Playground 'on' again

In what seems to have been a hastily cobbled resolution to the Kilcullen Playground problem, Kildare County Council officials have once again committed to the project going ahead 'in the near future'.

At last Monday's Council meeting, the issue was raised by local councillors, following word the previous week that the promised €120,000 for the playground was no longer available. There has been considerable ire in Kilcullen since that news was relayed, and there's little doubt that it would have become a serious issue in the upcoming local elections.

Last night councillors Billy Hillis (FG) and Martin Miley Jr (FF) told a meeting of the Playground Committee that preparatory work could now go ahead on the project, which has been in negotiation seriously for three years.

They said that due to budgetary and cashflow concerns between the Council and central Government, no cheques can be paid out for the playground until at least September. However, this would not stop the preparatory work from going ahead.

Cllr Billy Hillis is seeking a letter of commitment on this from Director of Services Tommy Skehan and expects to have the letter for the Committee by early next week.

Labour candidate Mark Wall also attended the meeting, which was relocated at the last minute to O'Connells Bar due to Fallons being busy after the first day of Punchestown.

Brian Byrne.