By Noel O’Driscoll
TRAFFIC was brought to a standstill in Monasterevin last Saturday as 150 local residents took to the street to protest about controversial roadworks that they fear will cause a fatal accident.
A public meeting will take place in Monasterevin tonight in an effort to get the council to remove the concrete extensions to the footpath at the junction of Main Street and Whelan Street. Locals fear that the extension has turned the junction into a death trap for unwary pedestrians. This is the second such meeting organised by the residents and business people in the town, who say the county council has ignored their phone calls, emails and even a 300-strong petition.
At the first meeting a committee was established to tackle the issue and the secretary of that committee, Rita Callanan of Earley’s Fashion Shop, said: “There is a lot of anger about this. It’s dangerous because any large vehicles coming out of the junction have no choice but to go up on the footpath.”
Kildare County Council carried out the work to make it easier for those in wheelchairs to get around the town, but locals say that it won’t do the job it was intended to do.
“We are all in agreement with Monasterevin Access Group, who want to make it easier for those in wheelchairs or those in motorised buggies to get around, but this won’t make it easier to cross the road because straight in front of these slabs of concrete there is a large pothole. There has already been several minor accidents. I know of six so far where people have hit the concrete and burst tyres,” said Rita.
The public meeting will take place tonight, Tuesday 24 January, at 8pm at the parish centre.