Calls have been made for the recently-installed footpath in Stradbally to be extended further – in order to allow people walk all the way to very popular local amenity Oughaval Woods.
Work done in the past year means that there is now a footpath from the Rathmore Road on the Portlaoise side of Stradbally all the way through the town to the graveyard on the Carlow side.
And speaking at this week’s meeting of the Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District in Laois County Council, Cllr Paschal McEvoy proposed that funding be sought under the Active Travel Scheme to extend the path further.
“The feedback from the residents locally on the path been very positive. It has been a masterpiece of work – but it makes absolute sense to bring it up to Oughaval now. There is a car park up there but we will try and get funding for it.”
Cllr Moran was supported in his motion by Cllr PJ Kelly and Cllr Aisling Moran, who said “it’s ridiculous stopping the path where it is at the moment when there is such a great amenity just a short distance further away”.
Cllr Aidan Mullins sounded a word of caution, however, drawing on his experience in Portarlington in trying to do something similar with Corrig Woods as it may not be deemed a sufficient ‘Trip Attractor’.
“Twice the one to Corrig Woods has been refused. I wish you well with this but I’d be afraid what the answer will be.”
The Laois County Council official response to that motion was that the council will meet with Cllr McEvoy at the site “to review the scope of works required”.
Separately Cllr McEvoy called for the council to meet residents at Kyle, Stradbally Road, Timahoe “”to address the serious flooding outside a number of houses in this area”.
He also looked for piping on a stretch of drain at Charter Road in Stradbally. On both of those motions, council engineer Philip McVeigh committed to visiting the locations in question to inspect further.
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