Residents complain about parking at Portlaoise mosque and preschool

Parking by users of a mosque and a childcare centre, on either side of the entrance to a Portlaoise housing estate, have become "dangerous" and "stressful", with residents "boxed" in and afraid for their children out playing.

Two Laois councillors from the Portlaoise Municipal District, have tabled motions asking for Laois County Council to address the traffic concerns of residents of Grenville, on the Dublin Road in Portlaoise.

Cllr Paddy Buggy had a motion on each issue, and Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald had a motion about the estate's parking issues.

Cllr Buggy asks that "Laois County Council only consider allowing new places of worship to be located where there is sufficient parking space for those who attend their place of worship".

"Along with our duty to facilitate physical wellbeing of our citizens, is their spiritual wellbeing. There are many forms of belief. I ask that those wishing to congregate as a group, if they purchase facilities, parking is essential. I am asking this for future plans," he said.

"I presume you are speaking about the mosque. I agree," said Cllr Tommy Mulligan.

"This was granted permission but there wasn't adequate parking. The residents of Grenville are suffering now," he said.

Cllr Fitzgerald and Cllr Buggy had two other motions, both regarding parking at the creche in Grenville.

"We got a lot of residents in Grenville contacting us raising concerns. A lot of residents find it difficult to get out of their homes. Drivers mightn't be parking at their exact driveway but it's a narrow road. Children playing run out between the cars. This is going on a long time and is increasingly stressful. They are really looking for solutions, it's dangerous," Cllr Fitzgerald said.

"The childcare facility is very important to our families, but we all wish to keep our kids safe. They are asking for the safe drop-off and collection of children at the junction. We do want to keep the childcare facility going, but make it safer for children and also residents. It's a bottleneck at times. An imaginative solution is needed," Cllr Buggy said.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said they all got the same email from Grenville residents and supports the calls for better traffic management.

"On Friday on Worship days, this is going on 15 years or more. It seems to be getting worse. I'm not sure what we can do. The facility is there, and in a very busy area. The Gardaí can move cars when they are on double yellow lines, but apart from that I don't know the answer. There are two facilities on the Dublin road it's not just Grenville." she said.

Cllr Mulligan described "a huge sense of frustration".

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"A lot of residents are being boxed into their houses. They are deeply annoyed. A lot of disrespect is being shown by those parking their cars. A lot are parking at the green and there is a particular concern for children. A private estate is being used as a public carpark. It would be great to see the council liaise with the Gardaí on this," he said.

In reply to the motions, Portlaoise Municipal District officials say they will liaise with An Garda Síochána to support appropriate enforcement of traffic regulations.  Laois County Council's planning department said that it will "assess applications for new places of worship in accordance with the development management standards of the County Development Plan 2021-2027 which include parking requirements and the zoning objectives of the area".