BREAKING: Kildare's newest town centre car park looks set to open in three weeks with 300 spaces

Work on the public car park in the centre of Naas at Corbans Lane will conclude shortly.

It’s expected that 300 spaces, most of them in the basement, will be available for use in early March - though a precise opening date isn’t available.

“We expect to have it ready in about three weeks but I’m reluctant to say exactly when because I’m not yet certain of that,” said Ger Roche of the Roche Group, which owns the car park and the surrounding Naas Plaza retail development.

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It had originally been hoped that the facility, which would address some of the issues created by a dearth of town centre spaces, would open with 300 berths before the end of last October.

The car park will initially have 300 spaces - with possibly another 300 to follow

But Mr Roche said a hold-up occurred because of delays commissioning a sprinkler system and a pump.

About 250 of the spaces will be in the basement.

In the longer term a further 300 spaces will be developed within the complex, but Mr Roche said that this will probably depend on the number of retail units that will open there in the meantime.

“I would hope that once the first 300 spaces open they will attract  businesses to the plaza,” added Mr Roche.

New walls and footpaths have been built at the Corbans Lane (back) entrance and the area has been landscaped.

"It will mean that people will be able to drive in, park and exit through the front onto the street and visit any premises or office in the town. Parking spaces are badly needed in the centre of  the town,” said Mr Roche.