Bid to improve footpaths on back street of Newbridge, County Kildare

The Municipal District (MD) office of Kildare-Newbridge has agreed to include Eyre Street in Newbridge for Kildare County Council (KCC)’s roads and footpath programme for 2024.

KCC made the comments at the latest MD meeting held on Wednesday, January 17.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender motioned for KCC 'to ensure that Eyre Street, Newbridge is included as part of the roads and footpath programme for 2024.'

His motion was seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly.

Cllr Pender told KCC that he and Fine Gael Cllrs Tracey and Peggy O’Dwyer met with members of KCC at Eyre Street in relation to footpath works.

Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender raised the motion on Eyre Street to Kildare County Council.

He said that while he was thankful towards KCC for the foothpath works, he added: "Eyre Street seems to be 'the poor cousin' of the Main Street and Henry Street."

"I would like to see a plan created for Eyre Street," he added.

Cllr Pender further said that people have reported 'less trips and falls' on Eyre Street following the remedial works done by KCC, and also told Brenda Cuddy, a senior engineer with KCC who was present at the MD meeting, that 'a lot of people' are using Eyre Street as a sustainable transport corridor.

Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer said that she agreed with Cllr Pender’s sentiments, and also thanked KCC for the footpath works completed there.

However, she added: "one thing I’ve noticed (about Eyre Street) is that there doesn’t seem to be any shores on the street, so water is coming down onto the path."

Ms Cuddy told Cllr Pender that while she agreed with his points, she added that the works would require funding from an alternate source, 'due to the high level of costs involved.'