Fears for pedestrians in Laois Village as TII blamed for hold up in road safety works

The need for road safety work at Arles was highlighted at a recent Council meeting. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan asked in a motion “that Laois County Council give an update on the safety measures being put in place in Arles Village and around Arles National School.”

In a written response, the Roads Design Department said, “Road Design have previously provided a response to this notice of motion from other Councillors. Discussions are ongoing with TII(Transport Infrastructure Ireland) re: funding and type of works proposed. Implementation of safety measures at Arles School are a high priority for Laois County Council.”

Cllr Brennan asked “how long does it take. This is going on for years now.”  He said there is a national school and football pitch at the village and no pedestrian crossing despite “a massive traffic flow going through” every day. “It is absolutely outrageous what’s going on,” he said. 

He said TII have to step up to the mark. “Some child or someone is going to get badly hurted and then there will be no problem getting something done,” said Cllr Brennan. 

Cllr Aisling Moran said the issue has been repeatedly raised at meetings and the TII are not listening. “We all have been bringing this up,” she said. “They are being paid by taxpayers money…they won’t listen to one word that we are saying,” said Cllr Moran. 

“There needs to be safety measures put in there as soon as possible,” she added. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming described the delay as a “major disappointment” and he said the necessary work was “fairly simple” and would comprise of a pedestrian crossing at the school and traffic calming on either side of the village. 

He said it was very disappointing and very unfair on the residents and the management of the school in Arles that TII won’t come and discuss it. “All I hope is that it is going to happen soon,” said Cllr Fleming. 

Cllr Moran said the safety work was badly needed in Arles with the number of children around the football pitch. She said there were other areas facing similar problems like in Killeshin, Ballylinan and Ballickmoyler. 

Cllr Brennan said the narrow width of the footpath is also a problem in the village. “You can’t push a pram there and have a child in your hand,” he explained. He said the child would have to walk behind due to the narrowness of the footpath.  

Cllr Moran said a small child could “get sucked under” a truck along the road while walking on the path. 

The motion which was discussed at the latest monthly meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District was seconded by Cllr Moran.