Portlaoise parents campaign for safer streets
Entrance to the Bellingham housing estate on the Mountrath Road, Portlaoise
WORRIED parents have launched a campaign for urgent road safety measures in Portlaoise housing estates, following the tragic deaths of two children within just 18 months.
The newly-formed Portlaoise Parents For Safer Streets (PPFSS) group say residents are facing ‘severe and persistent hazards’, due to inadequate traffic-calming measures in housing developments of similar design.
A spokesperson for the group said: ‘Without urgent intervention, we fear it is only a matter of time before another tragedy occurs.’
Immense shock and grief followed the deaths of little Rosaleen McDonagh (3) in Fairgreen in August 2023 and Aaron Hussain (5) in Kilminchy just over a week ago. Aaron was sadly laid to rest in SS Peter and Paul’s Cemetery, Portlaoise last Thursday.
Both children suffered fatal injuries when they were knocked down by vehicles near their homes.
Bellingham-based PPFSS spokesperson Kate Reardon-Noblet said the children’s deaths occurred in estates identical to Bellingham, which was constructed by the same developer and has ‘the same fundamental road safety deficiencies’.
While individual road tragedies may involve particular circumstances beyond anyone’s control, residents contend that more safety measures could prevent the majority of accidents.
In a letter sent to public representatives and the media on behalf of the group, Kate said: ‘The parallels between these housing developments are deeply concerning and residents fear that, unless proactive measures are taken, Bellingham will suffer a similar fate.’
Speaking to the , Kate said there is “constant joyriding” in Bellingham, particularly at night, with chicanes on Clonkeen View used as a racetrack. Residents have CCTV footage of joyriding in the estate, which is located on the Mountrath Road.
All three Laois TDs have responded to the group. Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming spent an hour with residents in Bellingham on Saturday, when he discussed each of their listed concerns and pledged to hand over the CCTV footage to Laois County Council.
Fine Gael TD Willie Aird has referred the issue to two senior county council engineers. Independent TD Brian Stanley contacted the group on Monday morning, to arrange a meeting with residents in the estate this week.
The PPFSS group say that key safety hazards in Bellingham and similar estates include:
* Narrow roads due to extensive on-street parking outside densely-built homes, leading to reduced visibility and unsafe driving conditions
* Overpopulation and inadequate road infrastructure to support the high volume of traffic entering and exiting the estate
* Illegal parking on blind bends, significantly increasing the risk of collisions
* Obstructed pathways caused by illegally parked vehicles, forcing children, elderly residents and those using buggies or mobility aids onto the roadway.
* Excessive speeding throughout the estate, with insufficient deterrents in place to curb reckless driving
* Lack of adequate speed ramps, enabling vehicles to travel at dangerous speeds through residential areas.
As well as all three local TDs, the group has contacted Laois County Council calling for ‘immediate intervention’, with a specific request for the following traffic-calming measures:
* Installation of bollards to prevent illegal and hazardous parking on footpaths and junctions
* Double yellow lines in critical areas to compel residents to use designated parking spaces and ensure pedestrian pathways remain unobstructed
* Additional speed ramps throughout the estate to reduce vehicle speeds effectively
* Improved road signage to warn drivers of children at play and reinforce speed restrictions
* Increased enforcement of parking regulations, including penalties for those who park illegally on footpaths and blind bends
* Designated pedestrian crossings in high-risk zones, to provide safer routes for children and other residents.
The group said: ‘Too often, safety measures are implemented only after a devastating loss has already occurred. We cannot afford to wait for a preventable tragedy before action is taken in Bellingham.’
The new group has set up a Facebook page 'Portlaoise Parents for Safer Streets' and has launched an online petition on change.org at https://chng.it/6DKwghRgMS
