Busy Laois street in desperate need of Speedbump
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A KEY street in Portlaoise is in desperate need of a speedbump.
The latest meeting of the Portlaoise municipal district identified the lack of a speedbump on Jessop Street as sparking issues with road safety and anti-social behaviour in the area.
Jessop Street, which bisects one of the central roads in Portlaoise town centre, is home to the local theatre and Odeon cinema and ends outside a busy Portlaoise Train Station.
The notice was brought to the council by Cllr Paddy Buggy, who warned of the shocking speeds vehicles were taking going down what is quite a narrow road and a particularly congested one. He said: "I was shocked to see the speed vehicles were travelling on it. It's a narrow street and I've had a lot of residents on the street contact me."
In response, a representative from Laois Co Council said: "The Portlaoise MD office will make arrangements to put a traffic calming ramp on the 2129 Jessop Street, Portlaoise in the vicinity of house 21 and 22.’’
Independent Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley, who seconded the motion, highlighted how, during rush hour, the area was "bumper to bumper" with traffic, with people not even being able to see what speeds they were supposed to be doing with so many cars on the road. Another councillor highlighted the recent rise in anti-social incidents on the road which – along with the recent repair of the street lights – they believed could be alleviated by the introduction of a pedestrian friendly traffic ramp.
