'No houses without prior infrastructure' - meeting
A strong message was sent last evening from a public meeting that there should be no further housing development in Kilcullen without the provision of adequate infrastructure and services first, writes Brian Byrne. More than a hundred Kilcullen area residents attended the gathering in the Community Centre to discuss a proposal by Oakway Homes to build 180 houses with access onto the New Abbey Road.
The number of new people which the proposal could bring to Kilcullen would represent a 15-20pc increase in population, according to a local estimate. A chronic shortage of local spaces for second-level education, the inability of even long-term Kilcullen residents to get on local doctors' registration lists, and the potential effects of the development on the already-constant Kilcullen traffic congestion were highlight concerns raised by speakers from many areas across the town.
Doubts about the current sewerage capacity were also aired, as were historical issues of both developers and Kildare County Council not doing what they were supposed to do in relation to previous developments. "There have been a lot of changes in Kilcullen over 70 years," one longtime Nicholastown resident said. "Some good, a lot bad. Our councillors are doing a great job, but the Council has let us down badly." He urged the meeting to remember that the proposed houses "are only being built for the profit of the people building them."
A core sense from the meeting was that those present were not against more housing, but won't accept it at any social cost. It was pointed out that the present application was for a number just under the 200-homes figure which would trigger a mandatory audit for schools capacity, and there was a palpable angry reaction to a suggestion in the application that 'it is manageable' for Kilcullen people to send their children to secondary school in Kildare town. "Are we trading real estate for having our children stand in school?" one woman asked. Other parents detailed how they have to send their children to schools in other towns such as Newbridge, even though they had bought homes in Kilcullen for access to local schools. A social impact commentary in the application acknowledging the main primary school being 'at pinch point' but suggesting there is extra capacity in the hinterland schools of Brannockstown and Halverstown was also described as 'concerning'.
With what were described as 'straws in the wind' that this current application was only the first of what could be up to 700 houses in adjoining locations, another speaker said — to applause — "if we don't make a stand, there's no limit to what they can do."
The fact was also raised that the developers have had multiple accesses to planners in pre-planning meetings, but no Kildare County Council officials have interacted with the community on this development. "That even after these meetings they should be able to propose two exits onto a really bad road is an insult to Kilcullen," another speaker said. That some of the proposed buildings are four stories high was described as inappropriate for Kilcullen.
The meeting heard that giving permission for this development wouldn't in any way address longtime infrastructure issues in Kilcullen, particularly the traffic problems related to having only one bridge. The prospect of local quiet country roads becoming 'rat-runs' as extra residents try to avoid the overloaded main crossroads and its inadequate traffic lights was emphasised. The possibility was also raised of the development threatening the Valley park with subsidence, and the sewage from it impacting on the River Liffey, already subject to sewage overflows during heavy rain.
Plans under the concept of permeability to provide pedestrian and cycle access through existing mature residential areas were also challenged, because they would have privacy and life-changing impacts for people already living there. One speaker noted that this development could mean up to 1,800 trips a day through mature estates, "including pedestrians, buggies, e-scooters and mopeds."
The meeting was chaired by local resident Gerry O'Donoghue, who said that it came about because of a casual conversation that there was no forum available to discuss the proposal. "Obviously you can't expect to have a public meeting on every planning proposal, but because this is a large residential development which will have an immediate and ongoing impact on the town, it was felt prudent to give people an opportunity to share their concerns," he said. "The fact that so many people turned up here tonight is gratifying, and shows that it was necessary."
Among the attendance were a number of councillors from the Kildare-Newbridge MD, including Tracey O'Dwyer, Rob Power and Noel Heavey.
Several comments were made that the proposed development would probably get the go-ahead regardless from Kildare County Council, and it was emphasised by a number of speakers, and by councillors, that everybody was entitled to make a submission and should do so. It was also said that the matter would likely end up with An Bord Pleanala, and that it was important that everyone make an individual submission so as to be part of that. All submissions need to be in by next Thursday, 23 January. The planning reference is 2461327. Guidelines on making submissions were available at the meeting.
