Delay on new carpark at top Slieve Blooms visitor spot
Reporter:
27 Apr 2021
Cars blocking road to Glenbarrow Waterfall in Laois on Sunday April 25. Photo by An Garda Síochána );
);
A new carpark has been delayed for a busy visitor attraction in the Slieve Bloom mountains.
Glenbarrow Waterfall was closed off by Laois Gardaí last Sunday April 25 after too many cars arrived, and drivers blocked roads for residents and emergency vehicles if needed.
Laois Gardaí shared this photo below of the parking, with strong words (below photo). Garda are out and about today at public amenities in Laois and Offaly. The weather is beautiful and people are getting out for exercise and to clear their heads. However this does not preclude you from using common sense. Parking is yet again a major issue with people parking dangerously, in inappropriate places leading to issues for emergency services, other road users and local residents.
Derelict Centrepoint owners identified and ordered to improve Portlaoise site
Reporter:
);
The owners of the derelict Centrepoint shopping centre in Portlaoise have been identified and legally ordered to secure the site and remove hazardous waste.
Laois County Council has confirmed today that it has served several legal notices to the owners, Pimcar Ltd from Kerry. The owners of the property have been confirmed as Pimcar Ltd, Unit 1 Keltic Business Park, Clieveragh, Listowel, Co. Kerry. The Planning Authority has made contact with the owners , who are engaging in carrying out works to the site. The Planning Authority served notices on the owners of the Centrepoint Property of the intention to enter the site on to the Derelict sites Register which commences that process, Senior Planner Angela McEvoy has confirmed.
Attempted delay to sell council land to a growing Laois business
Reporter: );
);
A piece of council land in Laois is to be sold to an expanding local company, despite an attempted delay by a councillor who is concerned that the price is too low.
The serviced 3 hectare (7.5 acres) site is in Junction 17 National Enterprise Park, and is to be bought by Midland Steel Reinforcement Supplies Ltd, a Mountmellick company.
The land sale was proposed by Cllr Paddy Bracken from Mountmellick, seconded by Cllr Ollie Clooney.
Cllr Bracken said he had been assured by the company’s manager Tony Woods that the existing jobs in Mountmellick will not be lost.
Laois councillors invite Irish Water to come and explain rising prices
Reporter: );
);
Water may still be free in Ireland but the connection price for water and sewerage has risen and Laois councillors want an explanation in person from Irish Water.
The charge for one house or one small business to connect to a mains less than 10 metres away is €6,200, at €2,272 for water and €3,929 for waste water, rising by €800 per metre after that.
Cllr Willie Aird tabled a motion to Laois County Council to invite a representative from the semi state company Irish Water to come to one of their meetings and explain the increase in charges.
Space for plots running out at Portlaoise Cemetery
Masterplan wanted for future cemetery for Portlaoise
Reporter: );
);
As Portlaoise continues to rapidly grow in population, the impact is also felt on demand for burial plots, and a councillor is advising that new land be found before space runs out.
Laois County Council is planning to spend €250,000 in the next three years to plan a future Portlaoise cemetery.
The figure is listed as part of the council’s €130 million Indicative Capital Programme 2021 to 2023, announced in mid December.
Cathaoirleach Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald urges action now to ensure there is capacity.
“I don’t know if that’s enough. There are over 100 deaths in Portlaoise a year, at least. We need to look at the bigger plan, a master plan. The last thing we want as public representatives is that we haven’t provided for this. If we need land, we should get it,” she said.