'The town needs a kickstart' reactions to draft Mountmellick Town First plan

It was a full house at a Laois library for the launch of a draft Town Centre First plan to improve the future of Mountmellick and win grants for what is the third biggest town in Laois.

Over two hours on Tuesday evening, June 17, hundreds of locals pored over idea boards showing positive images of a leafier, more pedestrian friendly town, embracing its heritage, public spaces, cafés, shops and leisure areas, created by SLR Consulting and paid for by the Government.

However for locals, two big obstacles stick out in the way of any transformation.

Padraig and Bernie O’Toole were among the people who gave their reactions to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

“It’s the foundation of a very ambitious plan for Mountmellick to control long term development, as a better place to live, to spend your time, to improve the environment,” said Padraig.

“But it has a long way to go. We’ve been years now waiting for the flood relief scheme, and years for the bypass. It’s difficult to envisage how a long term plan will coexist with those two outstanding. But there’s a lot of good things in it, if they ever come to fruition,” he said.

“I think they should do the flood defences first. That should be the main focus here. Too many householders are nervous,” Bernie O'Toole added.

Fergal Conroy and Fran Baker, chair of Mountmellick Town Team. Photos: Denis Byrne

Kathleen O’Loughlin said “generally it’s a great development.

“Some of the ideas are a bit idealistic maybe, but it’s an improvement on what’s there. The town needs some kind of kickstart, to bring people back into it and help struggling businesses.

PHOTOS: Laois locals flock to Mountmellick town regeneration meeting

“People are making an effort but one of the big problems is the heavy traffic. I can’t see any place where the bypass is mentioned,” she said.

Lorna Baxter is not happy about losing parking spaces.

The draft plan for O'Connell Square, Mountmellick.

“I love the Smiths Field idea, I’d like a plaque to my granddad Sean O’Reilly because that’s where we had our athletic club. I would worry it would end up like the previous playground which was burnt after putting massive money into it.

“I’m not happy with the idea of the square. I’m very proud of our square and businesses and residents in it will end up losing 17 parking space. They are struggling enough to keep businesses going. Those lovely lights in Abbeyleix would be lovely in our square.

“There’s no consideration for age friendly parking and a loading bay at McElwees would be a waste. I like the plan at the community arts centre but there isn’t enough parking for residents. The parish carpark at the back closes at night. Bingo is a mad night, we get blocked in,” she said.

Frances Kavanagh hopes for more small council built bungalows.

“The bypass is needed, it wil ltake a lot of traffic out and that will help with the propositions they have here. It's causing a bottleneck.”

Maura Reddin and Barbara Lalor from the Tidy Towns group are on the Town Team.

“We’re glad that there is a big focus on the town centre. The flood relief is needed and it looks like it will be another five years before it starts,” said Maura.

“None of this is written in stone, so we want input. Suggestions will be heard and taken down. I feel certain projects will be done. We definitely need our link road, there’s over 15,000 vehicles passing through daily,” Barbara said.

The draft plan for Mountmellick town centre

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Cllr Paddy Bracken is the only public representative in Mountmellick.

“It’s great to see the plan and hopefully we’ll move on from there and get it all right and put it all together.

“It’s good for the town, it’s positive. We have to get everyone agreed on it first then get the funding to match it,” he said.