Call for 'action plan' for Leixlip town centre

LEIXLIP: by Brian Byrne. Leixlip-based councillor Paul Kelly called this week for an Action Area Plan to be prepared for Leixlip’s town centre as part of the review of the Town Development Plan. He says that many changes have taken place in Leixlip over the seven years since the last plan that special attention needs to be paid to the town centre.

"It was sad to see many of the old familiar shops close in recent times," he said. "While some have been replaced, I feel a study needs to be done on the socio/economic needs of the town so that we can plan to attract the right type of business to the centre to bring it back to life again. Full Story.


'Nothing significant' in GAA move talks

NAAS: by Brian Byrne. 'Nothing significant' has taken place over the proposed move of Naas GAA to Oldtown since the EGM in September where members voted overwhelmningly toaccept a new proposal from lehmex International, owners of Oldtown.

In a report in the club's newsletter, officers say that the negotiating team of Morgan Lalor, Ger Lanigan and Padraig McManus are engaged in 'ongoing talks' in an effort to 'clarify certain details of the plan'.

Any move is seen as being two to three years down the road, and the club is appealing for support for fundraising ventures in the meantime to pay for the ongoing maintenance of the existing clubhouse and pitches.


Needlecraft exhibition in Athy Library

ATHY: by Brian Byrne. A needlecraft exhibition opens in Athy Library today (26 April) and will run until May 15. It includes various types of needlecraft by local individuals and groups.

Meanwhile, a storytelling season for children is running each Saturday from 11am for an hour. They're suitable for under-8s and admission is free. There will be no sessions May 5 and June 2.


Residents will oppose UDC parking plan

NAAS: 26 April 2001: by Trish Whelan. The residents of Lakelands are set to ‘vigorously oppose’ Naas UDC’s proposals to provide car parking spaces along the estate side of the Craddockstown Road, unless double yellow lines are provided at the entrance to Lakelands and along a block of homes where hospital and construction workers are currently parking their cars. Full Story.

Well Done!

Congratulations to Kildare County Council for the excellent job they did in recent days in clearing the laybay at Palmerstown, near Kill, of rubbish and detritus left by an incursion of travelling merchants. We extend a special thanks to the council workers involved in the job, which many would see as being above and beyond the call of duty.

Council has Palmerstown lay-by cleanup 'on its programme'

Council taken to task on national radio over state of Palmerstown lay-by


'Barrel sculpture' broken in Kilcullen

KILCULLEN: by Brian Byrne. Kilcullen lost an important, and probably unique, part of its built heritage last week.

The ‘stop’ sign stuck in a barrel for more than two years at the exit into Kilcullen from the M9 was turned over by vehicle or person unknown, and there’s local concern
that it might not be replaced. Full Story.


Tallaght IT supports outreach concept

NAAS: by Brian Byrne. The Tallaght Institute of Technology has agreed in principle to provide courses for an ‘outcentre for higher education’ in Naas, following a recent presentation made by Cllr Timmy Conway on the development of Naas.

The director of the IT, Columb Collins has written to Cllr Conway confirming that the institute ‘supports the development’ of such an outcentre in Naas, and will provide ‘appropriate’ courses when it is established. Full Story.


Landfill operator refutes UDC allegation of mud and debris responsibility

KTK Landfilll site manager Mark Heesom and KTK director Kevin Keenan watch a truck passing through the mandatory wheel wash system at the landfill near Kilcullen.

KILCULLEN: by Brian Byrne. A Kilcullen-based landfill operator has strongly rejected allegations made in Naas UDC that its business is responsible for dirt and debris on the Naas-Kilcullen Road or that sub-standard vehicles are allowed into its facility

KTK Landfill of Brownstown, Kilcullen, emphasise it is operating fully within its planning permission and EPA licence conditions, and levels of vehicle movements are ‘in line with those originally anticipated’ for the facility. Full Story.

Jigginstown Castle to be renovated

NAAS: Brian Byrne. Naas UDC and Kildare County Council have been asked to take a ‘partnership approach’ to a proposed renovation of Jigginstown Castle.

The Department of the Arts, Heritage, Gaelteacht and the Islands has approved a grant of £500,000 for the renovation, which will involve taking out trees, improving access, and restoring aspects of the unique brick vaulting. Full Story.

