A rural Laois cemetery could be in line for a facelift, with talks underway to develop new parking facilities.
The issue was raised by Independent Cllr James Kelly who was speaking at the March meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory-Mountmellick Municipal District.
Cllr Kelly called on Laois County to “provide parking facilities on the vacant site adjacent to St Fintan’s Cemetery Mountrath.”
In response, Mr Donal Brennan, Director of Services said the plot “has been a location under the overall management of the Housing Section.
“It is understood that the site will become available for alternative uses.
“Potential funding streams will now be examined with a view to developing parking facilities on at least part of the site – subject to planning and budgetary considerations.”
Cllr Kelly welcomed Mr Brennan’s reply, saying parking facilities are badly needed for funerals and would be a great asset to the Cemetery.
The Independent Cllr went on to ask the County Council to address two “very busy, very dangerous” roads in the Mountrath/Castletown area “in the interest of road safety for all.”
Cllr Kelly called for necessary surveys and works to be carried out to provide a hard shoulder on the R445 from Mountrath to Castletown; as well as road repairs at Redcastle on the L1077 road.
In response, Mr James Dowling, Senior Executive Engineer said the Road Design Department will asses the R445 to “investigate if a hard shoulder can be accommodated.”
Mr Dowling also said the Council have received a quote on roadworks at the L1077 road and work should be approved shortly.
Cllr Kelly welcomed the replies but stressed the importance of work on the R445, saying “there’s an accident waiting to happen with heavy goods vehicles coming off the motorway to avoid tolls.
“If I can’t get a footpath, I’ll take a hard shoulder,” he added.
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