Road safety issues block new footpath to link Laois landmark to village

Laois County Council have refused to provide a footpath link between the village of Donaghmore and Donaghmore Workhouse Museum due to safety concerns.

Councillor James Kelly requested Laois County Council to apply for national funding to provide a new footpath between Donaghmore Village and the museum in order to promote tourism and business in the area.

Speaking at the April meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick MD, Cllr Kelly said that if a footpath could be installed to connect the village to the museum then it could have the potential to be "the jewel in the crown of this county."

However, Laois County Council said that the proposed footpath which would run along the R435 would present "significant safety risks" due to the high speeds of vehicles on the road. The speed limit for that stretch of road is 80km/h. 

As well as speed concerns, the restricted width and poor horizontal alignment of the road which would require multiple pedestrian crossing points were also cited as safety issues.

READ NEXT: 'Disappointment' no to bus stop at Portlaoise housing estate

The council explained that the proposal does not comply with Ireland's 'Safe Systems Approach' of Vision Zero 2050 regarding vulnerable road user protection.

They added that safe pedestrian integration cannot be achieved without substantial speed reduction and/or physical segregation.

Laois County Council concluded that an application for national funding is considered "premature." 

Cllr Kelly noted that he and Cllr John King have done a lot of work in the area in terms of road safety issues.

He argued that the link would have great benefits for the village of Donaghmore, creating a "business and tourist environment."

The Independent councillor said that there is a consultancy evening planned for Monday evening, April 20 at Donaghmore Workhouse on a feasibility study for the future of Donaghmore.

"I believe that for this to work properly, we need a pedestrian footpath between the village and Donaghmore Workhouse," Cllr Kelly told the council. 

With support from Cllr King, Cllr Kelly said he is "not going to close the book on it."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme