Council remove 15 unnecessary signs at Laois village
Cllr says it could have been a contender for the Guinness Book of Records
The Pike of Rushall could have been a contender for the Guinness Book of Records for having so many unnecessary signs, a councillor claimed.
Independent Cllr James Kelly said at one point there were 21 signs at the Pike of Rushall and the council removed 15 of them. He recalled raising the issue at a previous meeting.
“I made a comment that the Pike of Rushall could be in the Guinness Book or Records for the number of road signs that were on the entrance to it. We counted up to 21 road signs and the council came in straight away and took away about 15 or 16 that weren’t necessary,” he recalled.
He said the Pike of Rushall Tidy Towns group were very grateful for the removal of the unnecessary signs and the inclusion of “nice new signage”.
He outlined the history of the Pike of Rushall explaining that it was an old turnpike with toll gates across the road which would be opened up for stage coaches.
“All owners had to pay for the pike staff to be turned aside. It was one penny for the logged wheeled cars and it was six pennies for a band wheeled car. That’s why it was called the Pike of Rushall,” Cllr Kenny explained.
He requested in a motion: “That Laois County Council provide new entrance signs to the Pike of Rushall on the R445 regional road”
In response, Senior Executive Engineer, Edmund Kenny said: “Laois County Council will arrange for replacement/new signage as deemed necessary.”
Cllr Kelly said he would get a design from the local Tidy Towns group and send it on to the council for consideration.
Fine Gael Cllr John King supported the motion and thanked Cllr Kelly for explaining the history of the Pike of Rushall.
The issue was discussed at the January meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District.