Award winning Laois heritage town suffering parking woes

An award winning Laois heritage town still has traffic issues like many other towns, but another effort to tackle them is to be made by Laois County Council.

The 2023 national Tidy Town overall winner Abbeyleix is currently Ireland's chosen town to compete for an international Bloom award.

Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr John Joe Fennelly, an Abbeyleix Tidy Town member, has asked for more yellow boxes to alleviate traffic issues.

He tabled a motion to the June MD meeting, asking the council to install yellow boxes outside the entrances to the community garden on Main Street, and on Church Avenue at the entrance to the carpark.

Cllr Fennelly described the problems for the town which sits on the N77 road.

"The community garden in Abbeyleix is one of the most used in the county. There is a business owner with a premises at the front. Staff need to get in. They don't want to take up parking on Main Street. This definitely should be provided. We should put pressure on the TII.

"There is a need for another yellow box at the exit to the church carpark. People block the entrance to apartments," Cllr Fennelly said.

Read also: Laois school wins prestigious Green Schools award

Laois County Council has agreed to paint the yellow box on Church Avenue.

However it needs permission from the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to paint one at the community garden, because it would be on a national road.

Cllr Barry Walsh seconded the motion.

"It is a busy town regarding traffic. The garden is well used, it is definitely needed," he agreed.