Laois residents near Portlaoise schools hit with heavy traffic and e-scooter students
Speed radar and separate cycle lane among requests to Laois County Council
Some 14 years since two big Portlaoise secondary schools moved into a new shared campus, neighbouring residents are still suffering the brunt of heavy school traffic.
Now students on E-scooters are adding to the traffic dangers, according to Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird.
St Mary's CBS and Scoil Chríost Rí have some 1,600 pupils between them and over 100 staff. Their shared exit is near Colliers Lane and the Borris Road, both home to thousands of Portlaoise residents. Long tailbacks are a daily occurance.
Colliers Lane residents are calling on Laois County Council to do works on their road, according to Cllr Willie Aird.
He tabled a motion to the May meeting of Portlaoise Muncipal District, describing the issues.
"We are going to have heavy traffic all day every day until school is out for summer.
"People say the pedestrian crossing is too close to the roundabout. If people don't know it's there. It's location is questionable.
"When infrastructure goes in at the school, people who live there are entitled to exit their own houses.
"We don't have a marked cycleway, it's shared with the path. There is a huge amount of people going to school on E scooters.
"When schools start back in September, I'll bet there will be a 10% increase in scooters.
"They need infrastructure to ensure the safety of pepole walking, people coming out of their homes. With all the developments and contributions, could some not be ringfenced," Cllr Aird asks.
His motion asked the council to upgrade the road, the footapths and cycleways and include a speed radar sign.
Cllr Thomasina Connell seconded.
"There is a little white line on the path, if that could be re-marked. Cyclists are going up and down on the same lanes. Maybe we need to engage with the schools," she suggests.
"We want children to cycle to school but it's just too dangerous," said the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald.
Cllr John Joe Fennelly welcomed the new law on E-scooters banning under 16s, and placing a speed limit of 20kmph.
Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agrees and said that the one rider only law should also "improve things".
In reply to the motion, area engineer Paul McLoughlin told Cllr Aird that the council "will assess and consider the proposed improvements to the existing infrastructure as part of the next restoration improvement programme" which will be decided on by the new councillors, elected after the coming June election.