In some places around the Carmody Way, De Vesci Court and Cosby Avenue estates in Fairgreen roots from the trees that have now matured are coming up through the footpaths.

By Joe Barrett

Overgrown vegetation in parts of the Fairgreen housing estate in Portlaoise is causing some concern and a local councillor wants the council to tackle the issue.

Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said that trees in Carmody Way, De Vesci Court and Cosby Avenue in the estate are overgrown and protruding out onto the footpaths.

She also said that gullies are also blocked in the areas with water ponding in some places.

Cllr Dwane Stanley, who was speaking at the January meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District Council said: “Some of the roots of the trees in Carmody Way are coming up through the footpaths and causing problems. There’s also a section of a footpath around De Vesci Court and Cosby Avenue where a bush has gone completely out onto the footpath, the height of it is unreal and people have to step out onto the roadway to get around it. It may be that the vegetation and the trees need to be replaced with something more suitable because in my view because they’re not suitable for an estate. There’s no maintenance being done on them.”

The council’s senior executive engineer Wes Wilkinson said that he would examine the issue of the trees kin the area, “with a view to addressing any issues that pose a significant risk,” and that arrangements would be made to clear the road gullies.