Market Square passed in meeting ... but no 'parking safeguards'

The Kilcullen Market Square project was passed to its next stage at a meeting this morning of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, writes Brian Byrne, but without 'safeguards' on parking which were asked for by Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.

The meeting considered the Chief Executive's Report on the project following the public consultation which was held earlier this year in the Part 8 planning process. The vote followed a brief presentation on the project by consultants The Paul Hogarth Company.

An amendment proposed by Cllr O'Dwyer asked that construction not be commenced until such time as 'sufficient parking has been secured in the immediate vicinity', and a detailed design agreed with Kilcullen Gardai. The councillor also asked for a pilot trial of the project which would involve closing the square to cars for the summer period and have picnic tables installed, to 'test the project's principles and inform final design decisions'. A counter-motion put forward by Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy was subsequently withdrawn.

When the amendment was put to a vote, the result was 4-4 with Cllr O'Dwyer abstaining. It was then defeated with the vote of the MD deputy chair.

All the MD councillors received emails yesterday from downtown businesses, outlining their concerns about the loss of car parking on Main Street and from the Square, with no alternative parking having been secured by the Council.

Some of the businesses also expressed their frustration with what they saw as poor engagement by the Council on the issue.

The Diary understands that an earlier plan for extra public parking in Fallons car park has not been engaged with by the Council. This plan had been hailed as a breakthrough for the parking issue which has generated some heated debate since the pedestrianised Market Square project was first mooted by Kilcullen Community Action. It is also understood that Kilcullen Gardai are very concerned about the plan as it stands, as it leaves little or no on-street parking for commercial and residential properties.

Cllr O'Dwyer said this afternoon that she wanted a trial of the project and engagement with the Gardai, 'as we have done in Kildare Town and Newbridge'. "I think it is very unfortunate that we are not putting safeguards in place to secure parking, and detailed design agreement with Kilcullen Gardai," she concluded.

READ: All the Diary's reports on this project are here.

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