COUNCILLORS have been told that there is no money available for a new traffic management plan for the Monasterevin Road in Athy.

At the October meeting of Athy Municipal District councillors Cllr Aoife Breslin  asked for confirmation that a new plan would be drawn up which would include cycle lanes and associated signage.

In response officials said while a new traffic management plan was required there was no funding to implement it.

Cllr Breslin alluded to the new Aldi development on the Monasterevin Road.; “We are all very much aware of the added traffic in the area. We had previously looked for cycle lanes and since then this area has become a nightmare and there is an issue for pedestrians walking to the schools and in the future to the Aldi site. I would ask that this remain as a priority for when funding does become available.”

Cllr Thomas Redmond agreed. “I find it hard to believe, that when planning permission was granted, that no traffic management plan for the area wasn’t included. I was under the impression that there would be lights at Whitecastle Lawns which is a very busy junction.”

Cllr Ivan Keatley asked if the development levies for the Aldi development could be set aside for the Monasterevin Road Traffic Management Plan.

Senior engineer John Coppinger said he wasn’t aware of the detail on that but would look in to it.