06 August 2003: Naas Town Council is to meet with the owner of Kavanagh’s private bus service to try and have the local town service restored.
The service ceased four weeks ago.
The matter was first raised by Cllr Charlie Byrne who demanded to know if Naas Town Council officials had been approached by the bus operator, who claims to have received ‘no help from Naas Town Council’.
“I never heard that he had problems in Naas,” Cllr Byrne wrote in a letter to the Council as he was unable to attend its latest meeting on 29 July.
“Why did Mr Kavanagh meet with Newbridge Town Councillors and praise them for the help he received, and not meet with members of Naas Town Council?” he asked in his letter. “Have we lost a necessary service for this town due to lack of communication and withheld information?”
He requested the Council invite Mr Kavanagh to its September meeting to discuss the situation ‘as a matter of urgency’ and said he is ‘very angry’ that this information has to be brought to his attention by the public.
The baton was taken up by Cllr Willie Callaghan (right) at the Council’s 29 July meeting who proposed they meet with the bus operator. He said the service had been a success and was used by children as a school bus. He had contacted Mr Kavanagh who ‘was quite annoyed’.
“He had requested on numerous occasions to meet. He had been promised that sites would be identified for bus shelters (at no cost to the Council). It’s very hard to do something when we had not been told about it,” he said adding that Mr Kavanagh had agreed to meet the Council.
Cllr Mary Glennon seconded the proposal.
Cllr Anthony Egan recalled that 24 months ago the operator had wanted the Council to subsidise the town bus service to encourage people to use it more. He felt more people would use the service when the schools reopen in September. He understood it was not financially viable and believed the Council should look at alternative ways of encouraging people to catch the bus.
Cllr Timmy Conway found it ‘hard’ to take the suggestion that they finance the private bus service. He believed it was making money.
Cllr Seamie Moore felt the lack of bus shelters was not the problem, but a lack of interest. “The service is very much missed by people who visit families and shop,” he said. He said Kavanagh’s are the licence holders for this area and if they do not want it, others might. He felt the double deckers being used were too big for the town’s streets and an Imp size bus would suit better.
Mayor Pat O’Reilly thought the bus service might resume in September.
While the private bus service for Naas town and Kill has been discontinued the link from Naas, Sallins and Clane is still in operation.
Town engineer John McGowan explained he and Town Council officials had met with Mr Kavanagh eleven months ago ‘to discuss aspects of public transport in the town’. “In March this year the town foreman met and sites were identified for bus shelters but the location is subject to planning permission,” he said. He added that they were discussing the locations with Kildare County Council. One such shelter will be erected in Poplar Square ‘soon’.
“We do support what he is talking about. Putting up signs and talking to Bus Media for bus shelters for the service. Mr Kavanagh said the majority of users are OAPs and children, so a change of attitude is needed,” he said. “We’re more than happy to help by putting up bus shelters and signs.”
Mayor Pat O’Reilly was surprised that a shelter was considered in Poplar Square where there is one already. “You’re going to clutter up the footpath down there with another bus shelter,” he told the engineer..
