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Workers picket Bord na Mona HQ NEWBRIDGE, 4 February 2000: by Brian Byrne. Four workers from Bord na Mona’s Croghan factory in Co Offally picketed the Bord’s headquarters in Newbridge yesterday to protest at what they perceive as a threatened closure of their factory. The four - Mattie Corcoran, Michael Hanley, Joe O’Reilly and John McKenna - were representing 61 colleagues at the factory, as well as 65 other people who are involved with drawing peat into the plant. They’re particularly angry that Croghan is the most productive of the three factories still in operation. “We have 41% of the total briquette output, and we produce the product cheaper than the other two,” Michael Hanley said. “They’re subsidising lorries to go to the other factories ... they’re driving by our gate and going 25 miles further.” The four picked yesterday for their demonstration because there was a board meeting in progress in Newbridge. It was just two weeks ago that a similar meeting dropped the closure bombshell. “They said one factory was going to close,” says Michael Hanley. “They didn’t say it was ours, but they sort of pointed the finger. We came here today to show them that we are people, not just numbers in a workforce.” Briquette sales have been falling nationally for some time. Bord na Mona is currently on a course of rationalisation and diversification, including joint ventures with international partners in power generation and environmental and horticulture projects. Trouble is, any new jobs produced will be fewer and require different skills than those being knocked from their traditional work - skills not easily learned by men in their middle age. Sic transit the humble briquette? It no longer seems to have such a warming glow as in the ads.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114 PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie

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Affordable housing criteria nearing completion NAAS, 4 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. People who have been living in Naas for at least five years are to be given priority for Naas UDC’s scheme of 64 affordable houses at the Caragh Road which are to be sold at a significant discount to market value. UDC councillors say they expect demand for the cut price homes to be high and officials are drawing up a list of criteria as to how they are to be allocated. People eligible to be considered include those whose income is not more than £20,000 or for couples, where their combined income is not above £50,000. Others eligible include local authority tenants and those on the council’s housing list who would be in a position to repay a mortgage. Town clerk Declan Kirrane told last week’s UDC meeting the aim of the scheme is ‘to try and facilitate people who would probably have too great an income to be considered for a local authority house but who haven’t sufficient to service a mortage of around £140,000'. He said the cost of the houses would be kept as low as possible and the first time buyers grant could be redirected as a deposit. However applicants will be warned of a claw-back clause in the conditions if they sell on before a certain length of time, with the council being recompensated for having sold the house at a discount. There was some disagreement at the draft criteria proposed with Cllr Timmy Conway reiterating that extra points should be given to those who ‘went to school in Naas or who were born or baptised in the town'. He said this had been the essence of the town’s Development Plan. Cllr Willie Callaghan agreed that people from the town should be given the extra points. But Cllr Mary Glennon felt this could exclude a lot of people presently living in the townx. