LIMERICK City and County Council has been asked to show some love to Augustinian Lane which has become infested with rats.
A special meeting to discuss the Laneway Strategy of Limerick to look at issues like movement, planting, lighting, and refuse in improving city laneways was held at County Hall last Thursday.
The Council’s multi-million euro project aims to rejuvenate and reimagine Limerick’s city centre laneways as possible car-free spaces to experience culture and art, socialise, or experience nature. Fifteen city laneways are now up for a possible makeover.
Fianna Fáil councillor James Collins proposed that the Council commence the project as a pilot on Augustinian Lane in the city centre.
“The junction of Catherine Street and Thomas Street is the new centre of Limerick and there is a lot of individual laneways in this area,” Cllr Collins told the council executive.
“Augustinian Lane is a lane that businesses use, and then the other end is all bins and rodents.
“This is the heart of where everything is and everyone needs to socialise. I propose we start with Augustinian Lane.”
Labour Party councillor Conor Sheehan seconded the former Mayor’s proposal.
“Augustinian Lane on end is disgusting, it is all bins and rats. It really needs to be sorted out but you might as well be whistling in the wind,” he claimed.
Cllr Olivia O’Sullivan (FG) stressed the important role Limerick’s laneways once played in the life of the city.
“They were critical to it. The laneways were where children played and people got together. We need to look at the laneways in a different way.”
Fine Gael councillor Dan McSweeney called for action.
“We need to see diggers on the ground. We need to see a laneway done. Strategies aren’t seen as progress. We don’t need this whole rigmarole. Pick a lane and get on with it.”
