Laois Gardaí called on to set up traps at school where speed is 'absolutely crazy'

Laois Gardaí should set up speed traps at a school near Mountmellick to slow motorists, a county councillor has demanded.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, appealed for Garda help at a recent meeting in County Hall Portlaoise about speeding the The Rock NS. 

She made the appeal after a motion was tabled calling for a speed radar sign to be fixed.

Cllr Dwane Stanley asked that Laois County Council activate the speed radar sign at The Rock school which is located within the Portlaoise electoral area.

She said residents told her that the radar lights designed to slow traffic stopped working last September after being relocated across the road at the school.

“The speed on the road is absolutely crazy…we’ve (the council) done an awful lot in that area to reduce the speed but unfortunately cars are still being driven at enormous speed,” she told the meeting.

Supporting the motion, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, said the gardaí need to get involved by monitoring speed at The Rock NS.

“I really believe that we need a few months of speed traps at the school,” she said.

She believed that if happened word would spread among drivers and cars would slow down.

Cllr Willie Aird, Fine Gael, complimented the Council on work done to improve safety at The Rock school. He also encouraged the Department of Education to fund the purchase of site at the school for parking. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Cllr Dwane Stanely’s motion also called for lights at the nearby Knightstown Cross. She said residents in the Knightstown area thought they were getting public lighting when a pole went up last year but found that this was for another purpose. They were not happy that it never materialised.

“That road is very busy and that junction is in complete black darkness. One light would make a big difference,” she said.

Cllr Aird backed the call made about Knightstown and said he had put some discretionary funds.

James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer, replied in writing to the motion. 

“Laois County Council Road Design Department will arrange for the public lighting Engineer to meet Councillor Stanley at this location to establish the lighting requirements at Knightstown Cross. Laois County Council Road Design Dept have assessed the speed radar sign and it is gone beyond economical repair and have arranged for the replacement of the speed radar sign,” he said. 

The issue was raised at the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.