Ownership of road in one Kildare town to be investigated
It was suggested that that there could have been a historical mapping error which contributed to the ambiguity of the situation
The ownership of a road located in the town of Newbridge is due to be the subject of an investigation by Kildare County Council (KCC).
The investigation was requested by a local councillor at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which took place on Wednesday, July 15 last.
Specifically, Fianna Fáil councillor Noel Heavey made the request via a motion he submitted to KCC.
He explained that he wanted Kildare County Council ‘to investigate and explain how the ownership of an access road to four cottages [located at] Kilbelin, Newbridge, came to be vested in the name of one person whose descendent now wishes this road to be Taken In Charge [by KCC]’.
BACKGROUND
Cllr Heavey’s motion also pointed out that that the road in this region was originally built by KCC on a two acre site and was subsequently transferred from the Land Commission back in 1940s.
In addition, the motion noted that the road presently provides access for a total of 13 houses.
Cllr Heavey’s motion was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Suzanne Doyle (It was also decided earlier on in the meeting that Cllr Doyle would succeed Cllr Heavey as the new Mayor of the Municipal District).
In response to the motion, KCC said: “The ownership of this access road will be investigated, and the members [of this Municipal District] will be updated.”
‘NEEDS REPAIR’
Speaking further on the matter, Cllr Heavey said that he overall welcomed KCC’s report, and while he noted that it is in private ownership, he nevertheless claimed that the road ‘is in serious need of repair’.
He also told KCC: “I think we need to find out how this [situation] happened in the first place, before we do anything with it.”
Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer then briefly entered the conversation to express her support for Cllr Heavey’s comments.
Following Cllr O’Dwyer’s remarks, a representative for KCC who was also present at the meeting told Cllr Heavey that there ‘could have been some sort of [historical] mapping error’ in relation to the area.
“It will take some digging [in order to clarify and remedy the situation],” the representative added.
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