Will Naas get a train station?
Train crosses the bypass, only a kilometre short of predicted 'Sallins 2' location
PLANS to link Naas Town Hall by a thoroughfare with Millennium Park and a new, ‘Sallins 2’ railway station are “medium to long term, maybe in five to 10 years,” according to the councillor who raised the question about one of the last central, publicly-owned land banks in the town.
“Corban’s Lane will be first,” said cllr Seamie Moore, after his query at the recent Naas Municipal District meeting, referring to the planned Naas relief road behind the Shopping Centre to Murtagh’s Cross.
“Can the council confirm what its proposals are for the use of the eight acres (3.1Ha) landbank - formerly a wastewater treatment plant site - in the Abbey Bridge area of the North-West Quadrant?” enquired Cllr Moore.
He enquired about the piece of land encircled by Finlay Park to the west, Sarto Park to the south, the “Knocks” to the north, and it is less than 800m from the Moat Theatre.
“To be fair, the report was fairly minimal,” said Cllr Moore.
“None of the directors (of services) were available, and the information was given by the new county librarian,” he said.
“Basically she said the site is ‘in a very strategic position’,” he said.
He explained: “They’re (the executive) looking for a route from the Harbour area out to Millennium Park, the Kerry Group, the bypass … and the planned 'Sallins 2' railway station for the Naas side of the Leinster Aqueduct.
“It could be through this site … and I expect it will take public transport through for the 5,000 people expected to be employed when Millennium Park is completed.
“There’s already a new school out there with over 1,200 students so I expect they will develop a cycle path to that from the Town Hall,” surmised the most experienced councillor in Kildare."
He added: “If Millennium Park don’t want another junction, Kildare County Council will have the trump hand through this site, but it could go in any way – housing, Traveller accommodation – when you hear the words ‘community use’."
“But this is medium to long term, and could be five or even 10 years down the line,” he predicted.
