'Irate' in Laois over road not surfaced in three decades
Laois councillors warned that it is an election issue
Locals in Laois are ‘irate’ because of the bad state of the road which it’s claimed hasn’t been surfaced since the 1990s.
That was the point made by Cllr John King, Fine Gael, when he met recently with Laois County Council officials.
He tabled a motion calling on the local authority to give priority to re-surfacing the road from the four roads junction, Cullohill including Turfarney/Shragh Hill to Coolkerry Cross, Rathdowney.
“This road has not been re-surfaced in over 30 years and also request land owners to trim back the hedgerows to all these roads to dry a little during the winter months,” said a motion he tabled.
He told the meeting that it is a main road and while parts have been repaired it must be done in 2024 and it’s an election issue for people in the area.
“We’ve been threatened if we don’t do it we won’t be here (reelected),” he said.
Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, agreed that the people had been waiting a long time for a new surface. However, he feared it is not on the council's roads programme for the coming year.
“It should be because it has gone very bad,” he said.
Cllr Bergin added that there should be a priority list.
Edmond Kenny, Senior Executive Engineer, responded in writing. He said this road would be considered as part of 2024 roads programme having regard to the three-year programme previously agreed with councillors.
The issue was raised at the Borris-in-Ossory Moutmellick Municipal District meeting.