Proposed Longford Courthouse seat will have to be bolted to the ground, meeting is told

Cathaoirleach of Longford Municipal District Cllr Martin Monaghan led calls at its monthly meeting last week for flower boxes and a seat to be installed at a designated bus stop only a matter of yards from the county town’s judicial headquarters.

He said while being conscious of the proximity to the courthouse, the number of elderly people availing of the bus stop outweighed any reservations to the contrary.

“I would also like to see flower boxes, small ones and a seat put in,” he said.

“There is a bus stop there and a lot of people use it. We don’t seem to have a seated area and I think we are better off to have it than not have it.

“We are supplying a service that would be required to the general public on it.”

Director of Services John Brannigan expressed his irony at the call in light of how the opening exchanges of last week’s meeting saw a number of local councillors question the practicalities of planting boxes.

He did, nonetheless insist the proposal would be examined in consultation with Longford Tidy Towns officials.

It was, however, fellow Fianna Fáil Councillor Seamus Butler who objected to the move, insisting his agreement over the erection of a seat would only come if it was fastened securely to the ground.

“I am afraid I disagree with putting a seat anywhere near the Courthouse unless it is plugged in,” he said.