Exclusive Laois housing estate must lose electric gates to be taken in charge

Residents of an exclusive gated housing estate in Portlaoise will have to lose their electric front gate if they want Laois County Council to take it in charge.

Rankin's Wood was built during the Celtic Tiger era in the early 2000's, tucked away off the New Road in Portlaoise near the James Fintan Lalor Avenue junction.

Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird asked the council to take the estate in charge, in a motion tabled to the Portlaoise Municipal District's November meeting, his last one if he wins his first General Election bid as expected.

In reply, planning official Evelyn Brownrigg agreed that there are outstanding issues for sewerage.

"We have carried out a CCTV survey of both foul and storm water sewers which have identified a number of issues which will have to be dealt with prior to taking in charge and subject to available funding.

"It should be noted that this is a gated development, however the original planning permission gave no indication that this was the be a gated development with controlled access.

"As a condition of taking in charge, the development must become a public road and as long as the gates remain in place, this can not be progressed further until the issue of access is resolved," the planner explained.

Cllr Aird confirmed the condition.

"So it's up to the residents, they can open the gate. If they want to keep it closed, it won't be taken in charge," he said.

Last year Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald tabled a motion to ask for measures slow cyclists, walkers and scooter riders going past the Rankin's Wood gate on the cycle lane, describing the situation as a "nightmare, saying residents were "terrified" they were going to knock someone down.