Laois Garden could spill onto road causing fatal accident, councillor claims

A council meeting was told tonnes of earth could spill out on a road and could cause a fatal accident if action isn’t taken. 

Independent Cllr Ben Brennan described the council’s response to his motion on the issue as a farce. 

He asked “that Laois County Council give an update on the hedge that is falling down on the road between Pedigree Corner and the N80.”

In a written response read at the latest Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District meeting, Senior Engineer, Water Services Section, Adrian Barrett stated: “The Council have written to the Ballylehane Group Water Scheme requesting them to engage with a consultant to investigate this issue and provide a report to the Council. No report has been received from the Group Water Scheme to date.”

Cllr Brennan said the issue has been ongoing for years.  

“We were told by the council to get a price and it would be done,” he said. 

“There was a price got and it didn’t suit the council. It was a big job,” Cllr Brennan explained. 

“The contractor came in and put down the water mains along the road but they never put back the bank which meant the ditch that was supported by the bank has fallen down now,” said Cllr Brennan. 

He explained that council staff had gone out to the location and witnessed the work that was needed.  

“This is a farce of an answer,” said Cllr Brennan. 

Sinn Fein Cllr Aidan Mullins, who seconded the motion, agreed wholeheartedly with Cllr Brennan. 

“This box hedge is slipping in the bank, it is in the perimeter of this man’s garden. It is about eight or ten feet high. The big danger I see is for slippage there, that whole thing is going to come out on the road because it is a sheer bank at the side of the road. If that comes down and traffic is passing there is going to be fatalities because you are going to have tonnes of earth, that whole man’s garden is subsiding,” he said.  

“It is an accident waiting to happen,” said Cllr Mullins. 

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran also supported the motion and said she too supported the motion. 

“You can see the slippage. If that slips, he has a tarmac drive behind him, that whole lot with all the clay and the whole lot will come onto the road,” she said. 

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Cllr Moran said the people who live in the house aren't responsible. She said they had no issue until the council got a contractor to carry out works in the area. 

“Something needs to be done and it needs to be done now,” she said. 

She said it “would be a very expensive lesson for Laois County Council” if they don’t act now. 

Cllr Mullins believes a retaining wall is needed and he claimed it wouldn’t be such a big job had the matter been dealt with years ago.