New plan to brighten up Portlaoise laneways

Plans are being sought to brighten up a number of laneways in the heart of Portlaoise town.  

Laois County Council, in partnership with Downtown Portlaoise, is seeking submissions for design, supply, installation and operation of a Laneway Enhancement Project. 

The project, which is expected to take two years to complete, aims to improve the appearance of Bull Lane, Lyster Lane and Pepper’s Lane in Portlaoise.

The initial phase of the contract, estimated to cost in the region of €130,000, will cover the preliminary design stage of the planned works on the three Portlaoise laneways. 

The overall enhancement project will consist of decoration work to include painting and lighting systems. 

Director of Services at Laois County Council, Simon Walton said the tender was not related to a previous enhancement scheme for laneways as part of the public realm design announced in 2018.

He said the latest tender “arises from a Community Recognition Fund allocation, awarded to Downtown Portlaoise(DP). Laois County Council, in consultation with DP, agreed to provide additional funding and to tender, on behalf of the Council and DP, for enhancements to the laneways.”

“The enhancements proposed, in this instance, are not paving related i.e. not part of 2018 public realm design. They are more decorative in nature,” Mr Walton stated. 

Further details about the project will be revealed as the project progresses, he said. 

In late 2018, plans were drawn up for the enhancement of central areas in Portlaoise including the laneways.  The plans included artists' impressions of new laneway entrances and lighting. 

Under the 2018 plans, pavement, lighting, landscaping were to be installed on a number of the town's lanes that had become run down. The project aimed to integrate older and newer parts of the town.

It specifically mentioned works on Lyster Lane, Peppers Lane and Bull Lane.

Lighting was to be embedded into the walkways which were to be resurfaced. Canopy lighting was suggested for some of the lanes, in particular, Lyster Lane, the shortest but busiest of the lanes.

Pictured above: An artist's impression from the 2018 plans

New signs were also earmarked for the entrance and exit to the lanes in a style which takes its influence from the former Portlaoise ironworks foundry.