New Laois car park at Slieve Blooms waterfall causing speeding

A car park built to improve safety at a Slieve Bloom beauty spot has had an unintended speed problem which Laois County Council must address, according to a councillor.

Cllr Seamus McDonald, Fianna Fáil, raised the issue at a recent meeting with council officials when he tabled a motion calling for traffic calming at Glenbarrow, Rosenallis.

Cllr McDonald told the meeting that the car park has been a tremendous success as it has eliminated the problem of cars parking on the access route to the famous falls.

“Now the residents are complaining that people visiting the car park are speeding past their houses and small children are living in one house,” he said.

James Dowling, a Senior Executive Engineer in the council’s Roads section, replied that safety issues would be examined and consideration would then be given to appropriate measures for improving safety.

He added that ramps would not be possible but other steps could be taken to reduce speed.

Cllr McDonald welcomed this reply

The new car park was officially opened in September 2023 after tripling the amount of car parking spaces from 35 to 95 spaces.

The impressive waterfall and woodland walk just outside Rosenallis village brings hundreds of visitors but many people were forced to park along the narrow road, blocking access for residents or emergency vehicles.