The council and its spokesman came under attack at last week's Athy Town Council meeting, so much so that town manager Tom Boland came to the defence of the council spokesman on several occasions.
Cllr Richard Daly (FG) said he was "very unhappy"
with "dismissive comments" made by the council spokesman in last week's Leinster Leader.
"They are no friend of Athy when they demean our town council in the media... a non-elected representative who decides to be the voice of Kildare," he said.
Speaking last week on the issue, council spokesman Charlie Talbot said the council had no plans to remove the fencing around the swimming pool. He said it was "disappointed" that attention on the pool seems to have focused on the fence and on fault finding with it "rather than on the fact that Athy is to have a state-of-the-art, professionally-run, recreational facility which will create employment in the area". He added: "The new pool in Athy is a good and welcome development. It will provide a much-needed recreational facility and create employment. The vast majority of people in Athy welcome the new swimming pool and want to enjoy it – that is the reality."
Many Athy town councillors took strong offence to this statement. Cllr Aoife Breslin (Lab), who opposes the fencing claiming it is "an unauthorised development", is calling on the council to withdraw the remarks.
"Kildare County Council has misjudged us yet again by making flippant remarks to journalists. We are elected officials expressing our view and I am asking the manager for an apology. We work for the people of Athy. I welcome the pool but local residents have concerns, that is the only issue and as a public representative I was raising the issue. I want Kildare County Council to withdraw the remarks... Mr Talbot sits in his ivory tower and looks down on us, looks down at Athy."
Cathaoireach Cllr John Lawler (Lab) agreed, saying the remarks were "condescending" and "disappointing", "especially when we were told a meeting would take place in November".
Town manager Joe Boland said the criticism against the press officer in particular was "unfair". "It is not in his nature to be condscending. He is a very sincere man."
He added that "every effort" has been made to take on board the concerns of the community.
"With the provision of a pool, there had been a lot of work involved and a lot of effort made by Kildare County Council officials," he added.
The council is now set to meet Greenhills residents this week to present drawings and discuss the controversial fencing. The meeting, which is taking place this morning (Wednesday), indicates it may reverse its policy and alter the swimming pool fencing plans. An initial meeting between council officials and Athy town councillors last Friday was described as "constructive" and "positive" by both parties.
The issue began in October last year when the council erected palisade fencing around the boundary of the new swimming pool at a cost of N75k. It failed, however, to inform residents or local councillors in Athy, despite the existence of a swimming pool liaison committee.?
Residents of Greenhills are strongly opposed to the fencing around the public amenity that lies opposite their homes. They say it is an eyesore and are considering protesting outside Aras Cill Dara over the issue. Athy town councillors have given the residents their full support.
