Petition by residents in large Laois housing estate to get taken over by council

Residents in one of the largest housing estates in Laois developed during the Celtic Tiger are filling out a petition to get taken in charge by Laois County Council.

Kilminchy in Portlaoise has over 700 homes, and is still expanding, on the Dublin Road.

However it was built in separate sections by multiple property developers over the past 25 years. Some never requested their sections to be taken in charge, giving responsibility for roads, paths and lights maintenance to the local authority.

Now residents are taking the matter into their own hands.

They are signing a petition called a plebiscite that will be presented to the council, formally requesting to be taken in charge.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan will present it, tabling a motion asking for the taking in charge of multiple areas in Kilminchy, to the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.

He asks for the areas of Lake Place, Lake Vale, Lake Way, Lake Drive, Lake Gardens, Lake Grove, Lake Glade, Lake Crescent and Lime Tree avenue to be taken as soon as possible.

In reply, the council said that Lake Crescent, Lake Grove and Lime Tree Avenue are already taken in charge. They said the developers never applied on behalf of the other areas.

Cllr Mulligan listed the problems.

"There are no road markings, there's issues with speed. There is a lack of Children at Play and Slow signs, the footpaths need to be repaired. Trees are raising a lot of paths. Some stretches of road need new surfaces. The lights need to be upgraded. Parts of Lake Crescent have no lighting.

"There are corner sites that were never built on and are abandoned. There's a lot of frustration. The residents have petitioned for Laois County Council to take it in charge. That is ongoing, I will hand it in," cllr Mulligan said. 

The Director of Services Simon Walton had a positive answer.

"I'm happy to support this. People are entitled to a plebiscite under legislation. I know there are ongoing developments in Kilminchy but that's not where I'm talking about. Where areas are developed over 20 years ago, the council is the last resort here. I'm happy to commit to this for areas over 20 years old. 

"The council doesn't have all the information to hand such as 'as built' drawings, sewers. We haven't got that but having regard to the circumstances is it appreciated that the council can take them in charge. 

"If residents send in the petition, I can act on that to progress it," Mr Walton said.

Read also: Parents demand action after tragic road deaths of two Laois children

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley seconded Cllr Mulligan's motion.

She suggests that in future, installing traffic calming and painted road markings should be part of planning approval conditions.

"There's only two ways an estate can be taken in charge, one is a petition, the other if a builder makes an application," she noted.