Several Laois County Councillors have complained about the quality of manhole covers secured on roads across the county.

This issue was brought to attention following a motion tabled by Rathdowney Fine Gael Cllr John King, who requested that the Council reinstates manhole covers on Moore Street Rathdowney.

"The manhole covers have gotten loose and very noisy due to heavy vehicles travelling to town on a daily basis," Cllr King said.

Pictured: Manholes along Moore street, Rathdowney

"It's very unfair to people who are trying to get a night's sleep for work the next day," he said.

Laois County Council's area office replied that the manhole covers will be replaced as part of works being carried out through the current town regeneration project.

Cllr King welcomed this reply, and questioned the quality of these covers.

"Cllr Paddy Bracken had the same issue in Mountmellick, and the covers were secured very well," he highlighted.

"I was out one morning, it's amazing the way the manhole covers can actually lift and go back down, there are people trying to sleep. I know we can repair them, but we have to look at the quality of the lids, they aren't heavy," he said.

"Trucks pass, and the manholes hop and rattle going down, it's like an alarm clock going outside. You wouldn't get a wink of sleep, so I would appreciate their repair," Cllr King said.

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This motion was seconded by Mountrath Independent Cllr James Kelly, who noted the health and safety risks of the loose manhole covers.

Pictured: Manholes along Moore Street, Rathdowney. Photo: Google Maps

"There are different types of covers depending on the utility, it's a health and safety risk and a road safety risk too," he said.

"People are crossing the road over them. People have to have their sleep, and people have to be safe crossing the road," Cllr Kelly said.

Independent Durrow Cllr Ollie Clooney expressed his frustration with the issue, hailing it as 'a nationwide problem'.

"I think this is a nationwide problem, we see it in Durrow and the covers aren't up to scratch," Cllr Clooney argued.

"Once a big weight goes over the manholes, they sink the covers. We have to have a look at the quality of these lids, they are currently giving problems and have been giving problems; they will also give problems in the future," he said.

"There has to be a different design on them, or they have to be put in stronger, the weight of the lorries is now heavier. Once the manhole covers go down they are going to rattle like hell, and they will keep people awake," Cllr Clooney finished.

This motion was tabled at a September sitting of Laois County Council's Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Muncipal District.

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