Castletown rights group asks OPW to engage with community

LEIXLIP Town Councillors have rowed in behind the Castletown Right of Way (CROW) group which is opposing the OPW’s attempts to close the gates of the Demesne at night

At their monthly meeting on 4 February, they gave a lot of support to a motion from Cllr. Michael O’Brien supporting the “efforts to maintain the right of way” through the grounds of Castletown.

But Town Manager and KCC Director of Services, Peter Minnock, said that no legal right of way has been proven and the OPW must be able to safeguard investments in the Demesne..

CROW points to an enforcement case in 2006, in which the County Council sought the removal of a fence to “restore the long established right of way.”

As a result of this a sale did not go through and following it the OPW bought the land.

CROW rejects the argument that security is the reason for the closure stating there are a number of possible entry points. It has called on the OPW to reverse its decision and “engage with the local community to discuss the way forward.”