Massive development in Laois town may be delayed due to local speed limit changes

A huge development proposed for Laois may be delayed due to a lack of information surrounding the upcoming changes to regional road speed limits.

The proposed development of zoned land banks between the Dublin and Ballyroan roads in Abbeyleix is to be used for potential housing and business developments.

The Road Traffic Bill 2024 will see the reduction of speed limits on national secondary roads and local roads, and is due to come into place this Spring. A lack of clarity on the planning and implementation of this bill has left many motorists and public bodies in confusion.

The proposed Abbeyleix development can not receive planning permission until a site exit can be established. This exit site cannot be established until Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) sign off on the speed limit of the site's exit point.

"The Council has been in discussions with the neighbouring landowners- Brook Advantage,  in relation to traffic management of the first phase of their site," said Mr. David O' Hara, Senior Planner in Laois County Council.

Pictured: The proposed zone lies between the Ballyroan rd and Dublin Road in Abbeyleix, near the Heritage House.

"Discussions with stakeholders such as Abbeyleix Tidy Towns and Community and TII will be carried out as part of this masterplan process," Mr O'Hara said.

"The request for tender is due to go on ETenders by the end of January, with a view to Consultants being commissioned as soon as possible thereafter.

“It is envisaged that a Draft Masterplan will be prepared by the end of June 2025," Mr O'Hara finished.

Ballyroan Fine Gael Cllr Barry Walsh expressed his optimism at this update, and called for the original speed limit to be returned on this road.

"This site is a very strategic site, and is important to the development of Abbeyleix," Cllr Walsh said.

"Myself and Cllr Fennelly requested this over a year ago, so it is disappointing to think that at this stage we don't have anything else, that the Council are under pressure with staff to try to get this done. 

"In conjunction with all of this, the speed limit needs to be brought back as well, in my view it is in the wrong place for that road. We need to move this  on, it needs to happen quickly in my opinion," Cllr Walsh said.

Cllr John Joe Fennelly expressed his delight in this update, yet questioned the standing that TII had in relation to the decisions of local speed limits.

Pictured: Fianna Fáil Cllr John Joe Fennelly and Fine Gael Cllr Barry Walsh

Mr Simon Walton, Director of Services with Laois County Council, explained that the speed limit review on the 7th of February will see the speed limit on all non-national roads reduced from 80kmph to 60kmph.

"Even though it is a matter for the elected Council to determine the speed limits on national roads, the Council cannot make those changes unless it is with the agreement with TII, and that is enshrined in legislation," Mr Walton explained.

"That is essentially the issue at hand here. I think that we all agree that the most appropriate location for that access is the Portlaoise road in Abbeyleix, as opposed to any other locations,” he said.

“The issue now will be seeking the agreement of TII once the master plan is developed, to accommodate this entrance, which may or may not require adjustments of the existing speed limits," Mr Walton finished.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley gave her support to the tabled motion, thankful that an update on the draft had finally been given.

"It is good to see that by the end of June we will hopefully have the draft," said Cllr Dwane Stanley.

"You look at the residential, the enterprise and employment, and that's very important. We need not forget as well that there is a demand for housing in that area," she said.

This matter occurred at the January sitting of the Portlaoise Municipal District of Laois County Council.