Fair Green parking plan would be 'act of vandalism'NAAS, 28 July 2000: 9.30am by Trish Whelan. Turning the historic Fair Green area into a car park would be an act of vandalism according to Ger McCarthy (above) of Naas Local History Group. But he believes powerful forces are at work to make it happen. He was speaking to KNN after he had spoken strongly against the idea at a meeting of residents of the Fair Green and Lakelands areas. A further meeting for local residents is planned for Ballycane Church on Wednesday 9 August, at 9pm. A public protest event for Naas people is to be organised prior to the 19 September meeting of Naas UDC. The Lakelands residents are also going to seek permission for a delegation to address the council at that meeting. Cllr Charlie Byrne, the only councillor present at the meeting, said he was there to safeguard the old Naas where he was born and reared. He said he had been shocked when the list of possible parking areas was put to the council. And he said he had been told by a certain council official that the amenity area beside the lakes on the Ballymore Road would either become a playground or a car park whether he liked it or not. I have no objection to a playground, but where are we to put playgrounds if the green areas are taken over for cars? he asked.
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Green areas would be cheaper for car parksNAAS, 26 July 2000: 1.00pam by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. An analysis of the estimated costs of developing alternative car park sites around Naas makes it clear that Naas UDC would favour covering existing green areas because of financial grounds.
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Car parking meeting tonight likely to be stormyNAAS, 26 July 2000: 8.30am by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. A public meeting tonight in Ballycane Church to discuss a proposal that the Swimming Pool Field in Naas be used as a car park is likely to hear strong criticism of planning in the town. The meeting, organised by Lakelands Residents Association, is scheduled for 9pm, and according to Lt Col John Ryan (above) of the association, feelings against the plan are running very high. He said he has already spoken to the chairman of the UDC, Cllr Pat O'Reilly, and asked for a meeting with him and his councillors as soon as possible.
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Naas car parks row result of 'big mistake' by UDCNAAS, 25 July 2000: 5pm by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. A UDC councillor says the present rising anger (see KNN yesterday) over potential car park sites in green areas in Naas is a direct result of a a big mistake by the council when it agreed to lease the towns main car park on Corbans Lane to private enterprise. The proposals for alternative car parking options as revealed at last week's UDC meeting for July has infuriated local residents and community associations He said the Fair Green and Swimming Pool Field (above), being considered for car parking, is the only green vista people in the area can see when they get up in the mornings. Words couldnt describe this type of bombshell if it were to hit Naas. People would want to get out of the town if every green space was gone.
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Growing town anger over 'green area' parking proposalsNAAS, 24 July 2000: 8.30am by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Naas UDC faces a rising tide of anger from town residents over proposals to take over public green spaces for use as car parking, presented in a plan at last weeks meeting of the council. This weekend, residents bluntly told the authority: hands off our green areas. Lakelands residents say they will fight any proposal for a car park in the Swimming Pool Field as suggested by Cllr OReilly. They are also totally opposed to the use of the Fair Green for car parking. This is not acceptable under any circumstances, Lt Col John Ryan (above) of Lakelands Residents Association told KNN. This land is a public amenity, but they want a car park slap bang in the middle of it. Apart from taking over one of the towns few green spaces, it is already a nightmare trying to exit our estate each morning and then face the Fair Green junction with the existing traffic levels. A car park capable of 600 cars on top of all that doesnt bear thinking about. He is also scathing about how the current available UDC car park in the town centre (above) is about to be turned into a shopping complex. He believes the management of the town is appallingly bad with decisions being made in a ham-fisted manner. You wonder do they know their jobs? Denis Hanly, who lives on the Ballymore Road across from the lakeside UDC amenity land (above) also under consideration, says the council can think again if they want to park cars on that site. And his views are supported by other residents of the area. They wouldnt put a playground there years ago and theres few enough of them in the town. It would be terrible if it was made a car park. Its extensively used as an amenity area.
