Councillor seeks funds to part-implement Market Square plan
Kildare County Council has been asked if there is any money unspent from the €200,000 Town & Village Renewal grant made in 2018 towards the redevelopment of Kilcullen Market Square, writes Brian Byrne. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer has made the request with a view to funding a part of the plan developed for the square, in order to improve the downtown streetscape.
The full plan for the square and downtown area is currently shelved because there are no funds available to progress the project, now costed at €1.4 million. The Part 8 process granting planning for the redevelopment was completed last year.
Cllr O'Dwyer says that since funds are not available to do the whole project, perhaps some parts of the plan produced by consultants The Paul Hogarth Company could be implemented.
"Specifically the section of footpath between the River Cafe and McTernan's could be done, which would make a big difference in that area," she suggests. "The plan was to widen the path to incorporate the space now used by temporary outdoor service areas, and realigning the section entering the market square."
Cllr O'Dwyer has offered the remaining amount of her 2023 Local Property Tax allocation to the Engineering Department of the Kildare-Newbridge MD towards the part-work, if the balance of funds required can be found. "Maybe some of the Town & Village Scheme money is still available," she told the Diary.
The project, which included pedestrianising the square, was first proposed in July 2017 following a public meeting organised by Kilcullen Community Action.
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