School buses and trucks unable to pass on narrow Laois road, a Councillor has said

Laois County Council needs to assess a site before they can install passing bays, a Council meeting was told. 

Fianna Fail Cllr Padraig Fleming asked in a motion “that Laois County Council install passing bays on the Gracefield Road (rear of the  Pedigree) in the interest of health and safety as school buses and articulated trucks cannot pass each other at certain locations on the road.”

In a written response, Senior Executive Engineer  Tom Drennan, said:  “Laois County Council will carry out an assessment to consider the merits for layby's on this section of road. This will also determine the extent of the civil and drainage requirement. If these works were to advance this will be subject to available budgetary resources.”

Cllr Fleming said the response was not what he had hoped for. He said there were a lot of people living along the road and the passing bays were badly needed. “That road is very narrow,” he pointed out. 

He said if lorries meet on the road they are unable to pass one another. “I hope it is understood that they are needed,” said Cllr Fleming. 

“I hope the work will be done really soon and that the budget resources will be available to do it,” he added. 

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“It is needed for the safety measures on the road and for the benefit of everyone,” he added.  

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran seconded the motion and said there were trucks “going up and down that road constantly”. 

Fine Gael Cllr Vivienne Phelan asked if Bus Eireann worked with the Council to decide on laybys. 

Cllr Moran described Bus Eireann as “a law unto themselves” and claimed they didn’t work with anybody. 

Cllr Phelan said the situation was “wrong” and that there should be consultation when it comes to school children’s welfare. 

The issue was discussed during the March meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.