€17 million library plan for Newbridge, County Kildare

Part 8 plans for the extension to Newbridge Library were accepted by all county councillors in attendance at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting.

A representative of Kildare County Council (KCC) gave a brief presentation to members at the meeting, which was held on Wednesday, September 20.

The KCC representative recapped the main details from the proposal for the existing Newbridge (County) Library, the existing carpark and surrounding public realm to the Main Street and Athgarvan Road, Newbridge. County Kildare.

It is estimated to cost €17 million at present.

DETAILS

The proposed development would include the refurbishment and extension of the existing Newbridge (County) Library, which is a Protected Structure, to create the new Kildare County Library, Archives and Cultural Centre.

The proposal also involves the demolition of the existing single storey 1970s extension to the Protected Structure.

The development will range from one to three storeys in height; it was also heard that the gross internal floor area for the Protected Structure is 300 square metres, and the new extension is 1,960 sq.m.

The total Gross Internal Floor area of the development is set at 2,260 sq.m.

In addition, the proposed development will include minor internal alterations to the Protected Structure.

Landscaping, public realm works, and ancillary external works are also proposed as part of the development.

For external works, these include: the relocation of the vehicular entrance from Main Street to Athgarvan Road; landscaping works to create a new external courtyard (707 sq.m.) including 13 parking spaces, a bicycle parking store, and a refuse store.
Public Realm works (2,365 sq.m.) include: new hard landscaping to the footpaths around the library’ modifications to the Main Street public realm to provide a loading bay; bus stop and two accessible car parking spaces alongside the provision of a new cycle lane.

The KCC representative also noted that the report was in accordance with both the Kildare Development Plan and the Newbridge Local Area Plan.

After the details were recapped, the Part 8 proposal was proposed by Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power, and was seconded by Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender.

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'A FANTASTIC EMBLEM OF THE TOWN ITSELF'

Cllr Power called the development 'a fantastic emblem for the town itself', while Cllr Pender (who appeared via video call) praised the accessibility features in the proposal.

Cathaoirleach Noel Heavey also called it 'a flagship project' for the town.

When it was heard that additional funding would be needed for the project, Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer said that while she welcomed the overall project, she was ‘disheartened to learn that it would need further funding.'

Cllr Heavey noted that KCC would need to ‘pony up’ 25 per cent of the additional funding.

Independent Cllr Fiona McLoughlin-Healy, who also appeared via video call, brought up that €200,000 could potentially be drawn down for the project, as she had tried to draw it down for a seprate project a few years ago.

She said that she remembered the money 'being held on' for this project, a sentiment which was echoed by Cllr Heavey.

After the matter was put to a vote, all local representatives present agreed on the proposal.

Cllr Heavey further remarked that the projected was 'a landmark' one for Newbridge, and added that it 'was badly needed' for the town’s populace.