Green light as Portlaoise school offers to share site with new allotments

The future of an unused field in a Laois town is a green and pleasant one, to be shared between a Laois school for children with special needs, and local allotment gardeners.

Laois County Council's field in Portlaoise, between St Francis School and St Brigid's Place housing estate, has lain idle but agreement is now reached to suit everyone, thanks to a generous offer from the school.

While the council stated a month ago that the expanding school could take their entire field, they are only taking half, offering the rest for much desired allotments by the residents of St Brigid's Place.

John Moran, principal of St Francis School confirms they will welcome allotments, to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"We require approximately half the field for playgrounds and parking. We welcome the proposal to work alongside the residents in the future development of this site," he said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley explained the agreement at the February meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, made with the school and the council's director Angela McEvoy. 

"St Francis School never requested the full site. I can confirm that housing will never go ahead because of the access, it was never really suitable. St Francis is granted permission for two extra classrooms but that's on the existing site, without having to break into the wall. The principal said it will leave them tight for parking spaces and recreation. They are adamant that half of the site is all that's required.

"I'm asking that we push ahead with allotments on the other half of the site for the residents of St Brigid's who had always acess to that site and always made use of it. They want to see that site being utilised, because at the moment, it's causing its own difficulties. The principal has told me he would love to see perhaps if both initiatives could start at the same time when they are ready to go ahead with the extension.

The residents in St Brigid's are crying out for allotments," she said.

At the meeting, Cllr Tommy Mulligan asked her if the residents were all in favour or might they like a playing field instead, suggesting that allotments are "probably only used for a couple of months of the year".

Cllr Dwane Stanley told him that a playing field "never worked there unfortunately down through the years".

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"The residents are all in favour, they were trying to start allotments in the front garden of the community centre but it's very small. O'Moore Place allotments are used all year round, it's not just summer. 

"It's not about what we want, it's about what the residents in the area are requesting," she added.