Constant flooding on busy Laois road 'showering' walkers

Pedestrians are unable to walk down a busy road in Laois due to constant flooding, a local councillor has said.

Councillor John Joe Fennelly has called for Laois County Council to clear all gullies around Abbeyleix, particularly the Ballacolla Road.

Speaking at the April meeting of the Portlaoise MD, Cllr Fennelly said that the Ballacolla Road is "causing concern all the time" despite drainage works being carried out twice already. 

The Fianna Fáil councillor explained that any time there's heavy rain, water will extend out across the centre of the road.

"There's a footpath down there that takes you all the way to Old Town. You cannot walk on it if there has been any rain at all because when two cars meet you're showered and that's the way it is," he told Laois County Council.

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Flooding on the road was described by Cllr Fennelly as a "major problem", as he noted that just this week water had come out halfway across the road after only a few hours of rain. 

He urged Laois County Council to examine the road again to resolve the issue. 

Cllr Barry Walsh supported the motion, adding that heavy rain is leading to debris such as twigs and branches blocking up gullies across the county.

Laois County Council agreed for the Portlaoise MD office to carry out gully cleaning works in Abbeyleix.

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