NAAS, 16 January 2002: by Brian Byrne. This (left) was the Baba exports site where a new multi-storey car park is being built by Newbridge-based developer Tom Treacy. The picture was taken in the busy week before Chrstmas Day. And shoppers in Naas are wondering what happened to a promise by the developer to have 200-plus spaces in the development available 'for Christmas'?

The other pictures (top and below) were taken at the same time, and show cars parked in the church grounds and a nearby school car park.

The site of the development takes in the former Naas UDC Sallins Road Car Park, which was sold to Mr Treacy for £500,000 last year, in what was a very controversial transaction (covered in detail by KNN).

The developer apparently gave a commitment to have the spaces available for the Christmas shopping period in Naas. This writer both heard that commitment retold by town officials at a UDC meeting, and has had sight of a handwritten note in the Baba Exports planning file which indicated the same commitment following a meeting with Mr Treacy requested by the town officials.

The commitment was given at a time when a number of councillors were querying how Mr Treacy was being allowed to depart from his planning permission requirement of providing a temporary car park on the site prior to the construction of his multi-storey project.

(A query made repeatedly by KNN to Naas Town Manager Tommy Skehan about the procedures which surrounded this has not yet been answered by Mr Skehan except a November note to say he was 'investigating' the matter.)

Naas UDC have since spent close to £3m in acquiring and preparing the former Hedderman’s coal yard as a public car park. It seems Mr Treacy made a contribution towards the preparation costs in lieu of providing a temporary car park on his own site.

Meantime, a multi-storey car park constructed by Mr Treacy in his development in Newbridge was completed well in time for the Christmas business. The charge for parking in that development is 80p per hour.

Finally, KNN understands that Mr Treacy made angry representations to the Newbridge office of the Kildare Nationalist this week following a report highlighting the situation detailed above.

©2002knn

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