Extra streetlights wanted for popular Portlaoise walking route

A popular walking route near Portlaoise town centre needs more streetlights to make it safe, a local councillor says.

The stretch of N80 road from St Fintan's HSE campus down to St Peter & Paul's church, is "quite dark", according to the Laois County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Thomasina Connell.

"I have been contacted by a couple of residents. It is quite dark in the evening. People use it regularly for walking. I really think, between the level of traffic and the amount of people using it for walking, that we should consider putting funds aside for additional lights," Cllr Connell said.

She tabled a motion to the December meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, asking that the council review the lighting on the stretch of road, with a view to installing extra streetlights.

Cllr Noel Tuohy agrees.

"I brought it up about lights that are not working, they seem to be constantly out of order, one is gone outside Paddy Connolly's house along that area," he said.

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Cllr Willie Aird added that a person with visual impairment uses the road.

In reply, the area engineer Wes Wilkinson said that the roads design office will arrange to meet Cllr Connell on site "to assess the problem and identify a solution".