Big Laois parking overhaul at advanced stage in Portlaoise
Laois County Council project most extensive in County Town with tap payment soon to be possible
An extensive replacement and modernisation of Laois parking meters is underway with the focus of work in Portlaoise.
Promised in late 2023, the phased renewal programme will see Laois County Council replacing machines on roads in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick.
Just over a year later work is now advancing on the replacement with crews removing meters on Portlaoise streets where paid on-street parking is permitted. All of the the existing machines are cash only with many showing signs of rust and other weather damage. The renewal project aims to address both issues.
Some machines have already been removed with bases installed for new machines on Portlaoise streets.
Simon Walton is Laois County Council's Director of Services for Roads. He also has responsibility for Portlaoise. He outlined the work being carried out to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.
One of the meters on Main Street to be removed.
"To that end, Laois County Council has commenced a parking meter replacement programme, replacing a number of meters (busiest meters first) in each of the next few years. Ultimately, this will enable a full suite of cash/card meters, as opposed to the older cash-only meters," he said.
The rolling out of new cash, cashless and contactless parking payment units was one of the key recommendations a study on parking in Portlaoise published in 2024.
The car parking review found that found that the County Town is heavily reliant on private car parks relative to other towns. It also found that just 6% of the 3,822 spaces are on-street which is council-provided.
The consultants also recommended parking spaces be cut by 20% to meet climate change targets but the council said this would not be adopted.