Call to widen Laois building site access road

A Councillor believes an access road to a building site needs to be widened by a metre in the interest of safety. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan asked in a motion “that Laois County Council put in place safety measures on Mullins Lane now that Walsh building contractors are using it to gain access to their building site at Meadows Way”. 

Cllr Brennan described Walsh contractors as “excellent” and he praised their work. However, he said the access road was a bit narrow and could do with widening by half a  metre on either side in order to make it safe for cyclists, pedestrians and other road users. 

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan, who revealed she had been contacted by elderly residents in the area who were “afraid” of the heavy vehicles on the road. 

In a written response to the motion, Laois County Council’s Planning Department said: “Mullins Lane is currently being used to avoid bringing construction traffic through Meadows Way, which has now 80+ occupied houses. Any movement of such traffic through the estate would pose a more significant hazard to the residents.

That said, the Local Authority will undertake a site visit with the Building Control Officer to identify what additional safety measures can be put in place on Mullins Lane to address the concerns raised.” 

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.