Plans for 11,000 population increase in Naas but no cycle path along key route
Photo for illustrative purposes only
A local councillor has called for Kildare County Council to address issues with traffic and a lack of safe cycle lanes in a part of Naas that is set for large-scale expansion.
The returning cathaoirleach Seamie Moore – who had been absent from his role for two months due to illness – brought forward a motion at Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Naas Municipal District proposing that Kildare County Council enters discussions with land owners on the Naas to Sallins road in an attempt to acquire road space needed for safe cycle lanes and continuous traffic flow.
Cllr Moore pointed out that the continuous flow of traffic is now restricted and unavailable due to a single traffic lane approach to the Monread Avenue junction from Naas. He brought forward the motion in the context of the proposed transport infrastructure developments in the Sallins/Naas North West Quadrant area, with plans for housing and population increase in those areas.
Senior engineer in sustainable transport and traffic management Chris Galvin issued the council’s written response, which said that the local authority does not currently have plans to deliver any such infrastructure at the location.
Mr Galvin added that other routes in Naas and across Kildare are on the current works programme and have been agreed with the National Transport Authority.
The council published its’ ‘Northwest Quadrant (Naas) Framework Masterplan” on Monday. The northwest quadrant refers to an area of around 300 hectares extending from Naas Harbour to the M7 motorway. The masterplan provides for 4,000 new homes to accommodate 11,000 people, with space for up to 5,000 jobs according to the council.
Speaking at the meeting, cllr Moore expressed his disappointment with Mr Galvin’s answer to his motion.
He said: “I can’t understand that a bottleneck, that has a solution to it, is allowed to remain there, when we’re looking at a new town of 11,000 people in that general direction."
Also speaking at the meeting, cllr Carmel Kelly said that the owners of the land in the area causing the bottleneck have said they were willing to allow the council to acquire the land.
Mr Galvin said he “would not have the history” of this, with this engagement between the council and the landowners having taken place before his time in the role.
Mr Galvin also said that the council “will have a look” at the matter going forward.
