Councillors says Laois village 'dying on its feet' due to speeding traffic

A Laois village is ‘dying on its feet’ due to the speeding traffic which has resulted in children moving schools, a council meeting was told.  

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran made the claim at a recent meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.

She said “there is trucks going through Arles at 80 and 90 miles an hour” and the village is unsafe. 

“The village is dying on its feet at the moment and we just need to make it a bit safer,” she said.  

Cllr Moran asked in a motion “That Laois County Council in conjunction with the TII(Transport Infrastructure Ireland) and in the interest of health and safety, please put substantial traffic calming measures on both sides of Arles village. Putting pedestrian crossings at both the school and the GAA club and a school safety zone at Arles school. This needs to be done as a matter of urgency, to slow the traffic going through the village.”

In a written response, Laois County Council’s Roads Design Department said: “a previous notice of motion was approved in this matter. On foot of the previous notice of motion, traffic counts and speed surveys have been conducted. 

Discussions are ongoing with TII to progress and scope out the introduction of road traffic safety measures in Arles.”

Cllr Moran said she had asked “100 times” for the TII to visit Laois. She said a traffic island, ramps or road narrowing should be introduced and claimed parents are so concerned about the safety of their children  they are moving them to schools outside the village 

“Because it is so dangerous people are moving their kids out to Killeen(for school)”, she said. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan said the footpaths in Arles should be 1.5 metres. He said “the suck of a lorry” could pull a child “under the wheels” in the village. He said traffic passing through the village is travelling at 80kmh. 

“There is people taking children to other schools because of the health and safety,” said Cllr Brennan. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming said he also had motions in relation  to speeding in Arles and measures had been taken to progress safety in the village. He said speed surveys have taken place and the results should now be with the TII who can progress works.  Cllr Fleming said discussions are ongoing with TII. “There will be progress but it has been slow,” he said. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne  Phelan asked if there was “any possibility of erecting a small bridge to allow the kids cross the road?” 

Cllr Moran said she wasn’t happy about the TII taking so long. “The work needs to be done on this. Are they going to wait until someone is killed?” she asked. 

She said urgent action was needed in the village. “The council can put pressure on TII,” said Cllr Moran. 

Cllr Fleming said the parents and the school want to see a pedestrian crossing installed in the village. He again acknowledged that progress on the crossing hasn’t progressed quickly enough. 

“The pedestrian crossing is the answer. It is what all the groups want,” said Cllr Fleming. 

He said there was already a 50km sign in the village. 

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Cllr Moran said “there is a speed radar there and they are not stopping.”  

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