Council has Palmerstown lay-by cleanup 'on its programme'

JOHNSTOWN: by Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council says it has the cleaning up of the lay-by at Palmerstown 'on its programme'. The comment follows complaints from local councillor Mary Glennon last week, and a highlighting of the situation on national radio last week.

"It IS our responsibility and it WILL be cleaned up," information officer Charlie Talbot told KNN this week. "I should point out, though, that we didn't CREATE the litter." Full Story.

Junction could see 'major accident'

NAAS: by Brian Byrne. An average of one ‘minor pile-up’ a day occurs on the Newbridge Road out of Naas, according to local UDC councillor Charlie Byrne (above), and he wants something done about road markings and alignments at Jigginstown ‘before there’s a major accident in the area’.

And his fellow councillors last night unanimously agreed that a full report should be made available by the town manager, Tommy Skehan, for the May monthly meeting of the council. Full Story.


Kildare residents seek reassurances about traveller site

KILDARE: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Residents of Kildare have been told that a proper security barrier will be installed at an entrance to a travellers halting site recently located at Magee Barracks (above). But assistant county manager for Kildare Tommy Skehan says the situation is ‘sensitive’ and ‘difficult and delicate’. Full Story.


Draft taxi rates agreed in principle

NAAS: by Brian Byrne. New charges for taxi services in Naas have been agreed in principle by Naas UDC, but with the proviso that the Naas Taximeter Area be extended to take in a number of specific areas outside the UDC boundary.

The UDC wants a number of ‘regular destinations’ for Naas people such as the Arrow station in Sallins and Punchestown Racecourse be brought into the area. “Otherwise they can charge what they like,” Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane told Naas councillors. He noted that doing this will require the cooperation of Kildare County Council. Full Story.


Middle Ages monument is relocated

KILCULLEN: by Brian Byrne. Two and a half years after it was proposed, the Portlester Monument in the old New Abbey Graveyard in Kilcullen has been relocated to protect it from the elements.

The rare monument was the top of a tomb in a former Franciscan Church in the area and depicted Sir Roland FitzEustace and his wife who had been buried in the tomb in the Middle Ages. Extensive erosion has taken place over the years because of water lodgement on the monument and detail was rapidly disappearing. Full Story.

Council taken to task on national radio over state of Palmerstown lay-by

JOHNSTOWN: by Brian Byrne. The failure of Kildare County Council to quickly clean up the lay-by at Palmerstown near Johnstown has been strongly criticised both by one of its own councillors and on one of the country's most-listened to Sunday radio programmes.

The lay-by was occupied 10 days ago by a number of the traveller merchants who had earlier invaded the Naas Livestock Mart, and when they left last week the area was covered in rubbish, asbestos waste, rotting food and other detritus. Full Story.


Leixlip 'Broomsday 2001' next Saturday

LEIXLIP: by Brian Byrne. The ‘Broomsday’ initiated last year in Leixlip by the Town Commissioners’ Leixlip Integrated Waste Initiative (LIWI) committee takes place this year next Saturday 21 April, from 11am to 1pm.

Property owners are asked to clean outside their own premises by removing roadside weeds, cutting the grass verge, and generally making the area look well. There are special cleanups on the Rye River bank at the Scouts Den or the wood on the opposite bank in Dun Carraig. LIWI will provide skips, bags, gloves, and tools, and everyone who helps out will receive a free tee shirt and will be entered in a prize draw.


HGV vehicles have road 'pummelled to pieces'

STRAFFAN: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Heavy Goods Vehicles are wrecking the road from Barberstown to Kill and causing serious difficulty for the village of Straffan, according to Emmet Stagg TD, Labour’s spokesperson on Transport, Energy & Roads.

Deputy Stagg, who lives in the area, says much of the problem is from trucks avoiding the tolls on the M50 by travelling to and from northern counties via Dunboyne and Maynooth. Full Story.

Nobody wins in hospital parking numbers game

NAAS: by Brian Byrne. They played a numbers game for two hours at Naas UDC last night. But nobody won anything. Certainly not the residents of Lakelands, who were trying to get car numbers out of their estate.

Parking space numbers was what it was all about at last night’s meeting. As it has been for 12 months in Lakelands since the construction work at the hospital made the estate an overflow car park for staff, construction workers, and hospital visitors. Not to mention Craddockstown Road becoming a two-lane parking bay with a single traffic lane. Full Story.

