Changes on the way for Lyster Square

IMPROVEMENTS are on the way for Lyster Square in Portlaoise, as part of a €12m fund for the town.

The news follows complaints from councillors about “traffic chaos” in the busy square, with one commenting that even trying to park is dangerous and making elderly drivers nervous.

A series of problems in Lyster Square was raised at the May meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District, particularly regarding parking spaces that are too narrow and a shortage of loading bays.

Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald said the council did a good job with previous work in the square but a lot more needed to be done.

Describing the existing parking spaces as “very tight”, she said: “For elderly people and people with disabilities, it is quite dangerous. A lot of elderly people have said to me that they are quite nervous parking in Lyster Square. It is quite nerve-wracking for some of them.” 

She added that current parking bays need to be a little wider, as she asked the council to take a look at how spaces are accessed and exited.

Cllr Barry Walsh said he was contacted by a number of businesses in the area, who told him that insufficient loading bays are causing “traffic chaos”. He asked the council to consider extending the loading bay on the James Fintan Lalor Avenue side of the square by 10 metres, perhaps by removing a section of the hedge.

Cllr Tommy Mulligan also requested a new loading bay on the eastern side of the square, from the Bank of Ireland to Egan’s, as he pointed out that there are 28 shops and businesses with no loading bay on that side of the square.

He said: “A loading bay there is definitely a necessity, as it is an extremely busy part of the town and businesses are finding it difficult to get their deliveries.” 

Cllr Mulligan suggested that a loading bay could perhaps be installed in the area behind the former library. Cllr Walsh agreed that a loading bay was needed on that side of Lyster Square but stressed that no existing parking spaces should be sacrificed for a new loading bay.

In a written reply, acting senior engineer Ken Morley said the provision of additional loading bay space would be examined, ‘as part of the overall upgrade to Lyster Square and Portlaoise town centre, under the forthcoming Urban Regeneration Project (URDF).’ 

Director of Services Simon Walton said that €12m funding is in place for ‘significant enhancements’ to the town centre, including Main Street and Lyster Square, to complement work already undertaken. The total is made up of €9m in URDF funding and €3m from Laois County Council.

Mr Walton said the council is “at the point of commencing that project” with the appointment of a senior engineer and a design team, in advance of “phased interventions” on Main Street and Lyster Square.

He said: “Other areas off Lyster Square are in dire need of upgrade, so that the needs of motorists and non-motorists are addressed. It will be done in close consultation with councillors and the Portlaoise Town Team.” 

Regarding the size of current parking spaces in the square, Mr Walton said there was a counter argument that an increase in size would lead to a decrease in the overall number of badly needed spaces. However, he said the council would take a look at the issue.

Cllr Walsh also asked for ‘clear signage to highlight the availability of 45 minute free parking in all relevant areas’.

Brenda Earl from the council’s roads department said there are signs on both sides of every parking meter in the town centre, indicating the 45-minute free parking. She said the department would examine parking signs in the town centre, ‘with a view to further advertising the 45-minute free parking, where required’.

However, Cllr Walsh insisted that more signs are needed, as the business community feels that signs are “not visible enough” and that more needs to be done to highlight the free parking.