Call to update Kildare’s protected structures
Kildare County Council believe that cultural heritage is important to the county of Kildare and must be protected
THERE has been a call for recognition of certain historical structures in Kildare to be named under the record of protected structures.
At the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, cllr Tracey O'Dwyer proposed a motion urging Kildare County Council to update the record for several areas, including Brannockstown, Carnalway, Kennycourt, Milemill, Kilcullen, and Athgarvan.
The motion seeks to identify natural stone walls, gates, pillars, and railings as part of the curtilage of protected structures to preserve the character and heritage of these historic locations.
Cllr O'Dwyer highlighted the importance of safeguarding the county’s heritage.
“If historical walls are knocked, there is no mechanism to restore them,” she said.
The proposal aligns with the current county development plan, which includes an objective to regularly review and amend the RPS. However, implementing such updates involves an intricate statutory process, involving expert analysis, assessments, recordings, and mapping to determine the area's significance.
In her reply, a senior planner emphasised the challenges faced in updating the RPS.
The position of Executive Architectural Conservation Officer within Kildare County Council remains vacant and the shortage of qualified conservation professionals has caused delays in several projects, with priority given to time-sensitive, grant-funded initiatives.
The planning team was currently in discussions with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address these challenges and facilitate a future review of the RPS.
