Leaks problem on bridge

The new floral baskets on the bridge are really making a difference to the vista across the bridge, following its refurbishment at the end of last year.

But there's a problem. The pipework that carries the water for the pumped system to irrigate the baskets is leaking.

According to the Tidy Towns chairman Kieran Forde, whenever the pump is switched on, the water 'comes up through the footpaths' on the bridge. "We have to contact Kildare County Council about it," he told the Diary.

The watering system was agreed to by the Council at the request of the Tidy Towns Committee during deliberations about the refurbishment work, and was put in place as part of the work. But the authority declined to allow a connection to the town water mains, and a supply was only obtained through the goodwill of Bank of Ireland. The bank allowed the Tidy Towns Committee to connect a reservoir to its own water supply, and have both reservoir and pump in its back yard.

It is unclear how much of the new cobble-lock footpaths will have to be lifted to solve the leaks problem. Also, one of the floral baskets standards is loose, and the Committee were unable to place its basket when doing the planting through the town last month.

Brian Byrne.