'Meet the Candidates' reminds of Kilcullen's good fortune

Current sitting councillors in the Newbridge Local Electoral Area and those hoping to be elected all support working to get the €1.4 million funding to complete Kilcullen’s Market Square plan, writes Brian Byrne. That was the response to a question from the floor by Antoinette Buckley at the end of last night’s ‘Meet the Candidates’ event, which was otherwise a Newbridge-centric meeting. Understandably, as it was organised by Newbridge Community Development, and took place in the Newbridge Town FC premises.

Nine of the declared candidates accepted the NCD invitation to outline their views on a range of key issues, in front of an audience of around 50 who thought it worth their while to turn up. Those present were sitting councillors Chris Pender (SocDem), Rob Power (FF), Tracey O’Dwyer (FG), Peggy O’Dwyer (FG), and Noel Heavey (FF). Aspirational representatives present were James Stokes (SF), Ronan Maher (GP), James Garvin (IND), and Aina Conway (LAB). Not present were Melissa Byrne (Aontú), Terri Thorpe (SF), and Christoir MacCormack, Tom O’Donnell and Leanne Ní Neill (all IND).

Moderator Evonne Boland of NCD outlined the ‘rules of engagement’ and the three main themes for discussion — Development & Planning, Community & Social Infrastructure, and Transport & Mobility. Through the evening, NCD strictly managed the operation, especially the no audience interaction until a Q&A session at the end. Issues with the sound system meant that, occasionally, participants had to speak louder, and sometimes that turned out to be better.

There was considerable crossover between all three themes in the issues raised, many grounded in a Newbridge feeling that the town doesn’t get equal treatment with Naas, where, coincidently, the HQ of Kildare County Council is located. 

Cllr Rob Power.

The next Newbridge Local Area Plan, currently in draft preparation, was extensively referenced, with Cllr Rob Power emphasising the need for representatives to ensure that follow-up happens and that capital funding follows identified needs in the plan. James Stokes highlighted the need to deal with the ‘blight’ of dereliction, and also to provide more social housing, saying that walking by derelict premises which could be converted to homes was a ‘crazy' situation. For Cllr Chris Pender, adequate green and open spaces are a ‘massive priority’, and also that the LAP should include a time-frame for completion of its elements. Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer headlined the need to identify adequate land for Newbridge primary and secondary schools, and that the LAP should 'be delivered on'. 

For Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer, it is about sustainable planning that both preserves what the community has and moves forward in areas such as housing, where the county is currently 'playing catch-up'. Ronan Maher wants the plan to encompass transport initiatives that make sure 'nobody has to drive 20 minutes in a car to go to the shops'. 

James Stokes.

The situation that 'other towns have community facilities that Newbridge doesn't' piques Cllr Noel Heavey, who wants the LAP to utilise land in the Council's ownership at Great Connell for those facilities. James Garvin criticised what he sees as 'piecemeal solutions' to problems in Newbridge, and wants existing Council properties assessed to see if they could be better used in alternative ways. For Aina Conway, priorities based on her recent canvassing include facilities both for older people and for older children, and a special needs school.

Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer.

Dealing with dereliction was pitched as a focus point, and responses included suggestions that such properties should be taken into Council ownership, levies imposed, and the removal of the rates waiver given to retail business properties that are left closed down.

Deficits in facilities for minor sports was a highlight issue during the Community & Social Infrastructure segment. Aina Conway noted that there were clubs which can't take on new members because of inadequate buildings and spaces. James Garvin raised the need for a swimming pool, referencing families having to drive to Naas to swim, and also how some local clubs can't train in winter because their facilities flood. Cllr Noel Heavey said that 50 acres of already zoned community land at Great Connell would be ideal for a community campus catering for a range of sports and other needs. 

Ronan Maher.

That concept of a multi-sports facility is also on Ronan Maher's wish-list, who also said there is a need for more playground space, preferably a number of smaller ones located around the town. Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer mooted that population growth had led to the facilities deficit, and that the LAP was an opportunity for community and sports groups to identify their requirements. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer said providing facilities for younger people and for older people, 'from the cradle to the grave', needs to be part of Newbridge's planning, with a special emphasis on the provision of independent living for older people. 

Cllr Chris Pender.

Cllr Chris Pender wants houses made available for people suffering in domestic violence, and that future community infrastructure needs should be achieved by a number of groups working together and 'co-locating'. Cllr Rob Power highlighted the role of local representatives in advocating to Government for funding, and also reminded those present of the direct interventions carried out by the Council in supporting community initiatives such as Tidy Towns. James Stokes reprised the need to provide essential community facilities in tandem with every housing development, and also noted the bureaucratic difficulties experienced by community groups in filling the forms for funding applications.

Cllr Noel Heavey.

Cost, planning, and joined up thinking were the key concern headlines in the Transport & Mobility module. For James Stokes, reliability of service and lower costs were main considerations, especially for young people. He particularly noted difficulties for students who need to go to Maynooth University from Newbridge. Cllr Rob Power's starting point was about proper planning of initiatives such as cycle lanes, providing good public transport links into the town from outlying areas, and investing in park and ride spaces to 'shift the modal' and get people out of their cars. Cllr Chris Pender wants an orbital bus service within Newbridge to bring people into the town centre and schools, and to encourage people and their children onto public transport. Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer noted the new bus service from Dunlavin to Newbridge, which is proving a 'boon' for areas like Brannockstown. She said more feeder lines like that are needed. 

Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer.

Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer brought up the Local Area Transport Assessment currently in progress and encouraged people to input to it when it comes for public consultation. She also noted, in terms of the push for 'active travel', that 20pc of people are living with some kind of disability and they must be catered for. Ronan Maher emphasised the need for transport planning that would improve connectivity between 'where people are and where they want to go'. For Cllr Noel Heavey, a big issue underpinning local traffic problems is the number of traffic lights, which make vehicle movement 'very inefficient'. He said there must be room for transport units to move, and it was up to councillors to 'represent the people' for needed changes. 

James Garvin.

James Garvin raised a statistic that 70pc of people in Newbridge drive to work, and the Dunlavin bus service had given people in that town an option to leave their cars at home. Calling for 'safe routes' to school and safe cycle lanes for children, he also cautioned that any changes in transport planning had to be aware of the needs of people with reduced mobility. Aina Conway noted the need for adequate school bus transport so people didn't have to drive their children into town, and added that 'affordable' bus and train prices would help reduce the amount of driving.

Aina Conway.

During the concluding Q&A session, matters raised from the floor included the need for a multi-purpose space for minor sports such as volleyball, the problem for the athletics club in not owning the property where it operates, and the provision of elder-friendly homes within the community where older people would feel safe and have home care services which would stop them having to go into nursing homes before they should have to. 

From the floor.

While it was a night for expression of attitudes rather than resolution of issues, the NCD exercise did offer direct exposure with current councillors and aspirational candidates which may colour the makeup of the next local representative cohort in the Newbridge LEA. 

For this writer, it was also a reminder of how fortunate we are in Kilcullen, our village grown bigger, to have our community centre campus and all the facilities connected to it and around it, central to schools and in walking distance of shops and other businesses, thanks to the foresight and generosity of the sisters of the Cross & Passion in providing the land many decades ago.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy