Community seeks use of old building in Laois

Councillors backed the plan to put the old building back into use

A community group is seeking permission to use an old dilapidated pumphouse to store communal tools.

Fianna Fail Cllr Paschal McEvoy asked in a motion: “That Laois County Council investigate the possibility of allowing the residents of The Drive in Vicarstown to use the old Shed for storing tools.”

In a written response, Senior Engineer at Water Services, Adrian Barrett stated that “the council will meet with Cllr McEvoy to inspect the location and determine the appropriate solution.”

Cllr McEvoy said he wasn’t sure who owned the building but he new it was in a state of poor repair.

“It hasn’t been used for years. They are prepared to do it up,” he explained.

Laois Council Area Engineer Tom Drennan said the building appeared to be an old pumphouse. He said it might be under Uisce Eireann’s ownership.

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan seconded the motion. “It is nice to see communities being able to make use of existing infrastructure,” she said.

The issue was discussed during the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.