Lack of Mountmellick N80 bypass, of jobs and of a train service the big issues

A handful of Mountmellick people ventured out on the evening of Storm Jocelyn to give their opinions at the public consultation on the new Mountmellick Local Area Plan.

Laois County Council held the event in Mountmellick library on Tuesday evening, January 23.

Senior Planner David O’Hara told the Leinster Express / Laois Live what issues were highlighted by local people to them.

“Traffic is a big issue. The lack of a bypass, and the atmosphere that creates.

“It impacts on pedestrians and cyclists.

“The road is the elephant in the room. It is still a big priority for us,” he said.

However he agreed that without any priority for the bypass by the Government in the National Development Plan, and therefore no funding to be allocated to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), it will not be built.

“The TII would be a big player with the road,” Mr O'Hora said.

“The absence of a train connection has been mentioned to us as well.

“Jobs, the employment situation was highlighted. That is dependent on the IDA and Enterprise Ireland.

“People are also bringing up the flooding risk,” he said.

The positives in Mountmellick also came up.

“People are complimenting the Townlink bus service.

“The heritage of Mountmellick is also quite impressive, there is a very nice Main Street and fine buildings and history in the town.

“The theatre has been complimented too,” he said.

Cllr Paddy Bracken was at the evening. He said that the former Central Garage on Emmet Street, vacant since 2011, must be tackled.

Mr O'Hora listed possible carrot and stick approaches that could be used by the council to change its future.

They include Compulsory Purchase Orders, vacancy taxes and Croi Conaithe grants.

The public are being asked to give their views on any or all all aspects of the town, including housing, economic development, urban design and regeneration, transport and travel, the environment, heritage and landscape.

Submissions can be made up to 5pm on February 5, by post to: Laois County Council, Senior Planner, Áras an Chontae, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.

Online comments can be sent via the website consult.laois.ie and by email: mountmellicklap@laoiscoco.ie

The draft plan will be published in spring, followed by more public consultation. The final plan will be adopted by September 2024.