Concern over traffic danger to primary pupils

NAAS: by Trish Whelan. The provision of a new pedestrian exit from St Corban’s Primary School onto the Swimming Pool Car Park is being considered by Kildare County Council, following a request from the school’s management.

This was revealed during a presentation by the school’s Parent’s Council to Naas UDC, when school principal Declan McGovern highlighted the danger from traffic faced by 523 pupils. Full Story.

Newtowndonore fights dump shortlisting

NEWTOWNDONORE: by Brian Byrne. In the kind of ‘desktop survey’ beloved of consultants there might be some logic in locating a public dump in Newtowndonore (above) near Robertstown.

It is central to the main waste-generating towns in both north and mid-county. It is physically and politically isolated, and there aren’t, relatively, too many people who might be discommoded.

There’s even a disused old Bord na Mona railway bed which would give one handy access to the site. Full Story.


Steiner Waldorf School activity day

KILCULLEN: The Steiner Waldorf School held an Easter Activity Day in Kilcullen's Town Hall Heritage Centre last week. Clearly, it was very much enjoyed by all. Full Story.


'Double accounting' claim in levies demands

NAAS: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. A development company which was recently granted planning permission for a business park at Newbridge Road, Naas (above), has accused Naas UDC of ‘double accounting’ in making it a condition that it pays for road improvements, water supply, and other services. Full Story.


'Satisfaction' with Garda cover a 'nonsense'

MAYNOOTH: by Brian Byrne. The minister for justice has refused a request to upgrade the Garda Station in Maynooth (above) to 24-hour service as a District Headquarters, despite the fact that there is no North Kildare town with such a garda station service.

The minister, in a reply to a Dail Question from Emmet Stagg TD, said the extension of opening hours to the station would necessitate the employment of Garda personnel on 'indoors administrative duties' and that such personnel would be utilised more effectively in providing a 'visible Garda presence' on 'outdoor policing duties'. Full Story.


Kilcullen concerns on infrastructure

KILCULLEN: by Brian Byrne. The infrastructural requirements of Kilcullen in the face of an unprecedented expansion will be made known to Kildare County Council by the town's Tidy Towns Group soon.

With planning applications and recent grantings of permissions now totalling 1,009 housing units, the group is drawing up an Action Plan to manage and improve the environmental aspect of the town. Several major housing developments are already well under way - the first for a quarter of a century - and the village's population is expected to more than double over as little as three years. Full story.


Drug convictions increase fivefold

KILDARE GENERAL: by Brian Byrne. Drug convictions in the Carlow-Kildare Garda Divisionincreased from 59 in 1995 to 319 in 1999, according to figures given to Deputy Jack Wall recently.

He says the trend is in marked contrast to the numbers of drugs awareness seminars held in the division, which dropped from 143 in 1995 to just 20 in 1999. And he noted that there are now only 31 gardai in the division qualified to act as Juvenile Liaison Officers, leaving the division 19th in the country in relation to this. Full story.

Threatened mart owner calls for stronger garda powers

NAAS: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. The owner of Naas Livestock Mart, Colm McEvoy, was threatened on two separate occasions when he confronted a horde of travellers who invaded his property last week and left after causing extensive damage.

And he says that it’s time for the same powers of seizure to be given to gardai as already exist for the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Customs & Excise.

Full story.

Moone-Timolin junctions 'are dangerous'

MOONE/TIMOLIN: by Brian Byrne. The bypass of Moone/Timolin has improved the road safety conditions within those two villages, but local residents are convinced there will be a major accident sooner or later at one of the exits off the bypass into the area. Full story.

Bridget in contention for 'Hostess of the Year'

NAAS: by Trish Whelan. A member of Naas No Name Club has won her way through to the final of the national No Name Club Hostess of the Year competition. Bridget Harney, a 4th year student in St Mary’s College, will carry the hopes of her local club when she competes in the final in The Dolman Hotel, Carlow on April 28. Full story.

BACK TO HOME PAGE

KNN ARCHIVES HERE

KNN-KildareNet News is produced by

PO BOX 106, NAAS, CO KILDARE, IRELAND.

All material on these pages © Telling Tales Ltd. Links must be notified to tellingtales@yahoo.com