Laois estate residents complain of anti-social behaviour, speeding and trespassing

Residents in a newly built housing estate in Laois have held a public meeting asking Laois County Council to help end anti-social behaviour, speeding  and trespassing.

Maryborough Village on the Mountrath Road in Portlaoise, still has sections with new houses still on sale priced from €550,000.

Residents held a meeting in Portlaoise Parish Centre recently to share their concerns with councillors from Portlaoise Municipal District, who in turn tabled three separate motions to their May meeting.

Cllr Barry Walsh, Cllr Tommy Mulligan and Cllr Paddy Buggy all asked the council to give an update on the process to take Maryborough Village in charge, each relaying issues.

“They want traffic calming, the estate has a lot of young families, there is a lot of anti-social behaviour, with cars driving in and out.

“They hope to get it handed over in a few months but I'd like to see the council in interim talks with residents, it's a nice estate,” Cllr Walsh said.

“They are eager to have it taken over. There is anti-social behaviour and they'd like to come to the council for help and advice. They can't because some parts are not taken in charge.

“Trespassers are jumping a wall, but it can't be raised until it is taken in charge,” Cllr Mulligan said.

“Garda Graham Kavanagh is involved in designing safer estates, perhaps his services should be sought when estates come in for planning permission,” suggested Cllr Paddy Buggy.

“There was a great turnout at the meeting. This community is doing great work, we should give them every support we can,” he added.

A pile of paperwork has to be first done by the developer, council planners confirmed in a reply.

“The responsibility for upkeep and maintenance for the Maryborough Village rests with the developer until such time as the estate is taken in charge.”

The council planners stated that they last wrote to the developer on May 2, asking for an update on their requests.

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To take the estate in charge, taking responsibility for roads, lights and services maintanance, they first need an application form, the upload of all drawings, certificates and reports to Laois County Council's shared portal, as built drawings, CCTV surveys of manholes and drainage, health and safety files and required reports and certificates.

The planners say that once this is all received, they will carry out an assessment, and then advertise the estate for taking in charge.