Concern over maintenance of gullies on Laois roadways
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FOLLOWING on from what has been a winter of record rainfall across Ireland, with flooding widespread, including recently in Portlaoise and People’s Park, concerns have been expressed about the maintenance of water tables and gullies that lie alongside important roadways.
Concerns were brought to Laois Co Council by Borris-in-Ossory Cllr John King, who highlighted how a lack of drainage along certain roads was inadvertently causing the development of potholes that eat into the road and menace the passage of cars.
"When there is water on the road and there is a pothole and the wheel goes in and it gets damaged and the tyres are damaged. If the water tables were cleaned, the water might go away from the area around the hole.’’ Cllr King highlighted that pothole damage to tyres was often costing commuters in excess of €150 to repair. In response to his plea, a LCC representative said that these types of works were "a part of the routine maintenance works programme. The area office will continue these works subject to available works and resources."
Cllr King did acknowledge that existing staff were working hard to alleviate the problem, but also wondered if additional supplementary staff could be brought in on a case-by-case basis to support the work of the existing engineers. He said: " I do know that they are short on an ongoing basis and that puts fierce pressure on the remainder of the staff."
