Five new roads planned in Portlaoise but land zoning the big issue for locals
Deadline nears for public to seek changes in Laois County Council's six year plan
The countdown is on to view and change the new six year plan for rapidly growing Portlaoise.
The Laois capital town's Local Area Plan from 2024 to 2030 is aiming to cope with the fast expansion of the town, covering housing, roads, services, schools and industry while also protecting its heritage, and averting climate damage.
Laois County Council senior planner Donal Kiely has been meeting the public in open information days at county hall.
He told the Leinster Express / Laois Live what the big concerns are locally.
The plan states that there is enough residential land already zoned in the town to allow for growth up to 2030.
Its focus is on adding housing to the town centre, so people can get places within a 15 minute walk, discouraging car use.
There are five new roads planned. These include one across HSE land to link the Dublin road to Stradbally road. One from Rathgaline on the Dublin road out to the Borris Road. A new one parallel to Summerhill Lane to Rathleague. Another would run parallel to the M7 linking the Timahoe Road and Abbeyleix Road.
The biggest one is the Portlaoise Northern Orbital route, around the town that would link the Mountmellick road at Fairgreen to the Dublin road, running behind Rathevan estate.
The planned new roads for Portlaoise, marked in blue and white bars.
"We hope they will be done, but they are all costly, long term plans," Mr Kiely said.
The council's focus is on a greener Portlaoise, detailed in a dedicated draft local transport plan.
"The big takeout from this is a new stress on active travel, as against more cars. The emphasis is getting people to walk and cycle. We hope the bus service will be in place during the plan but that depends on Bus Eireann and service providers.
There are little to no spare primary school places in Portlaoise, at crisis stage according to local principals.
However the planner says this is the responsibility of the Department of Education.
"The department is the key provider, it lies with them, they would make submissions to us," he said.
The plan says the council will contininue to work with the Department of Education to identify and develop sites.
"The requirement for additional education facilities will be monitored during the lifetime of the plan," it states.
The public has until May 17 to view the maps, talk to the planners, give their submissions on the plan and request any changes to it.
"You can call into the counter or ring or email us. A draft is just our indication to the public, we want to hear from people on the ground, who live, work and shop here. The more engagement there is, the better," Donal Kiely said.