Illuminated bus shelters called for Willowbrook Nursing Home, Newbridge, Co Kildare

Kildare County Council has been asked to install illuminated bus shelters on both sides of the Naas to Newbridge Road at Boroharde and Willowbrook Nursing Home.

This, according to a motion by Cllr Tom McDonnell (IND) is to facilitate staff, visitors and the general public using these bus stops.

Cllr McDonnell tabled his motion at a meeting of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District on Wednesday December 18 2024.

Addressing the committee, Cllr McDonnell said there was a nursing home, a soccer pitch, and nursing home staff “coming and going” at the location, leaving many people vulnerable.

People, he said, felt very exposed in that general area.

Older people were coming to meet their family members in Willowbrook Nursing Home, so that he believed a bus shelter on “both sides” of the road was a priority.

Also speaking at the meeting, Cllr Chris Pender (SD) said this was an issue which he and other councillors had raised in 2023 as an area for priority consideration, and he “absolutely” agreed it was something which needed to be looked at as a priority.

There is a need to support the most vulnerable members of society, he said, in terms of bus shelter provision.

A council official stated that resources are now in place as well as supplementary resources available for work on bus shelters.

The council's approach to the matter was “ambitious”, he said, in that there are hundreds” of bus-stops in Co Kildare that require attention.

Works were currently being prioritised for these bus-stops with a programme of works due in Q1 2025.

A report issued by the council stated: 'The location outlined in this motion is one of many locations across County Kildare that have been requested for upgrading.

'Kildare County Council, together with the National Transport Authority, is undertaking an audit of all bus stop infrastructure in all Municipal District areas and developing a priority list based on the requirements at different locations.

'It should be noted that hard standing areas were recently installed at this location to facilitate passengers and whilst Kildare County Council will work towards installing bus shelters at all relevant locations, the programme is ambitious and will require a significant amount of financial funding and time to progress both design and construction works at multiple locations.'