time I have raised this. The road is all hills and hollows.
“I have engaged with the owner of a field nearby and he may be willing to take some of the bank out.
“I don’t want to see any more loss of life and families of those who have passed have contacted me asking if anything can be done.”
A member of the Road Design team said they will meet Cllr King at the location and see what measures could be introduced.
SEE ALSO – Parking by-laws ‘not working’ as Laois town has become a ‘free for all’
