Wednesday, August 07, 2019

Cllr agrees on call for Market Square plans public meeting

A public meeting on the plans for Kilcullen's Market Square redevelopment would be a 'great idea', according to Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer, writes Brian Byrne.

She was responding to comments on a number of queries she has lodged with Kildare County Council in advance of the redevelopment going to planning.

She also says that as soon as she gets access to the plans which have already been made, she will 'make them available to everyone'.

At the top of the list of Cllr O'Dwyer's queries on behalf of residents and businesses is 'what is the plan for parking?', a matter which has been consistently raised by businesses in downtown Kilcullen.

She also seeks information on who will manage the square and the events that will take place there, what kind of events are envisaged by the Council, and whether any weekly market will have stalls in competition with local businesses? She wants the plans made available for everyone to see.

The councillor says that as a result of her queries, it was agreed 'to hold off on planning' until they have been answered by the Council.

So far, the plans developed by consultants have never been shown to the people of Kilcullen, or to the residents and businesses in the area of Market Square who will be directly affected by the redevelopment. They have been shown to councillors of the Naas MD, to which Kilcullen was attached prior to the recent local elections.

Following an application supported by Kildare County Council, the redevelopment project was last year awarded an initial €200,000 from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2018 towards the estimated €500,000 cost.

The Market Square redevelopment got under way after a public meeting organised by Kilcullen Community Action in July 2017.

How others do it, the picture below is of the Apple Market in Waterford. It is a shared space for pedestrians and vehicles.



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