'Yobs' in Laois town have 'no respect for locals' says Councillor

A Laois Councillor has called on the Council for an update on the provision of a car park near Mountrath cemetery, following a spat of antisocial behaviour.

Independent Cllr James Kelly has requested that the Council install a carpark on a council owned site adjacent to the cemetery and Mountrath Community School.

Ms Georgina Ireland, SEO with the Council's Community Department, has said that there is currently no funding allocated for such a development.

"I am very disappointed in this reply from Georgina Ireland, we have known for the last three years that this site could be handed over for a public car park," Cllr Kelly said.

Pictured: St Fintan's Cemetery, Mountrath is adjacent to the Council owned site for a proposed car park

"I know also that there was an application made for funding last year that didn’t come through.

"This is something that I won’t let go away, we have the cemetery and the community school there, and we have a site that’s owned by the County Council," he said.

Cllr Kelly highlighted the illegal dumping occurring on this site, with the Council's litter warden visiting the location twice.

"There is dumping here and there is antisocial behaviour, there are yobs, a few yobs in the town and they are causing a lot of angst around that area. It has become a shelter for antisocial behaviour," he said.

READ MORE: Mountrath estate to get total revamp

"There are people living around here that aren’t getting any peace at all. There were mattresses set on fire there last week. There’s no regard for the neighbourhood there and there’s no regard for the law of the land, or how the local authority operate.

"I need something done on this as soon as possible, and I’d like to meet the district engineer on site to have a look at it," Cllr Kelly said.

"If the funding is not available this year, I am very disappointed with that, and I am urging the Council to tidy up this site. Come down and cut the trees and tidy it up, make it so that it’s open so this anti social behaviour and rampant dumping can be ceased. It can be used as a car park when funerals are on, and for the schools," Cllr Kelly said.

Pictured: Mountrath Community School undergoing construction work in 2009

Fianna Fáil Cllr Paddy Bracken gave his support to this motion from Cllr Kelly.

"I want to support Cllr Kelly with this motion, I am familiar with the area. Surely we can go in and clean it up, and put down a temporary surface. It could eliminate this antisocial behaviour," he said.

"It doesn't have to be state of the art, if it were just cleaned up and surfaced for the time being. We see this in lots of places, we can overcome this problem," Cllr Bracken finished.

Ms Georgina Ireland, SEO with the Council's Community Department, replied that the installation of a car park is dependent on funding.

"There is currently no provision in the Indicative Capital Budget 2025-2027 to fund such a development. However, all funding opportunities will be explored in this regard as they arise in the interim," Ms Ireland finished.

This motion was tabled at the March sitting of Laois County Council's Borris in Ossory / Mountmellick Municipal District.