Joggers nearly poleaxed by Portlaoise ‘lamppost’
Most vent stacks have been dismantled but some still remain around the country. File image for illustration
JOGGERS were nearly poleaxed by a virtually invisible ‘lamppost’ on a dark morning in Portlaoise.
A councillor received complaints after runners had a near miss with the obstructive pole, which looks like the base of a street lamp.
It later emerged that the obstruction is in fact a vent stack, which was historically used to release sewer gases.
Once colourfully known as ‘stink pipes’ from the Victorian age, most vent stacks have been dismantled but some still remain.
Cllr Tommy Mulligan kicked up a stink over the issue at a council meeting, when he said that he received a number of calls about the pole, which is a safety hazard as it is virtually invisible in the dark.
The offending pole is located in the middle of a footpath on the Dublin Road, outside St Fintan’s Hospital and opposite Portlaoise Prison. The vent stack was originally taller than a lamppost but was cut down to just a few feet in recent years.
“A few lads out running didn’t see the post until the last minute and they were almost taken out of it,” Cllr Mulligan told the latest meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District (MD).
The Independent councillor said: “I wasn’t aware of this until I got a few phone calls about it. It’s a danger for runners, joggers and children on bikes, because you can’t see it in the dark.
“It’s a very popular spot for runners, so this pole needs to be removed before there’s an accident.”
Cllr Mulligan lodged a motion asking Laois Co Council to remove “the defunct lamppost, as it is a safety hazard”.
He was supported by Cllr Marie Tuohy, who said: “It’s not used any more, it’s in the way and it’s pointless.”
To councillors’ surprise, it emerged that the obstructive pole is not a lamppost but a vent stack, which was formerly used to release gases from the sewage system. As a result, it is the responsibility of Uisce Éireann (Irish Water) rather than the council.
Although admired by some for their heritage value, others object to their obstructive nature on modern footpaths.
In a written response to Cllr Mulligan’s motion, the council’s water services section said: ‘This matter has been referred to Uisce Éireann and they have been requested to remove the vent stack in question.’
