Welcome for square plan, but ...

I am delighted to see on your 'Diary' a note that Kildare County Council are to spend some of the vast development levies they have extracted from the town on a worthwhile and what will be an attractive addition to the town public spaces. This development, when combined with the new pedestrian bridge, will give us a unique public space in the centre of the town for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.



However, may I voice some concerns that immediately come to mind, in particular that of the parking issue. The provision of alternative parking is to be welcomed. Indeed the provision of any parking space in this town is to be welcomed, but the use of such space is, and will remain the problem. We can all list the well known 'blackspots', where the unthinking stop for 'just a minute' while they attend to their particular need, to the detriment of the general public (eg. The Church Road, The disabled spaces, the whole of the main street, Hillside at the gala shop).

If the Council are keen to improve the physical amenities of this town, may I venture to suggest that they make an integrated approach to the whole issue, and while making such improvements as the square, put in place the necessary addendums to ensure its success -- i.e. a traffic warden (self financing) and a street cleaning service (not the pathetic motorised and usless phantom that comes, sometimes, in the middle of the night to miss more than he collects).

In short, if the Council are of a mind to spend some of the 'levies' they have extracted from this town, perhaps they could be persuaded to spend a little more and provide the level of basic service any other town in the County enjoys. After all, be it 'levies' or commercial rates, it is our money. Perhaps we might benefit from it.

Donal Brennan.