Laois County Council recently commenced the temporary, periodic pedestrianisation of Lower Main Street, Portlaoise. The date of introduction (2nd July, 2020) was targeted to coincide with key dates, identified in the Government’s Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business.
The rate at which some businesses are reopening is slower than anticipated. Largely in recognition of this and having consulted with key stakeholders, Laois County Council will pause the pedestrianisation of Lower Main Street with immediate effect and reintroduce pedestrianisation week commencing Monday 27th July, 2020. Further details will issue closer to 27th July, 2020.
Please note the existing one way vehicular system on Railway Street (i.e. Main Street to Tower Hill) will remain in place as previously advertised until 30th August 2020.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 75 of the above Act and Article 12 of the Roads Regulations, 1994, Laois County Council hereby serves notice that it is intended to temporarily close the L-3157-22 Ballymorris Road, Portarlington, from Railway Bridge to Canal Road, Ballymorris Road Crossroads between 27th July 2020 and 21st August 2020. The closure is necessary to facilitate roadworks associated with housing development.
The developer will be erecting the appropriate signage and diversions. There will be both emergency and local access to the road. A map indicating the routes to be closed and the alternative routes will be available for inspection at www.laois.ie and Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise.
Any person wishing to object to the proposed road closure should do so in writing to the Administrative Officer, Roads Section, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise not later than 4pm on 14th July 2020.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993 and Section 12 of the Roads Regulations 1994, notice is hereby given that Laois County Council proposes to temporarily close the following roads for the period and the reasons specified below:-
Roads the Subject of Proposed Temporary Closure Main Street, Portlaoise – from Upper Main Street (including Market Square) to the intersection with Church Avenue.
Church Street – from Main Street to the junction with Jessop Street
Bull Lane – from Main Street to the Supervalu Car Park
Railway Street – from Main Street to rear entrance to Loughlin’s Hotel
Period/Time of Proposed Temporary Closure Friday from 17.30hrs to Saturday at 8.00hrs
Saturday from 11.00hrs to Monday at 8.00hrs (where a bank holiday occurs, this will extend to Tuesday at 8.00hrs)
This temporary closure is proposed separately and in addition to the current road temporary closure arrangements on Lower Main Street, Portlaoise.
Reason for Proposed Temporary Closure
To support adherence to public health guidelines, to support the measures outlined in the Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business, to support the actions of the County Laois Business Recovery Group and to enable Main Street, Portlaoise to be a Covid Compliant Street.
Alternative Routes – Via Tower Hill, Church Avenue, Mountmellick Road, JFL Avenue.
Observations regarding this proposed temporary road closure can be made in writing to the undersigned and/or emailed to roadsadmin@laoiscoco.ie to be received not later than 1.00pm on Friday 17th July, 2020.
Simon Walton Director of Services Laois County Council
To facilitate the needs of customers and to comply with Public Health guidance, Laois County Council has introduced a new appointments system for Housing Services. While the Council provided housing services online, by phone, email and post throughout the pandemic, public health measures required that our offices remained closed to the public since 27th March.
Now, as we move through re-opening phases under the Government recovery plan for Covid-19, it is essential that public health is supported through managed customer access at our offices.
We encourage our customers to continue to use our services online, by phone, email and post but if it is essential for customers to attend our offices, access will be by appointment only. Scheduling of appointments will take place during morning hours from Monday to Friday.
On Tuesday 30th June 2020, Laois County Council will re-introduce paid parking in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick.
As and from Tuesday 30th June, non-payment of appropriate parking fees may result in a fixed penalty notice.
The reintroduction of paid parking will facilitate increased turnover of spaces in town centres, support local businesses and coincide with the commencement of Phase Three of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
In keeping with public health guidance, and as an alternative to payment by coin, Laois County Council wishes to bring to your attention the ‘Park by Text / Smartphone App’ option as the safe, convenient, cashless parking payment solution available in Portlaoise, Portarlington and Mountmellick. Visit www.parkingtag.ie for more details.
Section 254 Licences[Schedule 12 Part 1(h)] for Table and Chairs in public spaces outside a hotel, restaurant, café, public house or other
If you own a café, restaurant, hotel, or bar, you can apply to Laois County Council to put tables and chairs within the Public Realm. This is known as a Section 254 Licence.
Laois County Council will consider the re-assignment of existing public spaces into seating areas to facilitate businesses. This will require the business to apply to the Council for a Section 254 Licence.
As the Council aims to support businesses during the Covid-19 Pandemic, we want to engage with local traders in order to ensure that such tables and chairs are safely and appropriately located in areas which do not pose a risk to pedestrians/footpath users etc.
In order to help businesses get back up and running, Laois County Council would like to invite applications for a Section 254 licence from those businesses interested in expanding into the public realm.
All applications will be assessed from a public health, fire safety, road safety and public circulation point of view.
Laois County Council will be facilitating the use of the public realm for expanded street furniture provision as a temporary measure up to the end of August as part of Phase 3 of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions starting the 29th of June 2020.
Fee
The Section 254 licence fee will be waived up to the end of August 2020 for table and chair street furniture applications as a recovery measure by Laois County Council.
Application Process and Requirements
Applications for a Section 254 licence(Schedule 12 Part 1(h)) in respect of tables and chairs must be accompanied by the following:
Applicants must apply to Laois County Council Planning Department in writing (covering letter/email) for a Section 254 licence. The covering letter/email should include: name, address, contact details, together with a scaled drawing/sketch indicating the outdoor area for tables and chairs outlined in red and the proposed hours of operation and the period for which the licence will be needed;
Any application submitted must be accompanied by Public & Products Liability insurance (and Employers Liability insurance) with indemnity limit(s) of not less than €6.5million (and €13million) respectively covering any liability, loss, claim or proceedings in respect of loss, claim or proceedings whatsoever arising out of or in connection with the death and/or bodily injury to any persons whomsoever and/or loss or damage to any property whatsoever which arises directly or indirectly out of the granting of the Licence.
Such insurance(s) shall contain a notation of an indemnity to Laois County Council.
Applications can be submitted by post/email to: The Planning Department, Laois County Council, Aras an Chontae, JFL Avenue, Portlaoise, Co. Laois R32 EHP9 or by email to: planning@laoiscoco.ie
Applications received by the Council will be processed as soon as possible.
A new series of videos on Gardening for Biodiversity has been launched by Laois Heritage Office. Based on the popular book Gardening for Biodiversity published by Laois County Council earlier this year, the series aims to give practical tips and guidelines to anyone who is interested in helping wildlife in their garden.
Following the book’s very practical approach, the videos – available for free on Youtube – show how to help biodiversity by creating a pond, building a log pile, planting a wildflower meadow, looking after birds and planting native trees and hedgerows.
Speaking at the launch of the videos Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council Cllr Willie Aird said “It’s so fitting that we are launching these biodiversity guides here in the wonderful setting of People’s Park. The Park is like a garden for all the people of Portlaoise, and we are delighted that it is open again after the pandemic restrictions. I know that the ideas in this new book and the video guides will encourage people to take action to make their garden a haven for wildlife and I’d like to thank the Heritage Council and the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht for their help in getting them made”.
Author Juanita Browne said: “These videos are a wonderful online resource to help explain how anyone can help our wildlife. Thanks to Laois County Council for funding and making these freely available online and to John Lusby and Peter Cutler for making these beautiful videos. I think there is an exciting new interest among the public in helping our biodiversity and these videos make this process much more accessible.”
Catherine Casey, Heritage Officer with Laois County Council said “During lockdown we have all become much more conscious of the importance of the natural world. We know from the enormous response to the original book that many people are taking a great interest in the birds, bees and bugs that are visiting their gardens. We are in the middle of a Biodiversity Crisis, and exposure to nature is also good for our mental health, so there is so much benefit to gardening for biodiversity. We have had so many requests for copies of the book from schools and families, so our next project is to create a Children’s version of the book, with colouring pages and kid-friendly information on biodiversity. We hope to have that ready for Heritage Week in August”.
The new Gardening for Biodiversity films are available to view of the Laois Heritage Youtube channel
The Gardening for Biodiversity videos are available now on the Laois Heritage Youtube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/laoisheritage. The book and films were supported by the Heritage Council and the Department for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as part National Biodiversity Action Plan. The original book is available to download for free at www.laois.ie/heritage, and hard copies can be ordered from Laois County Council Heritage Office.
The Gardening for Biodiverity Book and Videos have been supported by the Heritage Council and the Department for ulture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, as part of the National Biodiversity Action Plan. The book was written by Juanita Browne and illustrated by Barry Reynolds. The films were made by Peter Cutler of Crow Crag Films, presented by Jon Lusby and Juanita Browne was Scientific Advisor. We are grateful to all involved for their wonderful support.
Restart Grant payments have been made to small businesses to help them with the costs associated with re-opening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. 167 applications to a value of €548k have been approved to date.
Further details on how to apply for the grant are available HERE
