New bus stops for Laois village

Former tidy towns winning Castletown village outside Mountrath has been approved for new bus stops, by Laois County Council.

The council did a Road Safety Audit for the stops and is now seeking consent from the National Transport Authority to go ahead and build them.

Cllr James Kelly got the update, at the October meeting of the Mountmellick Borris-in-Ossory Municipal District. 

“That’s great news for Castletown. At last we got two new bus shelters in Mountrath, but where they are in Castletown is a complete danger. Cars exiting from the hurling field can’t see up the road because of the bus stop. 

“These will be in the village. I hope we can meet and decide where they should go. Now buses can go back into the village instead of avoiding it,” he said.

Bus shelters are still needed in Durrow, Ballacolla and Cullohill said Cllr Ollie Clooney.

“We’re heading into winter, it will be spilling rain, you see youngsters out getting soaked. It’s important this is spread out to small villages. I’m six years waiting, I’d like firm confirmation,” he said.

Rathdowney also has schoolchildren still getting wet while waiting for buses, said Cllr John King.

“It shouldn’t cost a lot,” he said.