Laois village waiting for €8,000 for road safety rethink

Laois County Council is to try and find €8,000 to pay for a roads redesign of a village where "speed is the number one issue".

Ballyroan village south of Portlaoise is suffering speeding traffic on all its approach roads as well as in the village centre.

So says the Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council, Cllr Barry Walsh a representative of Portlaoise Municipal District.

He tabled a motion to the November meeting asking for a new road layout and safety scheme for all the approach roads and the Main Street of Ballyroan.

He described what needs to happen in what is his own village.

"Since I started as a councillor, speed is the number one issue I am approached about in Ballyroan, on all of the approach roads.

"We have had a number of audits on speed, on the junctions and on the road widths. They came back with recommendations. They showed that there are high levels of speeding on the approach roads. 40 to 50% of traffic is going over the speed limit. 

"It is worrying. I get it regularly. People send me videos showing cars going well over the limit.

"We are looking for a plan, in consultation with the community.  Some will be for ramps, some against them. I know we can't do it all at once but at least we can have a plan in place.

"We need lit up gateways, and 'narrow entrance' signs. 

"I'll be pushing this in the coming year. The new playground will make it busier. The road to the GAA club is very busy. It's used all year round now for other sports too. There have been a good few near misses. People passing while cars are turning right, making dangerous manoeuvres," Cllr Walsh said.

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Cllr Paddy Buggy seconded his motion.

"Barry is right in everything he points out," he said.

The council's road design section say that subject to identifying an appropriate budget, a preliminary layout for an enhanced public realm and road safety scheme can be prepared.