Two pedestrians knocked down at the entrance to major Kildare supermarket
There's been a call from a Kildare councillor for a pedestrian crossing
Renewed calls have been made for action to be taken to make a junction near a Naas supermarket safer for pedestrians.
The decision making of some motorists using the junction near Dunnes Stores has been criticised by local politicians.
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Labour councillor Anne Breen asked Kildare County Council to provide a pedestrian crossing at “the entrance to Dunnes Stores from North Main Street.”
She added: "You cannot get across because cars are driving straight into the entrance,” adding that a black and white marking is needed to let motorists know not to drive across the entrance if people are using it.
Cllr Bill Clear said two people have been knocked over and one person was thrown into the air.
Cllr Clear said the road “has become the footpath” and there is insufficient demarcation between the entrance and the path Naas.
He said the situation is not helped by people leaving the car park and turning right and people who try to turn right into the car park were also criticised for causing congestion in the area.
“There are a lot of problems there, we need to do something to rectify the abuse,” said Cllr Seamie Moore
KCC engineer Donal Hodgins said in a report that improvements in the area need “a holistic approach to improving the environment for pedestrians and vulnerable road users.”
He added there are many concerns regarding traffic movements at the exit/entry point, adding it is a private development.
He said actions to increase and improve the space available for pedestrians to cross, include reducing the number of traffic lanes on North Main Street and increasing the width of footpaths connecting to the Poplar Square junction and along Naas Main Street.
However Naas mayor Fintan Brett said the closure of a traffic lane “will create gridlock.”