New bus shelter for Laois town

Stradbally is to get a new bus shelter in 2025, a recent meeting was told. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy requested the new shelter in a motion when he asked: “That this Council include Stradbally Town as a location for a bus shelter under the new  scheme announced recently.”

In a written response,  Senior Engineer, Active Travel, Diarmuid Donohoe stated that: “The Council will include Stradbally for bus stop upgrade works as part of its 2025 programme.”

Cllr McEvoy welcomed the response. “That is great news,” he said, suggesting that council staff should discuss a location with residents in the town. 

Cllr Aidan Mullins expressed disbelief at the difficulty in getting such “a simple structure” as a  bus shelter. “It’s basic stuff, it should be a given,” he said. 

Cllr Mullins said people shouldn’t have to stand in the rain to access public transport. It’s a “goddamn joke”, he  remarked. He recalled being told that the council were liaising with the National Transport Authority when he previously requested a bus stop for Portarlington. 

He said that was nearly a year ago and yet nothing has happened. He said it was ridiculous that councillors had to come to the council and fight for such basic services. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said bus shelters were also needed in Ballylinan. 

“There is kids standing out in the rain in the morning in the freezing cold,” she said. 

“Then there is bus routes that won’t even come to the smaller towns,” Cllr Moran continued. 

Meanwhile, Cllr McEvoy said hundreds of thousands was spent on bus shelters in Portlaoise. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan said bus shelters were needed in Crettyard. 

Cllr Moran said “it shouldn’t cost €100,000 to build a bus shelter.” She said a request should be sent to the council to see how much a bus shelter costs.  

READ ALSO: Meeting hears Laois residents can be buried in back garden 

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.