Council asked to turn floodplain into car park for Laois town
The request was made at a recent council meeting
A floodplain in Portarlington should be turned into a car park, a recent council meeting was told.
Fine Gael Cllr PJ Kelly said businesses in Portarlington “are crying out for these car parking spaces” on the land which can’t be used for development.
He tabled a motion asking: “That Laois County Council consider the purchase of 4.75 acres of land in the townland of Cooltedery for the purpose of supplying car parking as this is within close proximity of the Town Square and Market House.”
“It is an ideal location for it. It is never going to be fit for anything else,” said Cllr Kelly.
“Turn it into a car park. It can still be a floodplain,” he claimed.
“The businesses in the town are crying out for these car parking spaces,” Cllr Kelly added.
Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins seconded the motion. He said it was a designated floodplain and it made sense for the council to acquire it.
In a written response, Head of Finance Gerry Murphy said “the landowner has been contacted regarding the purchase of this piece of land and we are still awaiting a reply.”
The issue was discussed at the monthly meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.