'A pity Storm Darragh didn't bring them down' pole blocking Portlaoise house driveway

A Laois councillor has said it is a pity that Storm Darragh didn't knock down two telecom poles in the county, because they are blocking residential homes.

A telegraph pole planted "right in the middle" of a driveway must be moved, a Portlaoise councillor says.

The pole is on Well Road, Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said. 

She wants Laois County Council to ask Eir to move it.

"A resident contacted me. An Eir pole is right in the middle of their driveway, literally. It's there years. They can't even have a gate because of the pole. To the left is a little green public area of no use, the pole could be moved there.

"The owner has tried speaking to Eir workers on many occasions, they're not getting anywhere.

"The pole looks in a bad state, they could do with a new one, and that would be a good opportunity to move it," Cllr Dwane Stanley said.

Cllr Barry Walsh seconded and said he has a similiar issue for a resident in Ballyroan, who is still waiting months after he tabled his motion.

"You have to pay Eir to come out and assess a pole. They will only move it if it's causing disruption. Please follow that up too," he asked the council.

"It's a pity Storm Darragh didn't bring down the two poles," she said.

Cllr Dwane Stanley's motion was tabled to the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District. In reply, engineer Wes Wilkinson said he will meet her at the pole and then contact Eir.