New traffic lights requested at Laois town

Residents are calling for new traffic lights to be installed near a cemetery in Stradbally, a recent meeting was told. 

Fine Gael Cllr PJ Kelly asked in a motion “that Laois County Council consider installing permanent traffic lights on the N80 at Oakvale cemetery and the road off the N80 catering for the residents there.”

In response Senior Executive Engineer, Road Design Office, James Dowling said: “Laois County Council Road Design will investigate the possibility of traffic lights at N80 Oakvale Cemetery with TII. TII have overall responsibility for the national road and any development or improvements will require TII approval.”

Cllr Kelly said temporary lights were introduced in the area recently while work was being carried out on a footpath leading to the cemetery. 

“They never felt as safe ever were the words that some of them used to me,” said Cllr Kelly. 

He asked that the lights be introduced permanently and that they operate on a sensor so that would only be in use when needed. 

“What I am gathering from residents is, if that doesn’t appease the council and the TII, that they are going to take further action because they will not be happy if some solution is not found,” said Cllr Kelly. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy agreed with Cllr Kelly and said it was a very dangerous corner. 

“This has been going on for years and years and any solution that can be found I would definitely support,” he said. 

“There is a pedestrian crossing going in at the cemetery; it might have a way of slowing them down a bit,” he said. 

“Lads don’t take any notice of these things, they just plough on around that corner, it’s deadly,” said Cllr McEvoy. 

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Independent Cllr Aisling McEvoy said this area was already raised with TII two years ago. She said they were invited to come and look at it and other locations but they haven’t. She mentioned a number of areas including Crettyard, Derrymoyle and Ashfield Cross. 

“All of those areas, there is going to be an accident if something is not done with it and done with it very, very soon,” she said. 

She said the council should hold the TII fully responsible if nothing happens.