Hurlestown Lane residents revolt!

PLACARD- CARRYING residents of Hurlestone Lane, Ardee, will take to the streets next Saturday evening in protest against the amount required by Louth Co. Council — £679 — before it will take over the unsurfaced potholed road.

Protest organisers say the sum is excessive and they are taking this miltant stand because they want to focus public attention on such costs.

They hope that one member from each of the seven houses in the lane will take part in the protest. Approximately 42 people live there. Potholes run the length of the lane making it hazardous for drivers and local tradesmen make their deliveries of foodstuffs there with some reluctance.

Patrick Ward ,carpenter, married with one child, and one of the organisers of the protest, said: “We intend blocking the road in protest against the condition of the lane. We got an estimate of £679 from the County Council and were told to make up our minds before the end of the month.’

“They wanted the £679 before touching the lane which is in a very bad condition. There is one non-vested cottage up there and al the others are vested. We all pay rent and rates and we want the council to get moving because the winter will soon be in.”

“I myself have had to put two new exhausts on my car because of the condition of the lane surface and the milkman and postman are reluctant to come although they do.”

Another resident. Eugene Kane said they had been pressing the council for umpteen years to do something. Formally, they would ‘ throw a load of gravel on it but a complete job had never been done.’

They were tired of approaching the local T.D.’s and councillors.

“We want publicity on this so we are holding our protest because writing letters, well they just go into the waste paper basket,” he added.

Mr. Ward said that when his wife went out with their child, she had to lift the baby out of the pram, and carry him in her arms because of potholes.