A Laois Sinn Féin member has written to Laois County Council over 'dangerous works' in Mountmellick that have closed off a local footpath.

Lorna Holohan Garry, who ran for Sinn Féin in the 2024 Local Elections for the Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Municipal District, has raised works at Manor Court in Mountmellick as 'dangerous for pedestrians'.

An old section of wall along the footpath began to collapse, leading Laois County Council to carry out emergency repair works. The footpath has since been closed off, leaving locals 'forced to walk into the path of oncoming traffic' due to a lack of accommodations in place, according to the Sinn Féin representative.

"It has been two weeks since these works were started, nothing has been done in over a week and the footpath has been left closed off to pedestrians," Ms Holohan Garry told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Pictured: The works taking place at Manor Court, Mountmellick

"The bollards have been left sitting there and people are forced to walk on the road. I completely understand that these works must be done, but accommodations should also have been put in place," Ms Holohan Garry argued.

"Road users driving over the bend of that bridge are blind for a split second due to the turn in the road, which is where the road works are. The path is completely closed, and elderly residents in the area use this footpath on a daily basis," she said.

"Watchorne's shop is on the corner and there is a housing estate in the area, residents are forced to walk around the barriers where they are then meeting oncoming traffic," she said.

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The Sinn Féin party member has said that many Mountmellick locals have been left frustrated by phases of roadworks in the town, following Uisce Éireann's two month road closure last June. She claims that many locals are finding fault with the stop and go systems implemented across the town, another instance where she believes 'more planning' was required.

"The last few months have seen roads across the town dug up on a phased basis, people aren't happy with the stop and go systems in place. It is causing constant bottlenecks, when these works should have been planned strategically to take place outside of school terms where traffic is lighter," Ms Holohan Garry explained.

Pictured: the Manor Court works

"Businesses suffered, for many it was easier and quicker to drive into Portlaoise for a takeaway, than it was to get into Roberto's in town.  These are necessary works that had to be done, but there was a lack of planning that was needed," she claimed.

The barriers protecting the works at Manor Court have been knocked down, which the Sinn Féin member has also brought to the attention of the Council.

"I have been told that the barriers on this road have been knocked down, making the road even narrower. It's a catch-22, a perfect storm," Ms Holohan Garry finished.

Laois County Council have responded to Ms Holohan Garry, stating that they have raised the issues with the district's roads engineer.

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