Laois pitch with lit walking track closed over security reasons

A lit up walkway around a rural Laois sports ground, developed with public money, is being closed to visitors due to security issues according to a local councillor.

Spink community ground's gates are often closed to drivers coming to walk on its trackway, funded with a €15,000 Clár grant.

The well used grounds sited in the countryside near Knock and Timahoe are home to Spink Celtic football club and Spink GAA, and also the annual Buds and Blooms garden festival.

Cllr Barry Walsh is asking Laois County Council to install parking spaces on the road outside it.

He tabled a motion to the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking for new parking spaces behind proposed new barriers

"It is a fully lit walkway, it's used a good bit. They have to park on the side of the road because it gets closed for security issues.

"They are looking for space for five or six cars," Cllr Walsh said.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly said he has reservations about the idea, whilst seconding the motion.

"It depends on the size of the parking bay. You would maybe get people parking there on a daily basis and be there for months," he said.

Portlaoise Municipal District executive engineer Wes Wilkinson said he will meet Cllr Walsh and the community at the junction of the R430 and L-7797 near Spink Community Field.