‘Disappointing’ response to objections of €3 million bike track on Laois border

Hundreds of objections were lodged against the Graiguecullen cycle track

Published 23rd Sep 2026, 12:30 BST The cycle track will start outside the Barrowvale housing estate in Graiguecullen. Hundreds of objections were lodged against the Graiguecullen cycle track Carlow County Council have responded to the hundreds of objections to the controversial €3 million cycle track proposed for the Laois and Carlow sides of Graiguecullen .

Carlow County Council and Laois County Council intend to carry out extensive works on Church Street in Graiguecullen which will include a 750 metre cycle track.

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The route will start at the Barrowvale housing estate in County Laois and proceed along Church Street serving Oakley Park, St. Fiacc’s National School and Governey Park before extending to Sleaty Street and the entrance to Carlow Town Park.

Also included in the project are two new pedestrian and cycle crossings, the upgrade of over 1100 metres of footpaths, upgraded public lighting, and 150 metres of upgraded shared active travel facilities at Croppy Place.

The scheme also incorporates Safe Routes to School elements at the rear entrance to St. Fiacc’s NS.

The scheme aims to improve walking and cycling connectivity between residential areas, schools, local services, and recreational amenities, while providing a direct link to the existing active travel network at Carlow Town Park and Carlow Town Centre.

The public consultation period ended in June for the extensive works which are estimated to cost €3 million and funded through the National Transport Authority’s Active Travel Investment Programme.

The proposal attracted significant opposition from the community in Graiguecullen, with over 750 submissions from members of the public.

377 public submissions opposing the track were delivered to Laois County Council and a further 379 submissions to Carlow County Council.

In the report by Carlow County Council following the consultation period, they stated that each submission underwent a comprehensive review.

The key issues which were raised by the community included the lack of demonstrated need for the scheme, value for money, the impact on traffic and businesses, loss of parking spaces, safety and accessibility, the impact on the Croppy Graves, and the actual design of the scheme.

Some objectors argued that money would be better spent on improving the public transport network in the area, particularly bus routes. This is an issue which has attracted a lot of attention recently, with Laois TD Brian Stanley and Cllr Ben Brennan seeking an extension of the local link service in Graiguecullen.

However, the Council argued that the funding for the scheme is provided from the NTA’s Active Travel Investment Programme, which is ringfenced funding which cannot be diverted to any other works programme.

They also noted that a review of the Carlow Town bus which serves Graiguecullen has commenced.

Another stand out issue is heavy traffic congestion in Graiguecullen, especially during school drop off and collection times. The traffic in Graiguecullen is completely gridlocked during weekday mornings and this has been an ongoing issue for years. Locals are concerned that this scheme could further exacerbate the problem.

The report, however, argued that the scheme will reduce traffic congestion as it will “provide parents and children with a safe alternative to the motor car.”

PICTURES: Laois goes purple for Alzheimer’s memory walk Carlow County Council pointed out that the inclusion of Safe Routes to School treatments at St. Fiacc’s NS will greatly improve safety for those using the Church Street school entrance. In a recent SRTS survey of parents at St. Fiacc’s NS, 97.6% of respondents said they would support safety works at the school and 96.7% of respondents said they would support works that would improve the walking and cycling links to school.

The loss of on-street parking for residents on Church Street was another big issue with the proposal. There are four properties on the street which don’t have driveways and the Council admitted they “may be affected” by the loss of parking outside their homes.

However, they contended that each of these properties have the potential for off-street parking or driveways. The report noted that should the property owner desire off-street parking or a driveway, then this can be included in a revised scheme design. The current scheme design provides three new parking spaces along Maher Road, in close proximity to these properties.

Among the submissions, one person mentioned that the starting point for the scheme should be the Graigue na hAbhainn housing estate which is on the Laois side of Graiguecullen.

Carlow County Council said it is not possible to deliver this network in one scheme. However, Laois County Council stated their intention to provide further walking and cycling infrastructure along the R924 Portlaoise Road that will link into the Church Street scheme and serve the Graigue na hAbhainn housing estate.

Graiguecullen native and Laois Sinn Féin Cathaoirleach, Aaron Kelly, has continuously raised his objections to the scheme.

He has since responded to Carlow County Council’s response to the public consultation, saying: “Having reviewed the report, I am extremely disappointed by how little weight appears to have been given to the scale and substance of the objections raised by local residents, businesses and road users.

“That is an overwhelming level of opposition. Yet many of the responses contained in this preliminary report amount, in my view, to little more than restating the original justification for the scheme rather than properly addressing the concerns raised.”