€12m Lyster Square works to soon start but businesses want more space for trucks
A €12 million upgrade is coming to Lyster Square in Portlaoise to add green spaces and make it more pedestrian friendly.
However, Laois councillors have put in their requests on behalf of drivers, for bigger parking spaces and a second truck loading bay, suggesting the removal of a hedgerow.
Cllr Barry Walsh tabled a motion to the May meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District asking for the loading bay on the JFL Avenue side to be extended by 10 metres, and to clearly signal the 45 minute free parking.
“Local businesses sent me pictures of lorries arriving at the same time, causing traffic chaos. There is room if some hedgerow was taken out,” he said.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald supported and she said parking spaces are “very tight”, noting that elderly people park outside the post office to get their pensions.
Cllr Tommy Mulligan agrees.
“During any business hours, most of the time it's at capacity. There's three big shops there, Eurogiant, Mulhalls and Allbooks,” he said.
He also tabled a motion to the same meeting to ask for a second loading bay, on the east side of Lyster Square.
“From the Bank of Ireland to Egan's Off Licence, there are 28 shops and businesses without a loading bay. That's a big area, affecting a lot of businesses. Ideally they should deliver early in the morning but some are during the day and there are issues. This is an extremely busy part of the town," he said.
He suggests using the lane behind the former library for it.
Cllr Walsh noted “it's great to have the problem, it means businesses are busy. If you could accommodate it without sacrificing parking spaces it would be brilliant.”
Director of Services Simon Walton agrees that Lyster Square is in “dire need” of alterations.
“While work was done to enhance permeability in Lyster Square, there are other areas that are in dire need of an upgrade so that the needs of motorists and non motorists are addressed,” he said.
Cllr Walsh asked if this would include public consultation, but it will not.
“It was designed in close consultation with public representatives and Portlaoise Town Team, it doesn't need planning, it's resurfacing,” the council director said.
He said €9m is from the Urban Regeneration fund, with another €3m from Laois County Council, saying "it is at the point of commencing".
In replies to the motions, engineer Ken Morley said that adding an extra bay will be examined as part of the overall upgrade to Lyster Square and Portlaoise Town Centre under the URDF regeneration project. Read about that project which includes upgrades to Bull Lane and Lyster Lane here.
Extra signs showing the 45 minute free parking will also be considered.