COUNTY HALL, 2 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. Plans by Kavanagh’s Coaches to bypass Moone and Timolin have been labelled ‘outrageous’ by the chairman of Kildare County Council, Rainsford Hendy.
The councillor, who lives locally, asked for support from councillors in having buses revert to calling in at the two villages. He said a flier from Kavanagh’s Coaches, left in a local shop, advising of different pick up and set down times was causing huge concern in the area.
Cllr Hendy said the reason given on the flier for the alterations of pick up and set downs points ‘is for your safety’.
He said this was outrageous and didn’t think there are any ‘sustainable reasons why coaches or buses don’t come into a village and serve the needs of the community’. He said it was not acceptable that young and old have to go out across the new bypass to get a bus. He also spoke of the danger to parents in having to park on the roadway to drop off or to collect their children.
His proposal that the Council formally write to Kavanagh’s and to CIE asking for a proper bus service to be made available to serve both villages received unanimous support.
Cllr Catherine Murphy said Kill and Leixlip are experiencing exactly the same issues. She said the bypass is bypassing the county to the benefit of places outside Kildare.
Concern over lack of officials' attendance at area councillors' meeting
COUNTY HALL, 2 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. A recent meeting of the Athy area committee had to be abandoned because of poor attendance by Council officials, Senator Sean O Fearghail told Monday’s meeting of Kildare County Council.
He said area committee meetings ‘are the forum in which the issues important to the local areas are discussed and acted upon’. He said the servicing by Council officials is now so poor that area councillors are being effectively prevented from carrying out their work. He saw the situation getting worse rather than better. “We need some action to make the area committee meetings relevant and when housekeeping matters are agreed and adopted by the Council, that they are followed through.”
He said he had spoken to county manager, Niall Bradley, about the situation.
Deputy Jack Wall had proposed that the Athy meeting be adjourned because of the facilities available on the day. However he praised the local area engineer for being accessible at all times.
He felt a major effort should be made by the county manager and chairman to have officials present when these meetings take place. “It’s not good enough for us to arrive and be told the mananger, assistant manager, county engineer or chief planner are not there.”
He believed councillors would be better off abandoning such meetings altogether and making representations themselves on a personal basis. “If we are to carry on the way we are, we would be better off to do away with them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Deputy Emmet Stagg told how 18 items on the Agenda for the Celbridge area committee had been deferred because of poor attendance by Council representatives on the day. “There’s no follow through that I can see at all. Officials come to the next meeting as if nothing had happened at the last one and this a crazy situation.”
To prove a point, Deputy Stagg told of a situation following a deputation from St Wolstan’s School to the Celbridge area committee “The Council had closed the school gates last summer to prevent travellers but that also prevented pupils from using it. The girls had to climb the gate to get in or else had to walk the road with no footpath.
“We decided the gate should be open. Meetings were happening and the report came back that the area overseer had decided that the gates should not be open. What in the name of blazes do we take a half day off for and meet people, if the area overseer can override our decisions?”
In response, county manager Niall Bradley said he was prepared to meet with the six chairpersons of the area committees. He said: “This year alone we will have some 120 meetings in Kildare County Council with another 50-60 in the urban areas, as well as special meetings on development plans.” He forecast there would be around 180 meetings in 2001 ‘to get things done’. “You would want an army to cope with agendas, notices of motion, reports and to follow through.”
He told councillors he was just as anxious as they were to ensure it all works effectively and they were going to have to work out some way of dealing with it.
On the abandoned Athy meeting, he said officials had been absent on Council business but official, Phil Hickey, had been present in the capacity of assistant county secretary. He could not understand why the decision to abandon had been taken. However he said he understood the frustrations on both sides.
Mr Bradley said extra staff in all grades will be needed throughout the organisation. He gave a guarantee that the systems and services will operate efficienty and effectively in the interests of all concerned and strongly advocated the importance of area committees.
An extra million might move St Patrick's to Sallins Road
NAAS, 1 February 2001: EXCLUSIVE by Brian Byrne. Any agreement with the Department of Education to sanction the move of St Patrick’s Post Primary School (above) from its existing site on the Newbridge Road to the Sallins Road will require £1 million more than was originally offered by a private consortium towards the building of a new school. Word on the Department’s decision is expected within the week.
The original package offered by the developers of lands at Oldtown Demesne last summer was deemed by the Valuation Office to be worth just £4 million, compared to a valuation on the existing school of £5 million. The offer consisted of funding towards building a new school on the proposed Sallins Road 9.2-acre site of £3.54 million. The Oldtown Demesne is owned by Lehmex International Ltd, headed by Gerry Conlan (left).
The original proposal submitted by the chief executive officer of County Kildare VEC, Colm Ó Ceannabhain, suggested valuations of up to £6 million for the existing school, and up to £4 million for the 9.2 acres. But the Valuation Office estimated the Sallins Road site to be worth just £460,000 with its current ‘green belt’ zoning.
The CEO of the Post Primary Building Branch, C Ó Neill, asked Mr Ó Ceannabhain to renegotiate with the consortium to have the building fund offer increased to £4.54 million, and also the ensure that any contract be subject to full planning permission being granted for the new school.
A Material Contravention of the Naas Development Plan for the proposed site would have to be sought by the consortium before any planning application could be made.
The site currently occupied by St Patrick’s is 4 acres, and school authorities are on record as saying this does not provide either the space or the proper environment for the school's development. The Department had previously allocated £3.5 million for the refurbishment of St Patrick’s. The proposed new school would accommodate up to 500 students.
When KNN first detailed the project at the end of last July, it was thought that the deal was likely to be concluded by September of last year. Indeed, at a special School Awards ceremony in the summer, finance minister Charlie McCreevy (left) hinted at ‘a major announcement’ to be made ‘within two weeks’. That didn’t happen.
There was speculation then that the developer proposed to offer Superquinn a site on the school land, which would make available Superquinn’s current property in the centre of Naas for further development, possibly apartments or townhouses. Any such developments would require two more Material Contraventions of the Naas Development Plan.
Superquinn, currently both partly the cause of and suffering from traffic congestion, tried in 1999 to relocate to a site on the Dublin Road. This was disallowed by the town’s planners, but some members of the current UDC, including the chairman, Cllr Pat O’Reilly (right), are known to be in favour of changing the council’s policy that all major shopping developments should be in the centre of town.
Engineers' boycott 'disgraceful' - councillor
COUNTY HALL, 1 February 2001: by Trish Whelan. Meetings of the Celbridge Area Committee have been boycotted by two area engineers with Kildare County Council in recent weeks since their trade union, SIPTU, placed an embargo on them attending the meetings.
This emerged at Monday’s meeting of Kildare County Council when Cllr Geraldine Conway (right) said it was disgraceful that the Celbridge area committe meetings had been left without the services of the engineers on issues such as flooding, footpaths and other import issues in Celbridge. She said this has resulted in items and motions being deferred for the last two months.
Deputy Emmet Stagg (left) had sought their resignation over the felling of trees in Celbridge following which the engineers had contacted their union.
County engineer Jimmy Lynch confirmed two engineers did refuse to attend these meetings. He asked the Council chairman to request Deputy Emmet Stagg to withdraw his request for the suspensions saying it was ‘unfortunate’ the request had been made.
He recommended the matter be resolved in a fair way for all concerned and added that if Deputy Stagg withdrew the request, the issues could be addressed.
Deputy Stagg responded by saying he HAD previously issued a public statement in which he had withdrawn his request to the county manager to suspend the two. He said he would repeat that in the Council chamber if required and then he did so.
Cllr Jim Reilly (right) said public representatives from time to time do have occasion to be critical of some people who function within the local authority system and asked ‘are we going to have this kind of reaction with every criticism?’
Chairman Cllr Rainsford Hendy said it had not been criticism but suspension that had caused the problem.
People might not have talked if UDC education meeting was open - chairman
NAAS, 31 January 2001: by Brian Byrne. If last night’s meeting of representatives of school management boards with Naas UDC had not been held behind closed doors, some people there would ‘not have felt free’ to express themselves fully. UDC chairman Cllr Pat O’Reilly said this afternoon this was why he and town clerk Declan Kirrane had decided to hold the meeting in committee.
He said that ‘conversations had taken place’ in advance of the meeting and as a result it had been decided it would be ‘more advantageous’ if the public and press were excluded.
Cllr O’Reilly denied that this process was excluding the community from participation in one of the most important areas of the future of Naas and its children. And he promised that when the process gets to a further stage, ‘all will be involved who NEED to be involved’.
“We’re trying to ascertain what are our future needs,” he said. “This was just a preliminary meeting and I assume the members of the school management boards who were there were representing the community.”
Cllr O’Reilly refused to elaborate on who had suggested that the meeting should be held in private. And he claimed the procedures were ‘open and frank’ as far as the community was concerned. He added that a letter sent to local media by one councillor today was ‘unhelpful’.
On the question of whether schools are under pressure to relocate, Cllr O’Reilly said this had not come up at last night’s meeting, except in the case of St David’s Church of Ireland school ... though it is common knowledge that there are aspirations to move St Patrick’s Community College to the Sallins Road and also to relocate the CBS primary school.
Cllr O’Reilly said the UDC is charged with providing a strategic plan for the town by the end of July and needed to ascertain what were the requirements of the town under various categories.
Prior to yesterday's meeting, almost every Naas UDC councillor expressed a preference that it should not be held 'in committee' (see story below). However, Cllr Timmy Conway told KNN that there 'was no dissenting voice' among the members when the chairman said it should be private.
All-weather pitches officially opened
NAAS, 31 January 2001: by Bill Trapman. The new all-weather pitches for Newbridge Town Football Club were officially opened by Finance Minister, Charlie McCreevy TD on Monday.
The Minister said everyone associated with the club should be proud of what has been achieved. He said facilities, such as those at the club, ‘greatly encourage people to become involved with sport and to pursue an active and healthy lifestyle’.
He added that sport also plays a huge part in fostering a sense of community; in tackling some of the potential social ills which can often manifest themselves through social exclusion. “It is, therefore, essential that we are able to honestly state that we are doing everything in our power to provide decent facilities in which people can play their chosen sport.” This, he said, places demands on all of us, individuals, community leaders and government. He added that he was delighted to see that Newbridge Town soccer club ‘is more than meeting the challenge’.
The Minister congratulated the club on its ‘wonderful’ facilities and wished its members every success in the future.
Newbridge Town FC has been allocated £100,000 under the Sports Capital Programme for pitch development and other major works and Minister McCreevy said he is looking forward to seeing the club develop further in the coming years.
People of Naas 'missing out' in closed meetings?NAAS, 31 January, 2001: OPINION by John Kavanagh. As a parent I have a right to know what is happening in this town regarding my child's education. I hear councillors talking about 5-8 year waiting lists for the schools. I saw as part of a huge rezoning at the last town plan we were getting a new park and new schools. Before the last election I saw a sign go up on the Sallins road promising a school. I was reminded of the situation many years ago where in the planning for the Monread Triangle where a school and a church were shown in the original plans. Both fell by the wayside as more and more was rezoned for housing. It was only when the people of the area stood up and said 'no more' that the developers encroachment was stopped. I wonder what more am I and the people of Naas missing out on by being excluded from this meeting? ED: Please note that views expressed under 'OPINION/LETTERS' 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. KNN reserves the right to edit any material submitted. |
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EDITOR'S NOTE: We have removed a letter from Cllr Timmy Conway which appeared in this space yesterday, as he subsequently said he had not intended it for publication. All contributors should note that letters to KNN are considered for publication unless they are specifically marked to the contrary.
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Criticism of 'closed doors' education meeting with UDC
NAAS, 30 January 2001: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Most Naas UDC councillors have criticised the fact that a meeting between Naas UDC and representatives of local schools scheduled for this evening, is being held behind closed doors.
The meeting resulted from a motion by Cllr Timmy Conway that the Council ‘set a time to consider the education needs of the town’. It followed a recent presentation by Boards of Management to the Council (delegation members, led by Fr Moling Lennon are pictured below) during an ‘open’ monthly meeting.
However, almost all councillors told KNN today that they were not aware that the press and public were being excluded from tonight’s meeting, and several said that the event should be an open one.
Cllr Mary Glennon said the matter of future educational needs was of interest to the whole town and should not be held ‘in committee’. “There are a lot of problems with education in this town and I can’t understand this decision,” she said.
Cllr Charlie Byrne said it is ‘the only opportunity where we can tell the public what we are doing’. “The public should know all about it,” he said. “If we bring the delegation in, and they tell us there ARE problems, we still can’t tell the public and they don’t know if we’re doing anything.”
Cllr Pat McCarthy said he couldn’t see any reason for the meeting to be held in secret. “It’s only asking school principals for their opinions,” he said.
Cllr Timmy Conway said the press should be allowed into ALL meetings, though he wasn’t going to make an issue of tonight’s event. “It’s a fact finding mission, not a confidential thing,” he said. “All our meetings should be in public because otherwise people think there is something happening behind closed doors - which is not the case.”
He added that whenever matters have been discussed in committee, they’ve always been ‘leaked’ to the press anyway.
Cllr Eibhlin Bracken said she didn't agree with any meeting being in committee. "It's not necessary, because it's all around the town that evening anyway," she said.
Cllr Seamie Moore also told KNN that he didn't think the meeting should be in committee. "It's a very good chance to show the people of the town how much we consider this to be a serious issue," he said.
Meanwhile, a possible demur came from Cllr Anthony Egan, who said the councillors were simply getting information tonight. "I didn't know it was in committee," he said. "It's news to me. I have no objection to the press being there, though maybe it might be more productive if just the councillors are involved. I'm on the council to get a result. I expect from here on out we will have other meetings, and they will be open."
Cllr Willie Callaghan said he was on record as maintaining that the council would have some meetings in committee. "And I had a query from one of the school representatives today about whether the press or public would be present," he said ;ate this afternoon. "I was told there would be some 'sensitive information' and that if the meeting was open, it was likely that some issues would not be discussed. But there's nothing to hide, and I expect that if a statement is issued, it will contain all that needs to be said."
A spokesperson for Naas UDC confirmed to KNN that the meeting is not open to the public or press. While such decisions are usually made by the chairman of the Council, Cllr Pat O’Reilly has not been available for comment so far today.
Tributes paid to late former councillor
BROADFORD & COUNTY HALL, 30 January 2001: by Trish Whelan. A vote of sympathy was passed to the family of the late former councillor Jack Malone at yesterday’s meeting of Kildare Council Council. (Mr Malone is pictured above at the centenary celebrations of Kildare County Council at St Mary's, with then chairman Cllr Jim Reilly.)
Chairman Cllr Rainsford Hendy paid tribute to the man who had represented the Carbury area as a Labour Party councillor in the 1940s, and who has died at the age of 95.
Senator Jack Wall also extended sympathy on behalf of the Labour Party and recalled the role played by Jack in the development of his party as well as his contribution to the development of his area and the county as a whole.
He said Jack had often told stories of how he would ride his bicycle to Naas to attend Council meetings, meeting up with another councillor at a crossroads so as to travel in convoy.
Senator Wall added that Jack had maintained a keen interest in politics and had attended annual conferences on a regular basis. “He was a lovely man and a great loss to his family as well as to the Labour Party,” he said.
Gypsies ready to waltz into Naas
NAAS, 30 January 2001: by Trish Whelan. Audiences will be swaying in their seats to the beautiful music of Johann Strauss when Naas Musical Society stage The Gypsy Baron as its 2001 production.
The show is Naas Musical Society’s sixth production and follows the huge success of last year’s award winning show The Merry Widow.
The Gypsy Baron is set in Hungary in the mid 18th century and is the romantic story of an Austrian nobleman and his gipsy love. The show involves fortune telling, rousing military songs from the Hussars, plenty of comedy, wonderful costumes and, of course ... the music.
The cast of over sixty have been busy since September and are being put through their paces by musical director, Margaret Hayes-Mahon.
They include Paul Linehan as the Baron Barinkay; Celine Byrne as The Gypsy Princess, Saffi; Mona Conroy as Czipra, the Gipsy Queen; Tony McCarthy, Otto; Gillian O’Brien, Mirabella; Dave Smyth, Graf Peter Homonoy; Brendan Molloy, Pali; Sinéad Quirke, Franzi; Louise Moore, Anouska; Ronan Dillon, Kalman Zsupan; Martina Hopkins, Arletta; Séan O’Keeffe, Count Kareska; Peter Hazzard, Mishka; Dennis Molloy, Prishka; and Jessica Doyle as Vanya.
While currently ranked eighth in Ireland, Naas Musical Society is still one of the youngest societies in the country. Its 100 members come from as far afield as Saggart in south Dublin and Hollywood, in West Wicklow.
The proceeds of the opening night will again go to the Society’s adopted charity, KARE, and representatives of that organisation were guests at the launch of The Gypsy Baron on Thursday at the Town House Hotel in Naas where Tina O’Kelly also welcomed the press to a sneak preview of some of the numbers in the show.
The Gypsy Baron will run for eight nights ending Saturday February 24. Tickets are available from The Chocolate Box in The Caspo Centre, Main Street, Naas. For telephone bookings, tel 045 866162 after 2pm.
Oldtown transfer is 'complicated'
NAAS, 29 January 2001: by Trish Whelan. The transfer of Oldtown Gardens from owners Lehmex International has been described as a ‘very complicated transfer‘ by UDC officials.
The woodland area had been promised to the people of Naas as an amenity area back in the 1999 Naas Town Development Plan.
Cllr Pat McCarthy said no one seems to know exactly what area is being transferred. He asked for an early meeting with Lehmex and the life leaseholder of Oldtown woods and lakes, Major John de Burgh, to try to hurry things up.
However, UDC chairman Pat O’Reilly said he could not see ‘any useful purpose in such a meeting’ and town clerk Declan Kirrane said any arrangement between both parties is not the Council’s concern. He said as soon as the transfer is complete, the Council will take over responsibility for the specified area.
Cllr McCarthy had criticised Lehmex for not maintaining its area saying this is affecting the whole system of waterworks and lakes. He was backed by Cllr Mary Glennon who said ‘not one penny has been spent by the developers on maintenance, even though they have committed ten years expenditure to maintaining the woods when they become Council property’. She said she was afraid ‘they would destroy the amenity which has been in the town for hundreds of years’. “We would need to do something pretty urgently before it turns into a complete shambles.”
Cllr Seamie Moore said: “He has acquired millions of pounds and has closed down the access. Unless it has access, it’s of no use to us.”
Over 1,000 people have so far been shown around the garden area.
Mr Kirrane pointed out that there had never been ‘unfettered access’ to Oldtown Estate to which Cllr Glennon stormed: “It’s a pity that wasn’t made very clear before the Town Plan was agreed.” She said the offer was ‘a great carrot at the time but was now a dead duck'.
It was finally agreed to leave the motion until the UDC’s February meeting.
Residents' concerns over Devoy Barracks
NAAS, 29 January 2001: by Trish Whelan. “The ‘integrity’ of Arconagh estate should not be affected by any new developments in adjoining Devoy Barracks land (above) and all necessary steps should be taken to ensure this,” the January meeting of Naas UDC was told.
Paul Murphy said residents feel strongly that there is no reason to have access, either vehicular or pedestrian, between the two developments.
“Road access and usage in the estate is at saturation point and in the interests of safety, no changes should be made that would see higher traffic levels into an estate with so many young children, and such a large complement of vehicles”, he said.
UDC chairman Pat O’Reilly said no plans have been drawn up as yet regarding the Barrack lands but said he would have no difficulty in discussing those plans in the future. He said the only commitment given was that there would be an entrance onto the Newbridge Road.
Cllr Evelyn Bracken (above), who lives in Arconagh, complained about the number of driver schools using the estates for driving lessons. She said there is already enough traffic in the estate.
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ATHY: Do you have a needle craft you would like to exhibit?
We are looking for needle craft items such as crochet, knitting, tapestry, patchwork, embroidery and many more such items.
If you are interested in getting involved in this exhibition, please contact Athy Library at 0507 31144 athlib@eircom.net
SUNCROFT: Kildare Senator John Dardis has been informed of the approval by Housing Minister Robert Molly TD for a housing development at Suncroft, Co Kildare. The works involve the construction of 32 houses under his department’s Rental Subsidy Scheme.
The houses are being provided by Suncroft Housing Association Ltd in co-operation with Kildare County Council at an estimated cost of some £2.9 million.
Construction work is due to commence shortly and should be completed by the end of this year.
LEIXLIP: Though Intel has indefinitely postponed construction of a $400 million research and development campus in Oregon, a company spokesman says its cost-cutting measures in a climate of reduced demand for computer chips 'would not affect other announced construction projects'. The company is currently preparing to begin further building at its campus in Leixlip, where it is County Kildare's largest employer.
Intel built its largest division in the western suburbs of Portland known as the ``Silicon Forest,'' employing about 15,000 people. The new site would have added another 7,000 workers.
Computer sales worldwide have slowed faster than industry experts had anticipated.
Intel's fourth-quarter earnings report beat analysts' lowered expectations, but the company warned of a bleak first quarter and predicted sales would fall 15 percent from the previous quarter.
For its fourth quarter ended Dec. 30, the company reported net income of $2.6 billion on revenues of $8.7 billion.
NEWBRIDGE: A new business park planned for Great Connell in Newbridge is expected to provide up to 3,000 jobs within three years. The park is a joint venture between local businessmen Bernard Murphy and Dermot Cox, and the project was launched this week by minister for finance Charlie McCreevy. The park already has a distribution centre in place for German supermarket chain Lidl.
MONASTEREVIN: A murder inquiry is under way in Monasterevin after 73-year-old farmer John Willi Boland was found dead in his house at Ballykelly. The find followed a fire at the thatched house in which the dead man and his 69-year-old brother lived.
KILDARE: There is great celebration among pupils of Scoil Bride Naofa in Kildare Town on being the first school in the county to win the coveted Green Flag accreditation.
Councillor Fionnuala Dukes (above) singled out teacher Rena McAllen as being the motivator behind the achievement. She said the assessments of their project by officials of Kildare County Council had taken an entire morning, and had been ‘pretty rigorous’. “It was due to the dedication and enthusiasm
The Green Flag is awarded by An Taisce in conjunction with Local Authorities.
GENERAL: Children living two miles from their school instead of three will now qualify for the school transport scheme, according to FF Kildare Senator Sean O Fearghail (below).
The new school transport scheme will come into effect with the opening of the new school year and will include a number of other major improvements including the combined maximum travelling time for any child being reduced from 3 to 2.5 hours.
ATHY: “Oh Lord that I may walk”, is the title of a documentary made a few years ago about a Dublin man, Peadar Clarke, who in May 1989 was cured of MS while on a pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Come and meet Peadar in person at 3pm on Sunday, 11 February (Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) in Athy Community Library and hear him talk about his cure. He tells a lovely story.
All are welcome and admission is free.
NAAS: Kildare County Council and Naas UDC are to meet on February 11 or 12 to discuss their new civic building to be built in the grounds of Devoy Barracks in Naas.
A model of the proposed new building will be on display at the meeting, with the architects present. Following the meeting, their corporate plan is to be discussed.
GENERAL: The survey being conducted by the Kildare County Development Board about the production of a Strategy for County Kildare is due to be analysed soon. But to be included in the results, the questionnaire (below) sent to many groups and individuals must be returned by the end of January. Which leaves only tomorrow for those who have left it a little late.
"We've had a good response from the main population centres and organisations based there," a member of the organising group told KNN. "But there is a lesser response from the more rural areas, and we need to have these included if the results are to be representative of the county as a whole." Further information is available at the County Development Board's website
NAAS: A number of people from outside the area were arrested in Naas on Thursday morning in relation to recent car thefts in Naas and Sallins. The culprits were all aged in the 17-19 age group.
Gardai are warning people not to leave their car keys on a hall table or hanging on a rail near their front door as car thieves now operate by opening letter boxes and removing the keys from their position with a long object before calmly driving off with the family car.
NAAS: A call for John’s Lane in Naas to be made one-way from the Main Street has been referred to the Garda Liasion Committee for comment.
The narrow laneway runs from the Motor Taxation Office on Friary Road to the Main Street opposite Superquinn.
The call was made by Cllr Evelyn Bracken who said it is now almost impossible for people to walk the narrow laneway with cars coming in both directions.
Cllr Seamie Moore referred to cars parking on the laneway and said the UDC should consider putting in a footpath. It was also pointed out that lorries use the lane to unload barrells into two pubs.
MAYNOOTH: A call for John’s Lane in Naas to be made one-way from the Main Street has been referred to the Garda Liasion Committee for comment.
The narrow laneway runs from the Motor Taxation Office on Friary Road to the Main Street opposite Superquinn.
The call was made by Cllr Evelyn Bracken who said it is now almost impossible for people to walk the narrow laneway with cars coming in both directions.
Cllr Seamie Moore referred to cars parking on the laneway and said the UDC should consider putting in a footpath. It was also pointed out that lorries use the lane to unload barrells into two pubs.
NAAS: The off licence attached to SuperValu, Fair Green Street, was the scene of a syringe robbery which occurred at 8.20am on Wednesday, 24 January.
Gardai say the culprit threatened the female shop assistant with a syringe before opening the cash register and making off with a sum of cash. He then made off on foot down Corban’s Lane and was last seen in Millbrook.
He is described as around 5 ft 8 ins in height, aged from 18-25 years, with black hair. He was wearing a blue jacket with a hood, woollen cap and dark pants. The culprit was also captured on video on the premises.
