Ladytown Cross should be reopened, says Kildare councillor

Ladytown Cross should be reopened, according to a Fianna Fáil councillor representing the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD).

Cllr Rob Power, who appeared at the meeting via a video-call, made the comments at the latest MD meeting on Wednesday, December 13 last.

He submitted the following motion to Kildare County Council (KCC) at the meeting: "That the council reopen Ladytown Cross on the Naas/Newbridge Dual carriageway by December 22, and that it reaffirms its plans to create a roundabout at this junction that would facilitate traffic travelling from Ladytown to Floods Cross."

Mayor of Newbridge and Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey seconded Cllr Power’s motion.

SAFETY CONCERNS

However, KCC said in its report at the meeting that it did not intend to open the road anytime soon.

KCC explained: "The works to the two bridges over the M7 are not fully complete with some works to be completed in January.

"Following discussions with An Garda Síochána, it is not advised to reopen the crossing due to safety concerns.

"KCC are in the process of confirming the compulsory purchase order for the new roundabout and will provide an update on this in due course.

"Once the compulsory purchase order is operative, further works associated with this project will proceed in 2024."

Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power. File photograph.

Speaking to the members present at the meeting, Cllr Power said: "This closure is an inconvenience, for sure.

"The issue here is that there is little to no work being done on the bridge (at present)... my concern is that there is little-to-no intention to reopen the crossroads."

Cllr Power further explained that locals are worried that the council are trying to close this road without conducting any form of public engagement.

Mayor Heavey added that he supported Cllr Power’s motion, as did Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer, who said: "I accept that it was a dangerous place, but the way it is being done–"

"It’s stealth. Sorry to cut across from you Peggy, but it’s stealth," Mayor Heavey interjected.

He reiterated his views by telling KCC: "The (permanent) closure of the crossroads would be cutting off a community, so I very much support the motion."

In response, KCC engineer Donal Hodgins told the local representatives at the meeting: "We have been transparent.

"I understand the concerns but we cannot do something that isn’t in line with the statutory procedures.

"In this case, there is a legitimate safety concern (from KCC) here."

Mr Hodgins added: "Reopening the crossroads may increase the risk of both non-fatal and serious road traffic incidents."

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'NO DECISION MADE YET'

However, Mr Hodgins did stress to councillors that no decision has been made yet in relation to the status of the crossroads, and added that KCC would seek the advice of An Garda Síochána in relation to the matter and would pass on said advice to the councillors.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle asked Mr Hodgins: "Can we raise this at the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting?"

"We need to be clear that there is a substantial cause for concern here," she added.

Cllr Power then said: "I don’t think it’s fair for KCC to wash their hands of the concerns here.

"If safety measures need to be applied, then they should happen."

He added: "I’m happy to raise the matter at the JPC meeting, but I would like to defer the motion to January, and I will propose that the crossroads should be re-opened."

After consideration, it was heard that Cllr Power would enter a similar motion on the same subject at the next MD meeting.