NAAS, 30 July: by Brian Byrne. A motion by Cllr Charlie Byrne that a pedestrian walkway from the Newbridge Road at Jigginstown to the new Caragh Road Sports Centre be built by Naas UDC received virtually unconfined support at the July meeting of the council.
The walkway would incorporate the old Terry's Bridge across the canal - the bridge was originally an 'accommodation bridge' used to move animals from one side of the waterway to the other. The bridge is under the control of the Inland Waterways Association, while the land involved is owned by a local developer.
Cllr Byrne told the meeting that providing the walkway would encourage people to go up to the centre and see the facilities there. During the discussion, Cllr Pat McCarthy asked that a cycleway be incorporated in the idea, while Cllr Seamie Moore suggested there might already be a right-of-way across the bridge.
Cllr Pat O'Reilly cautioned on the possibility that the walkway would increase traffic congestion on the Newbridge Road unless parking facilities were provided, while Cllr Mary Glennon thought it 'an excellent idea' particularly given the fact that the Ploopluck Bridge is still 'disgracefully dangerous'.
The town engineer is to look at issues of land ownership and the safety of the Terry's Bridge itself.
©2001brianbyrne/knn