Urgent call for Kildare road connection at meeting

The importance of the delivery of a road connection within the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) was highlighted by a local representative at a recent Kildare County Council (KCC) meeting.

The topic of the connection was raised at the latest MD meeting by Fine Gael councillor Peggy O'Dwyer.

At this meeting, which took place on Wednesday, October 15 last, she motioned for KCC to outline "the steps necessary to ensure that the road connection between the Ballymany Road and Green Road is delivered in conjunction with the delivery of the second bridge in Newbridge, so that the Newbridge Southern Orbital Relief Road is completed at the same time".

Her motion was seconded by her party colleague, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.

In response to Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer's motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "This section of road is not included in the current Capital Programme or the Work Programme of the Transport, Mobility and Open Spaces Department.

"The delivery of this section of road will require Part 8 consent, land acquisition and the allocation of funding amongst other items to be progressed."

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KCC further told Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer that the first step in the progression of this project would be to "investigate the land ownership along the corridor followed by the appointment of a consultant to deliver this scheme".

In addition, KCC said: "It will not be possible to deliver this in conjunction with the delivery of the second bridge, but [it] will be considered in the context of future work programmes."

Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer again re-emphasised her point to KCC: "We need to make that connection as soon as possible."

She added that she noted the response from KCC in relation to her motion.

The Mayor of the MD, Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey, also gave his view on KCC's report.

He said: "It is a very interesting response... it is basically saying that there will be a problem [at this location]."

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Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender also voiced his support for Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer's motion.

He warned KCC: "We don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past here; if we lose the possibility of the lower half of the Northern Orbital Route, then we will end up in a gridlocked town."

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer then suggested that KCC could carry out a review of the Capital Programme for the MD.

Her party colleague, Cllr Kevin Duffy (who appeared at the meeting by virtual means), also told KCC that while he has "no problem" with reviewing the Capital Programme, he added that KCC "would have to do it [a review] for all settlements in the MD, such as Kildare town and Monasterevin".

Replying to Cllr Duffy's and Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer's comments, KCC's Senior Executive Officer, Transport, Mobility and Open Spaces, Mark McLoughlin, said: "It is in the pipeline, but it won't be immediately done."

Despite this, he did give assurances to them that the situation would be looked at by KCC.

Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer. File photograph

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