Issue with lay-bys in Mayo not being maintained

A MAYO councillor has questioned the wisdom of investing in lay-bys where they are then not maintained.

Westport-based Councillor Christy Hyland said he gets requests for funding from his notice of motion monies for lay-bys, especially on roads down to beaches.

He has allocated funds but has found that in a few years they are covered with weeds and you have to invest money in them all over again.

It sounds like a waste, he told a local municipal district meeting.

Agreeing, Councillor John O'Malley said he too put money into them but they were never maintained, and were left until they were gone out of sight.

It wasn't good enough, he said.

Senior engineer Kieran Lynn wondered that perhaps if they were covered with weeds and grass could there be a case to ask if the lay-bys were ever needed in the first place, as no one was using them.

He said that where they are essential for safety, notice of motion funding was a good mechanism to improve roads.

If there were specific cases he would look at them to see if they can be resolved, he told the members.