Laois councillors call for survey on minor roads
Cllr John King Photo: Michael Scully
A GENERAL survey should be conducted on all minor roads throughout the Mountmellick/Borris-in-Ossory area in order to create a list of those that are in need of serious repairs and resurfacing.
The recent meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick municipal district was also told that, though such a move would be critical for future road safety, it would need to come on foot of additional government funding, as current funds available for less used roads are not enough to even cover the damage sustained to roads following the recent period of prolonged rainfall.
Cllr John King delivered the suggestion to the recent meeting and said: "A lot of these roads might not be poor roads, but portions of them are. Maybe only 50 metres of it ... and if we could go back to people and say there has been 50 metres done on the sections that need it, that would be great. We have to reassure the people and we have to tell them anyway that we do our job as councillors. The smaller roads have to be looked after just the same as the big ones."
One of his colleagues supported the motion and agreed that minor roads quality had deteriorated across the county and questioned the materials that are used in the tar which fills the potholes that develop quite rapidly during periods of heavy rainfall.
He said: "The tar is not able for the water, I don't know why. I think there is something wrong with the tar now and certainly in the last three months the roads just said ‘no thanks, we’re not able for this’ and they tore themselves up and the water is playing a huge problem with the tar and certainly if the waters not kept off the roads, the tar is ineffective.’’
Independent Cllr James Kelly agreed with the motion but questioned where they would find the resources to fund such a survey, especially given the fact that the existing road repair budget of €3.5 million was unlikely to even successfully address all of the 20 or so roads they have already marked for resurfacing.
