Objection to bridge

Local engineering consultant J J Warren has made a strong submission against the proposed pedestrian bridge across the Liffey from the Market Square development to The Valley.

He says it will be an 'encroachment' on a linear park developed by the community, and suggests that it could also be dangerous.

Speaking at a recent meeting of Kilcullen Community Action, he said he'd 'made no bones' about his opposition to the complete development, and that his stance against the bridge was 'consistent'.

"The bridge will destroy the independence of the park," he told the meeting. "As soon as it is put there, there will be a perception that it is in the ownership of the apartments."

He claimed that there was a lack of green space in the Market Square development which would reinforce this perception. "And perception is everything," he said.

Adding that the design of the proposed bridge would make it 'easy to climb', he said that being off the beaten track 'makes it very dangerous, with horseplay involved'. "When you put something like that in an isolated area, especially on a winter's night, and with the kind of people which The Valley attracts..."

He also expressed his belief that the erection of the bridge would 'create an undesireable precedent' for waterways all over the country.

Niall McDonnell responded strongly that he 'didn't agree with a single word' which J J Warren had said.

"The bridge would be a major benefit to the community," he said, giving as an example how people from the north end of town could use it to traverse the river and go to church through The Valley.

"I don't have any problem with anyone objecting to it, but as far as I'm concerned every bridge over the river would be a benefit."

J J Warren said he would take his objections to the planning application to appeal if necessary.

KCA chairman Kieron Forde noted that the organisation hadn't made any submission on the proposal.

Brian Byrne.