Walkabout highlights access problems

There was bad news and good news out of the Saturday morning walkabout by the Kilcullen Access Group, organised in conjunction with Action South Kildare.

The bad news was that there are major access problems in Kilcullen for people with disability. The good news is that Kildare County Council is actively working towards addressing some of them.



The walkabout involved Brigid O'Rourke from Kilcullen, who is visually impaired, with her carer Martin Moore, and Newbridge Access Group members Martin and Anne Kelly, as well as local wheelchair user Katie Kelly and her mother Geraldine, assisted by Katie's brother Gary.

Minister for state at the Department of Health & Children Sean Power also went along, as did two key officials of Kildare County Council — access officer Pat Cleary and senior technician in the Roads Department Niamh O'Donnell. The access audit was facilitated by Anne Daly of ASK, who will be producing a report on the situation.

The event was concentrated on the approach roads to the traffics lights junction at The Hideout, starting at the access for the Communiy Sports & Recreation Complex.



Difficulties identified early in the walk included the lack of a footpath on the entrance lane to the Complex. Another problem there was overhanging trees, which could be a problem for visually impaired people.



This was also a difficulty encountered on the footpath alongside Scoil Bhride towards the main Kilcullen crossroads junction.



Before reaching the crossing, Katie Kelly's wheelchair encountered several undished kerbs, and an inappropriately parked van.



At the junction itself, Pat Cleary acknowledged that there were problems with the phasing of the lights, and said that this was under review by the Council.

Niamh O'Donnell said a traffic consultant was looking at the situation, and that she was proposing a more definite realignment of the Cross & Passion College corner.

She said that 'high visibility' pedestrian 'tracks' are to be provided at all four roads on the junction, with all 'dished' areas to be outlined in yellow, to facilitate visually impaired people.



A test of the existing crossing from the CPC gate to The Hideout by Katie Kelly showed that she was only three-quarters of the way across in her wheelchair when the amber warning light appeared. And at that, she was being pushed by her mother. "That is simply not adequate," Pat Cleary noted.



At the same junction, access campaigner Claire Kinneavy said that the different 'tactile' surfaces in place to help those with visual impairment could cause difficulties to people like herself suffering from arthritis.



"There are two different kinds of tactile surfaces here, one with higher studs than the other. And even though I'm wearing extra socks, and shoes designed with thicker soles, I can feel the difference. The higher ones are actually painful."

Pat Cleary noted that, as part of a national pilot programme in KCC, all new and refurbishing works by the council would take account of the needs of people with disability.



Minister Sean Power said that Kildare was 'lucky' because there were a number of access groups already established throughout the county. "They have already done this sort of audit in other towns, and we are using their expertise and wisdom and bringing it to bear in places like Kilcullen."



The walkabout showed up a number of other problems, including the difficulties created for those with disabilities by temporary building works, and by the placement of decorative flower tubs.



Poor placing of traffic light poles, one directly in the line of access meant for people with disability, were also encountered. In addition, leaving household waste bins on the footpath must be discouraged, Niamh O'Donnell said.





Upcoming improvements to the bridge have already been reported in the Diary, and the Kilcullen Access Group hopes that these will include addressing the seriously difficult problems in the access to the bridge from the Market Square.



— Brian Byrne.