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'Surprised and amazed' at car parking plansNAAS, 24 July 2000: Dear Editor,
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'Disgusted' at car parking plansNAAS, 24 July 2000: Dear Editor,
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Green areas proposed for parking in bid to ease Naas crisisNAAS, 20 July 2000: 9.30am by Brian Byrne. Six public green areas are among 13 identified possible car parking locations which were presented to Naas UDC councillors at their monthly meeting this week. The list was prepared in an effort to ease the parking situation in Naas while construction gets underway for multi-storey car parks on the two main UDC car parks. It provoked mixed reactions with claims expressed it could change the face of Naas. The proposed car parks include Hedermans Yard (above), Ballymore Road green area, swimming pool field, New Row, the Monastery Garden at Friary Road (which is zoned commercial), an extension to the Church car park on the Sallins Road and at the front of the Church; the front of St Marys College, the green space at the front of Our Ladys Place (below); green space at the front of Rathasker Heights (which could fit 140 cars and which is on offer to the UDC), the field on Corbans Lane beside Naas CBS Secondary School as well as land at Devoy Barracks. Cllr Seamie Moore said he could not see any further expansion of the convent car park at the church and he would be loathe to discuss the front of St Marys College being used as a car park. Our Ladys Place residents would be harbouring a major grudge if they thought we were looking at putting a car park there. Cllr Pat OReilly stood over his original motion some months ago that the UDC should seek the swimming pool field (above) for a car park. (The motion was subsequently amended, substituting 'community use' for 'a car park'). This, he said, would give 600 car parking spaces. He would have difficulty with the other areas mentioned on the list.
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Few extra car spaces from major new developmentNAAS, 12 June 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Naas may only gain 57 extra parking spaces for general use from the proposed development by Baba Exports Ltd which includes a multi-storey car park, shops, offices and apartments. The property involved is a combination of lands owned by businessmen Tom Treacy and Joe Mallon, and the UDCs existing Sallins Road Car Park (above), which must be acquired by the developer for the project to proceed. In addition, no agreement has been made between the UDC and the developer over who will control and gain the receipts from the multi-storey car park, but it is highly unlikely that it will be owned by the UDC as it will be constructed by the developer. Because the public will have to pay for parking, it is possible that multiple use of car spaces will be greater, thus increasing the benefit from them. But this would equally apply to the existing parking spaces, as the UDC is committed to introducing charges anyway.
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Corban's Lane Car ParkNAAS, 16 March 2000: Dear Editor, |
View of Naas Car Park 'sell-off'NAAS, 13 March 2000: Dear Editor, A further comment I note you report: "Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore confirmed yesterday that the carpark in St Corban's will be operated by the developers, who will set the charges and keep the revenue taken. But he said it will be part of the agreement that the developers charges 'will relate to' those being set by the UDC for their own on street car parking plan this year." On another matter, I hear that the highlighting of the issue of the harbour in KNN may be bringing about a change in mind on the part of the UDC. Both myself and my wife have been stopped on the street of Naas and told by people that they are going to ring the UDC on the issue and some are now being told that the issue is being readdressed. John Kavanagh. |
UDC selloff could forfeit Naas £466K+ annuallyNAAS, 9 March 2000: EXCLUSIVE by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Naas UDC may have forfeited up to £466,000 a year in potential revenue, by agreeing to sell its Corban's Lane town centre car park (above) to private developers planning to build a 400-plus multi-storey car park, shops and a hotel. The developers stand to clear that amount each year, after paying the council just £25,000 from the parking revenue, as agreed by the two parties in legal documents now being prepared. The payment to the UDC will be adjusted annually by the rate of inflation only. The UDC currently has some 200 spaces in the car park, at the moment free to motorists, and the alternative to the private development would be for the UDC to build their own multi-storey car park. Given the potential revenue, the authority could have raised a bank loan for the project (as Kildare County Council raised a loan for the new Bond Bridge in Maynooth, to be repaid out of development levies). Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore (right) confirmed yesterday that the carpark in St Corban's will be operated by the developers, who will set the charges and keep the revenue taken. But he said it will be part of the agreement that the developers charges 'will relate to' those being set by the UDC for their own onstreet carparking plan this year. NOTE: On-street car parking in Dublin is currently 80p per hour, while private car parks are charging upwards of £1.60 per hour. Private car parks in Naas are currently charging 50p per hour.
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