Council must make safe drain opposite Cobbler’s Hill, Ballypickas
THE boundary between the main road and draining at Cobbler’s Hill, Ballypickas is in desperate need of repair as drivers are at grave risk of falling off the bank and crashing into the ditch.
The motion was brought to the May meeting of Portlaoise municipal district by Fine Gael councillor Barry Walsh, who received this response from a representative of the area office: "I'll arrange to meet with Cllr Walsh on site with a view to making the location safe."
Highlighting the urgency of the repairs, Cllr Walsh told the council of a recent incident where a tractor with a trailer rumbling along behind it had jackknifed at a corner on Cobbler’s Hill, Ballypickas during the post-Christmas spell of persistent rain which dogged the country. The atrocious weather eroded the bank somewhat, shrinking the gap between the gully and the main road, making it more likely that someone taking the corner at the wrong angle would tumble into the ditch.
Cllr Walsh said: "So, it's quite dangerous if someone comes down with the car and turns to the left, there is a bit of a drop there, so it needs to be filled."
The chair of Portlaoise municipal district agreed and secured a promise from the area office that the road in question would be funded under the Road Safety Improvement Scheme for 2026.
