Residents of Portlaoise estate are 'terrified' coming out of their homes

A cycle lane has become an “absolute nightmare” for "terrified" residents of a Portlaoise estate, a recent meeting was told. 

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald asked the council to take action in a motion at the latest meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. 

In a motion seconded by Cllr Willie Aird, she asked, “that this council install safety measures on the walkway/cycle lane at Rankin's Wood. ”

In response Senior Executive Engineer, Wes Wilkinson, said “the Portlaoise Municipal District Office will install interim measures to increase the cyclist's awareness of the oncoming intersection with the vehicular roadway. A permanent solution will be put in place as part of the future works on Phase II on the Triogue Way.”

Cllr Fitzgerald expressed disappointment at the reply and said the issue was “an emergency” and had been on the agenda for some time. 

“It is an absolute nightmare and I mean a nightmare for the residents of Rankin’s Wood. It is a gated estate and they are totally exposed when they come out of there and there is bicycles, walkers and in particular scooters literally flying by and they are terrified that there is going to be someone knocked down and they are going to do it,” she explained. 

“I think this is a real emergency and I have been on about it from the beginning. I 100% welcome the walkway, it is fantastic, but not at the cost to the residents who have lived in an area for years,” she said. 

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“They have to knock on one another’s doors for someone to come out and stand at the laneway to look up and down,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.  

“It is just not good enough. They are terrified to leave their own homes,” she continued.  

“We need to put in kissing gates or whatever.  They have to be slowed down before that entrance to Rankin’s Wood or we are going to see really serious consequences and it is not fair. They have been living there for years. I have never had one request ever from Rankin’s Wood but they are petrified,” she said.  

Cllr Willie Aird agreed with everything Cllr Fitzgerald had said.  

“I do think that we owe the residents down there to make it safe for those people that are coming out,” he remarked. 

Senior Engineer Paul McLoughlin said he would meet with the councillors and residents at the location in order to come up with a proposal for the area.