Judge criticises living conditions of homeless people at derelict Kildare site

A judge has criticised the living conditions by some at a derelict structure outside Naas.

The former Cemex plant once manufactured concrete pipes but has long since been decommissioned and is now used by homeless people as an ad hoc accommodation centre.

Judge Desmond Zaidan told Naas District Court that he drive past the site regularly and “it is depressing.”

It is not unknown for people to appear before the court using the former factory setting as their address.

The judge was hearing a case concerning two alleged assaults by a man on his ex-partner.

Both are foreign nationals and both have lived at the Cemex site.

The alleged victim is very vulnerable and living rough at the old cement factory,” he said.

“Living in those conditions leave her vulnerable,” he said, noting that the woman was allegedly kicked, bitten and had clumps of heir pulled out.

Service station company Applegreen had planned to open a station and training centre - and create 400 jobs.

The company announced ambitions plans for the site almost eight years ago.

It wanted to demolish the empty buildings there and construct a three storey training hub (3,041 sq. metres),  a logistics and food research facility (6,000 sq m),  loading bays, a two storey motorways services area (4,356 sq. m), and ten fuel pumps.

The planning  application, which was approved, also envisaged a children’s play area, 24 hour drivers lounge, restaurant/cafe, and a drive thru coffee facility.

Also, a  shop occupying 100 square metres, formed part of the plan.

The development was to have parking spaces for 324 vehicles - though a quarter of these will be for people visiting the logistics and office buildings.

The proposal envisaged parking spaces for 38 heavy goods vehicles, 16 coaches and as many motorcycles.

However the company never proceeded with the development and has been criticised by local politicians.

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