The Portlaoise pedestrian crossings that are 'in the wrong place'

Two Portlaoise pedestrian crossings in a busy shopping area are "in the wrong place" and it could cause an accident, a Laois County Councillor has warned.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald wants Laois County Council to swap the lights on the Kylekiproe Road between Tesco and Dunnes Stores, in Laois Shopping Centre and the Kyle Shopping Centre.

One crossing installed when Laois shopping centre was extended, is at the foot of a long wheelchair ramp and has traffic lights but is little used as it is farther away from the Kyle centre entrance.

The other was installed a few years ago at the request of Portlaoise councillors, and leads from the stairs across to Kyle, but has no control lights, so shoppers rely on drivers to stop to let them cross safely. 

Cllr Fitzgerald tabled a motion to the September meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District, and the roads department have promised to consider the problem.

She described the issue.

"The two crossings are in the wrong place. One is at the stairs to Tesco, pedestrians keep going in a flow and traffic has no opportunity to flow. The other one with lights is not used at all.

"People have a right to walk, but there has to be a time, it's non stop. If you had the lights there, at least you would get a break to let the traffic to. It's going to cause an accident. Loads of people are saying it to me," she said.

In answer, Laois County Council road designers say they will meet her onsite to discuss her proposal, and then carry out a road safety inspection.