Underground car park needed in Portlaoise town
Lyster Square, Portlaoise File image
ADDITIONAL parking is urgently needed in Portlaoise town centre to cope with a rapidly expanding population and surging traffic.
A proposal for an underground car park has been put forward as the solution to the dirth of parking spaces across the town, with many councillors highlighting the urgency of addressing the problem, as many consumers are reputedly being turned away from shopping in the town, given how difficult it is to find parking The warning was delivered to the recent February meeting of the Portlaoise municipal district by Cllr Tommy Mulligan.
The Independent councillor said: "I think it's pretty obvious to everyone that car parking in Portlaoise is one of the top issues to everyone at the moment. In my opinion, it's the biggest challenge. We're talking about renovating Main Street because, unfortunately, people avoid it. I, myself, do from time-to-time because of the lack of car parking that's available."
He also highlighted a recent rezoning of land near Portlaoise that would see an additional 5,000 dwellings constructed in the next few years, which would only increase the demand for parking in the town.
Broadly speaking, Cllr Caroline Dwayne Stanley supported the motion brought forward by Cllr Mulligan but also urged consideration in their approach. She recalled how a few years ago Portlaoise councillors had gathered for a meeting in the Midlands Park hotel to discuss the self-same issue with local business leaders, where those in Lyster Square, especially, believed that potential works could have a detrimental effect on their businesses in the short and medium term.
Another councillor agreed that the disruption associated with these works could render them impractical and suggested that the council look into adopting a similar method of construction to how the Dublin Metro is slated for development; for example, tunnelling from a distance a way into space beneath Lyster Square to minimise disruption.
While representatives thought this could be a viable option, questions about the astronomical budget required for such a venture seemed to torpedo the idea.
An official of the council said: "Laois Co Council will investigate this matter and will provide an update to the municipal district community as soon as possible."
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
ADDITIONAL parking is urgently needed in Portlaoise town centre to cope with a rapidly expanding population and surging traffic.
A proposal for an underground car park has been put forward as the solution to the dirth of parking spaces across the town, with many councillors highlighting the urgency of addressing the problem, as many consumers are reputedly being turned away from shopping in the town, given how difficult it is to find parking The warning was delivered to the recent February meeting of the Portlaoise municipal district by Cllr Tommy Mulligan.
The Independent councillor said: "I think it's pretty obvious to everyone that car parking in Portlaoise is one of the top issues to everyone at the moment. In my opinion, it's the biggest challenge. We're talking about renovating Main Street because, unfortunately, people avoid it. I, myself, do from time-to-time because of the lack of car parking that's available."
He also highlighted a recent rezoning of land near Portlaoise that would see an additional 5,000 dwellings constructed in the next few years, which would only increase the demand for parking in the town.
Broadly speaking, Cllr Caroline Dwayne Stanley supported the motion brought forward by Cllr Mulligan but also urged consideration in their approach. She recalled how a few years ago Portlaoise councillors had gathered for a meeting in the Midlands Park hotel to discuss the self-same issue with local business leaders, where those in Lyster Square, especially, believed that potential works could have a detrimental effect on their businesses in the short and medium term.
Another councillor agreed that the disruption associated with these works could render them impractical and suggested that the council look into adopting a similar method of construction to how the Dublin Metro is slated for development; for example, tunnelling from a distance a way into space beneath Lyster Square to minimise disruption.
While representatives thought this could be a viable option, questions about the astronomical budget required for such a venture seemed to torpedo the idea.
An official of the council said: "Laois Co Council will investigate this matter and will provide an update to the municipal district community as soon as possible."
