Noisy coffee trailer raises complaints at Laois train station

Laois residents have been complaining about a noisy generator starting up every morning before 5am, to make coffee and tea for train commuters to Dublin and elsewhere.

Portlaoise households near the town's busy commuter train station were being woken up at 4.50am to the sound of a generator used by a mobile coffee dock business parked at the station.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan tabled a motion to the November meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking Laois County Council to write to Irish Rail, and ask for immediately address the "noise pollution", as it is having "a detrimental effect on residents in the area".

"Over the last number of months, there have been complaints from the Ridge Road, Beechfield and surrounding areas.

"It has caused considerable noise, this generator. It has been disturbing sleep and we all know the detrimental effects of that. It has been waking young children," he said.

He has already solved the problem however.

"I got in touch with Irish Rail and they have replaced it with a new generator that has eliminated this noise pollution. I ask you to change the wording of the motion to 'monitor'," he said. 

Laois County Council Director of Services Simon Walton acknowledged the progress and the need for monitoring the situation. 

Cllr Marie Tuohy seconded the motion.

"Nobody wants to interfere with businesses or amenities but when the noise can be solved that's the core of it," she said.

Read next: Bird flu found in large Laois turkey farm

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley is delighted at the improvement.

"This is a service that's really well used by commuters and college students. There is nothing like the noise from a generator in a little wagon. There are a couple of jobs there too, but it's important people are not worken early in the morning," she said.