Call for public realm project on busy street in Athy

Calls have been made to create plans for a public realm project on Woodstock Street in Athy, with an emphasis on traffic calming, a pedestrian crossing at Shrewleen, new paths, and resurfacing of the car park.

“We have all had motions down about issues on Woodstock St, namely the shocking state of the footpaths from Shrewleen Lane to the junction at William St, the speeding issues on the street, the badly needed signalled pedestrian crossing at Shrewleen mainly for the Kare service users that are no longer allowed to go into town unaccompanied due to the speeding traffic, car parking spaces that really are overdue a resurface by about 10 years, broken street lamps and street fixtures,” cllr Mark Leigh told July’s meeting of Athy Municipal District.

“This area needs a public realm project to primarily make this street safer but also despite its issues it is a lovely part of town that deserves a makeover. We got some streetscape funding in 2022 and in fairness to the Tidy Towns they did a fair bit of work on Woodstock St, but until the major issues are dealt with it’s like trying to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.

“I know there is support from Public Realm for a project here and I think we should all work together to get this part of town done as soon as possible.” 

Cllr Leigh was informed that there isn’t current funding, but a commitment has been made to review the issues and get some costings to try and identify what is needed.