Laois lights demanded at runway crossroads
A councillor has strongly disagreed with the council’s stance on lighting at Coolrain crossroads which resembles a runway due to the speed of motorists.
Cllr Conor Bergin, Fine Gael, tabled a motion at a recent meeting with Laois County Council officials calling on the local authority to address the lack of public lighting on the L-507.
James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer, Road Design Office replied in writing.
“This location is outside of the speed limit in a rural location and does not based on this criteria necessitate the installation of a public light,” he said.
Cllr Bergin was not satisfied with the response.
“I’d strongly disagree,” he said.
He claimed the junction was very busy with traffic from Mountrath and elsewhere.
“A couple of lights makes a huge difference,” he said.
He sought a specific grant for the route.
Cllr James Kelly, Independent, supported adding that it is used by a lot of trucks.
“The road is like a runway. They are all coming down the hill to it,” he said.
Cllr Kelly said three lights had been funded from the councillors discretionary grant nearby and a similar source could pay for the Coolrain lights.
He added that a school bus stops in the vicinity which reinforces the need for lights especially as evenings darken.
The issue was raised at the September meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting.