Knowing when it's Esmondale's washday

NAAS, 29 December 2000: by Brian Byrne. Naas UDC Cllr Charlie Byrne always knows the heavy wash days in Esmondale estate ... because the suds pile up in the lakes on the Ballymore Road!

It’s not a new situation - he first pointed it out to Kildare County Council many years ago - but given the recent concerns about pollution of Naas’ waterways, he figures it’s really about time that somebody did something about it.

“I know we probably have the cleanest ducks and swans in the county,” he says, “but I’m not sure they appreciate getting the taste of Daz, Surf or Radion served up with the crusts fed to them by admiring fans. And anyway, detergents are really not supposed to go into our natural waterways.”

The source of the suds can easily be seen by anyone who cares to take a walk in the field behind the ESB sub station, where a large pipe coming from the Esmondale estate across the road jettisons the frothy water directly into the Ballymore Road river. “In fact, the pipe was a bit short and somebody added a bit to it to make sure it went into the water and not on the bank,” Charlie says.

Now he wants some proper action taken to have that particular source of the pollution of Naas’ waterways dealt with.

“They know what the problem is - and if they’re serious about dealing with pollution - they know how it can be fixed,” he said.

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Can you help Michael Marks? Michael Marks, singer, songwriter, long term resident of Kildare and Newbridge, whose album Camouflage was voted CD of the Week by RTE in a 'best new songwriter' item, is now living in Holland badly affected by osteoarthritis. He is producing out of his home studio his first release since Camouflage ... Rythms from a Rubber Room. Record collectors can contact Mick at mickey.marks@wxs.nl A limited run of acoustic copies is being made available to finance production of an album to follow.

Presentation made on Three Rivers project

KILDARE GENERAL, 29 December 2000: by Trish Whelan. A presentation on the Three Rivers Project on water quality monitoring and management systems, involving the rivers Boyne, Liffey and Suir was made recently to members of Kildare County Council, one of the leading authorities involved in the project.

Ray Earle presented information on the 3-year project which will cost £3.5m. John Bennett of consultants M C O'Sullivan explained that 85% of the funding came from the EU and the Cohesion Fund with the remaining 15% from the Exchequer. Papers on the project must be lodged with the Department of the Environment and Local Government for approval in six months’ time.

John Bennett said there were some 33 new hydrometric stations on the River Liffey, most of which were installed by Kildare County Council and these would help to assess the effect of new developments on river flooding.

Responding to questions asked by members, Mr Earle said this Project was established following the identification of deterioration in river quality in a previous report. He spoke of the continued increase in enrichment in Irish waters since 1971. “One of the main culprits is eutrophication involving over-enrichment of water due to nutrients, and excessive growth of algae.”

He also spoke of the run-off from landbased activities including landscaping of agricultural and industrial waste in the catchment areas and said the main objective is to ‘protect and improve water quality, and to address all pollution sources’. He said key elements include the creation of an effective management structure, to develop a public awareness campaign (with a public officer, information booklet and a website), and to implement pollution control strategies. However Mr Earle referred to a deficit in farm data as it was difficult to get information from the Department of Agriculture.

This Department he said were doing a field-by-field analysis and advising farmers while the Department of Forestry were studying cause and effect in their areas. Mr Earle said the deterioration had been taking place over 30 years and it would take some time to ameliorate.

The Project will end in September 2001 and county engineer Jimmy Lynch said it was then up to the Council to continue the work of theProject based on strategies and a framework prepared for them by the consultants involved.

Celbridge quote has proven prophetic, planning alliance says CELBRIDGE, 29 December, 2000: OPINION by John Sweeney, PRO, Kildare Planning Alliance. It was in an end of year review in a local newspaper this month in 1996 that a list of the ten best Quotes of the Year was featured. One of these was by the Joint PRO of Kildare Planning Alliance and read: "The first draft of the Celbridge Development Plan will be a work of fiction and the amended draft will terrify you." Four years later the truth of this was born out by the comments and anger of the people of Celbridge at the recent Information Meeting convened by the Co. Council concerning the Amended Draft Development Plan now on display. In an outpouring of feeling, both the elected representatives and Council officials were left in no doubts that many residents of Celbridge were outraged by the proposals in the Amended Plan. This was entirely understandable. In late 1998, the first draft of the Celbridge Development Plan was prepared by Kildare County Council. A decision was taken then that the forthcoming Celbridge Plan did not require additional residential rezoning as there was adequate unused lands available to cater for its projected growth. Indeed there was sufficient land for over 6,000 extra people to be accommodated in Celbridge which had a population of 12,289 at the last census - a 50% increase in people and traffic. The Council accepted this policy of zero rezoning for Celbridge when the proposal to display the Draft Plan was put to a full meeting in late 1998. Following the three month display period, amendments proposed by the public were forwarded for consideration to Kildare County Council who had ample opportunity to consider them before voting on the County Development Plan in April 1999. Once again the proposal that Celbridge had adequate lands to reach its population target of 16,400 in 2006 was enshrined in the County Development Plan, which was overwhelmingly adopted by a full meeting of Kildare Co. Council. At the time it was frequently stated that the County Development Plan was a contract with the people and that it would provide the definitive framework for individual town plans. Indeed the words used in the 1999 County Plan make the picture very clear: "The individual Development Plans for those towns, where these have not yet been adopted, will be governed by those target populations, and residential lands will be zoned in those plans, where required, to a level not greater than the zoning amounts set out in this Development Plan." A most spectacular U-turn is now underway. Now we are told that things have changed. Now the Council have decided to ignore the commitments given in the 1999 County Plan. Undertakings which appeared unshakeable little over a year ago are now being discarded. What has changed in a little over a year? Has the town grown more slowly than anticipated? Has the traffic become lighter than expected? Has the infrastructural provision increased significantly? ? Are the professional planners recommending new rezonings? What has brought about the present situation where, it seems, more rezoning is required to satisfy needs on a number of fronts. It appears another 86 acres, equivalent to a further 2,000 people or 3,000 cars, are to be catered for in Celbridge, in addition to the already existing population commitment of 6,000 from the original landbank. Kildare Planning Alliance condemns this exercise in planning. More than most towns, Celbridge has suffered from inadequate infrastructure in recent years. The debacle of the relief road that never was, the traffic lights that never worked and other infrastructural constraints that were never fully delivered on, have reduced the quality of life in this once most pleasant town. Now it appears further substantial rezoning is the medicine envisaged. The people of Celbridge deserve better. ED: Please note that views expressed under 'OPINION' on KNN are those of the writer concerned, and do not necessarily reflect the views of KNN or its proprietors. This facility is provided in the interests of free speech and public information and may be availed of either to make a point or respond to one.

Improvements needed at lakes area

NAAS, 28 December 2000: by Trish Whelan. Paths and bridges need to be improved around the lakes area of Naas but any public lighting could attract anti social behaviour at night a recent UDC meeting was told.

Town clerk Declan Kirrane said it was a stark choice to make as lighting could also allow people to walk the area later in the evenings. Cllr Charlie Byrne said he would not be in favour of lights along the paths as it could attract some anti social behaviour. He asked for the area from the lakes into John O’Connell’s field (below) to be made into a wooded area to provide a haven for wild life.

Cllr Willie Callaghan said public lighting in many parts of Monread had not been updated to newer type lights and the Council should complete work already commenced.

Death of Noel Finn

NAAS, 27 December 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC last week passed a vote of sympathy on the death of Naas man, Noel Finn, a former County Development Officer with Kildare County Council, who died on December 15 at the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin.

Noel had looked after the interests of Kildare extremely well in various portfolios. He had spent some 47 years with Kildare County Council, having first taken up employment in 1945 as a clerical officer. He then became a staff officer in the Health Section, before moving to the Planning and Engineering Sections. In 1992 he was made County Development Officer.

“He was a long serving and loyal member of staff with a encyclopedic knowledge of people and places in the county,” said Charlie Talbot of Kildare County Council.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, son Roberto, daughters Marina and Imelda; brother Austin, sister Monica, and extended family.

Meeting Santa in Monread Gleann na Riogh children in Naas had a lot of fun meeting with Santa Claus (above) and Tricky Trickster (below) at the local residents association pre-Christmas party in the Monread Inn.

UDC spends £3,000 on plants

NAAS, 27 December 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas UDC spends £3,000 on providing flowers around the town each year. However, Cllr Mary Glennon has suggested that the UDC’s new gardener might be able to get better value for the money.

Town clerk Declan Kirrane said in most areas, ‘the whole key to success of the Tidy Towns has been the involvement of the local community’. He said the Council’s gardener will help out in any way he can but his priorities for the next year will be to work on the Monread Park and Railway Line Park.

The sum of £15,000 has been provided in the Estimates for the maintenance of Monread District Park in 2001 with a further £10,000 allocated for the Old Railway Line linear park, which was formally opened earlier this year.

The Naas Tidy Towns award presentations will take place in January.

Youngsters help give old folks a great Christmas start

NAAS, 24 December 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Ninety senior citizens of Naas tucked into a four-course Christmas dinner in the canteen of Kildare County Council HQ at St Mary’s, courtesy of Naas No Name Club in conjunction with the Gardai, Order of Malta, Naas Care of the Aged and the local Parish Pastoral Council.

The involvement of all organisations ensured the smooth running of the day, from collecting the older folks from their homes, to the safe arrival of Santa Claus in a Garda van with sirens flashing.

Young hosts and hostesses of Naas No Name Club were on hand to serve the meals and ensure everyone was having a great time. They also helped entertain the crowd along with Sean O’Keeffe and Jim O’Reilly from Naas Musical Society.

“Everybody is involved; it’s a great team effort,” said Naas NNC chairman Adrian King who also praised the catering by Dorothy and Albert from Midland Caterers as ‘first class’. Adrian said room size limits the number that can attend and tickets are snapped up quickly.

Naas NNC Host-of-the-Year, Ger Marsh, said it is always a great day, allowing the group come together with the older folks. “It shows we are doing something for the community.” NNC PROs Aideen Morahan and Niamh Houlihan agreed it was fun to help the older folk enjoy the day.

Sponsors included Kildare County Council, the Gardai, Naas Credit Union, Bobby McGory & Co, Tesco, Superquinn, Super Valu, the Town House Hotel, and Niall Brown (wine).

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