Over 140 Laois residents sign petition on lethal junction

MORE than 140 Laois residents have signed a petition urgently seeking changes at a notorious road junction.

Farmyard Cross at Belgrove near Ballybrittas is effectively ‘blind’ for some drivers, since traffic priority was altered a few years ago.

Residents who signed a petition want the original priority to be restored, amid deep concern over a potentially serious or even fatal accident at the cross.

A group of worried residents attended a meeting in county hall this week, when their concerns were highlighted by councillors Aidan Mullins (Ind) and Vivienne Phelan (FG).

Cllr Phelan said: “Residents are adamant that it needs to be looked at urgently.” 

Both councillors submitted proposals regarding the hazardous junction at the December meeting of Graiguecullen-Portarlington Municipal District (MD), as a delegation of residents sat in the public gallery.

Cllr Phelan, who is district chair, proposed that Laois Co Council examine junction safety at Farmhouse Cross in Belgrove, saying: “It currently presents a serious traffic hazard, as vehicles stopping at the junction cannot see ongoing traffic from the left-hand side. Local residents wish for this matter to be resolved as a matter of urgency.” 

The proposal was echoed by Cllr Mullins, who asked the council to consider a request from local residents to change the current traffic priority at the cross, in the interests of road safety.

Cllr Mullins said: “Over 140 local residents have signed a petition supporting this request. These are locals who travel that road every day and their views should be taken into account, as they are the ones who know the risks.” 

Explaining difficulties facing drivers at the junction, Cllr Mullins said: “When you’re coming from Ballybrittas, it’s a straight road but you swing left at Farmhouse Cross. The problem is that when you’re coming in the opposite direction from Belgrove, you are on a blind corner and cannot see traffic from the left.” 

The Portarlington councillor said the original traffic priority, until some years ago, was that traffic coming from Ballybrittas continued and indicated right to go down the Bog Road. Residents want that original priority to be restored.

He said: “We need to improve visibility on that blind corner. Traffic previously had priority from that side and residents want that situation restored.” 

Cllr Phelan said: “I totally agree. It’s completely blind to the left. When you are coming in from Ballybrittas, it is a T-shaped junction and you cannot see a thing.” 

She added: “There are over 140 signatures from people on all stretches of that road. Road safety is the most important thing and it appears that they are not safe at the moment.” 

Residents were also supported by Cllr Paschal McEvoy (FF), who said: “I know the road well and 140 signatures in a small area like that shows serious, genuine concern.” 

Cllr McEvoy suggested that an “all stop” could be considered, as this had worked at some other difficult junctions in the county.

In response to the proposals, senior engineer Tom Drennan said the district roads office would collaborate with Laois Co Council’s road design section, in a bid to resolve any safety issues at Farmhouse Cross.

He said: “If any proposed changes to the junction are deemed warranted, a Road Safety Impact Assessment (RSIA) would be required and would be subject to available resources, depending on the extent of any proposed amendments.” 

Mr Drennan added that the council would “assess all options” once the RSIA was completed.