Repairing shed in Kildare graveyard 'not a priority' for the council

Replacing the roof of the shed in Newbridge Graveyard is “not a priority” for the council, a disappointed Cllr Tom McDonnell was told at a recent MD meeting.

Cllr McDonnell (Ireland First) had motioned “That the council replaces the roof on the shed in Newbridge Graveyard” at the July meeting of Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, held on Wednesday, July 16 last.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McDonnell told the council that such is the poor condition of the shed in Newbridge graveyard, that if a health and safety officer were to visit, they would “condemn anybody working or having anything to do with the shed.”

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According to Cllr McDonnell, the shed is poorly constructed, does not follow any regulations, and has a collapse of “eight inches” in the middle of its roof.

Cllr McDonnell urged that it should be “top priority” to have the shed repaired, and the structure should be “condemned” and closed off until such time as suitable repairs are carried out.

The shed, he said, is being “propped up” to keep it upright, and for an engineer to come back and say it's okay, is “outrageous.”

Cllr McDonnell suggested that any of the councillors or indeed any of the council staff pay a visit to the shed in Newbridge Graveyard to see how poor a condition it is in.

Cllr Suzanne Doyle (FF), who seconded the motion, said she did so on the basis that it was her belief that every councillor should have their motion heard.

However, she said, given the council's lack of resources and given that she accepted the bone fides of council staff, she did not believe Cllr McDonnell's request was justified.

She did not, she added, believe the matter was a priority, as stated by Cllr McDonnell, and she would accept the council's report on that basis.

She accepted that Cllr McDonnell was acting in good faith, but with all the things that need to be done in Newbridge, “it is not a priority.”

A report issued by the council stated: “The shed in Newbridge is used only by staff for equipment storage. The roof has been examined by the Environment Department's Engineer, who has reported that it is not necessary for it to be replaced.”

A council official, responding to Cllr McDonnell's motion, stated that the matter was “not a priority”, “but it's something that we can look at in the future.”