Crossed wires over ugly Laois cables

UGLY overhead wires on two central streets in Portarlington will remain for the foreseeable future, despite repeated appeals since last year.

There are no immediate plans to underground the overhead electricity cables on French Church Street and Upper Main Street, a local council meeting was told.

Annoyed by the news, Cllr Aidan Mullins recalled that council officials said last December that a survey had been carried out already regarding the proposed works. Yet now, 10 months later, they said that no further works were proposed.

“The thinking seems to be that Mullins will go away and forget about this. That’s not going to happen,” he told the October monthly meeting of Graiguecullen-Portarlington municipal district.

The Independent councillor pointed out that French Church Street and Upper Main Street are the only two sections of the town centre still awaiting the undergrounding of overhead electricity wires, as part of a project that has greatly improved the streetscape over the past few years.

When he requested an update at the October meeting, a written response from the county council’s roads department said: “Road Design will contact Cllr Mullins and these works will be assessed. To date, Road Design have not proposed any further works at these locations.” 

Surprised and frustrated by the reply, Cllr Mullins said he first sought an update in March 2024 and was told that the council would carry out a survey, “to see the scope of the works and make an application for funding”.

When he again sought an update last December, the council replied that the survey was carried out and a cost estimate was prepared, so the works could be progressed subject to funding.

Cllr Mullins said: “That’s where it was 10 months ago. Now I am told that you are going to contact me and the works will be assessed. I just think that this is not getting any attention and I think it is very important for the streetscape.” 

He praised the council’s previous work on undergrounding cables and improving the streetscape in the centre of Portarlington. What he was requesting was simply an extension of that work in two remaining sections, in French Church Street and Upper Main Street.

He also acknowledged that there had been changes among senior staff in the municipal district, which may have contributed to a lack of continuity.

Council director of services Julie Bergin assured Cllr Mullins that she would follow up the issue and get back to him with a reply.