While most people will know where they’re going, the importance of road signs as you enter a town or village is also a matter of pride.
And in Castletown at the moment, the signs that welcome you to the picturesque village have seen better days.
At this week’s meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District in Laois County Councill, a motion from Cllr Conor Bergin called for new entrance signs to Castletown village from the R445.
Speaking in the chamber, Cllr Bergin spoke highly of the work done by the Castletown community but that the signs on the road weren’t fit for purpose any more and certainly weren’t in keeping with the pristine nature of Castletown village.
He was supported by Cllr James Kelly, who said that power-washing the signs hadn’t worked and that the design of signs needs to be done in conjunction with local tidy towns groups.
He also said it was important that there be road realignment in that area before the new signs are put up.
Rory O’Callaghan, senior engineer for Laois County Council, told the elected members that new signs will be put in place and responding to a query from Cllr Ollie Clooney on new signs he had sought for Cullohill over a year ago.
Mr O’Callaghan informed Cllr Clooney that the council had been waiting to get a number of signs arranges at the same time and that he was to finalise the Cullohill design in order for that to be added.
Separately Cllr Bergin called for the HSE to paint their premises in Borris-in-Ossory that serves as the local Health Centre.
It’s on a busy road and it’s the first thing you see when you come into Borris-in-Ossory,” he said.
“It has been mentioned a good few times to me. It’s a small request and it’s from an aesthetic point of view but the HSE own and maintain it and I’m asking that we ask them formally.”
Cllr Bergin also asked in his motion that an issue with surface water outside the premises be addressed.
The council response said that: “Correspondence will issue to the HSE in relation to the painting of the Health Centre. The Area office will look at the public road stormwater element.”
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