Laois councillor breaks toe in unfinished Portlaoise estate
Council called on to get developer to fix problems
A Laios Sinn Féin public representative claims she broke her toe on a sunken path in the Portlaiose estate where she lives because the developer has yet to complete work which allow the council take it over.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley used her injury to highlight a litany of problems in Clonroosk where she has lived since 2009. She lives in Phase 1 of the estate. Work on the development began during the Celtic Tiger era and houses are still being built there.
She thanked the council for helping repair some lights in but said many are still not working correctly. She said there are also problems with the footpaths. She said the pavements have sunk allowing tree roots to emerge.
“I fell over a section of the footpath a year ago and broke my toe. Eventually, the builder came around months later and fixed the section of path,” she said.
She said elderly people in the estate are also at risk of injury.
Ultimately, she said nothing can happen because the council has not yet taken it in charge.
She said she would prepare a form for residents requesting that it would be taken in charge to advance the process.
“We needed to address the lights, footpaths, trees but we can do nothing because it is not taken in charge,” she said.
Cllr Dwane Stanley appealed to the Director of Services for Portlaoise Simon Walton to assist.
“I’m living there since 2009 and there is no hope in hell of it being taken in charge,” she said.
Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil, supported her colleague.
Cllr Dwane Stanely tabled a motion calling on Laois County Council to fix the public lights and give an update on the taking in charge of Phase 1.
Trevor Hennessy, Acting /Senior Engineer replied in writing.
“It is the responsibility of the developer to repair public light in the estate as it is not in the charge of the council. No application has been from the developer to have Clonrooske Abbey taken in charge,” he said.
The issue was raised at the March meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District.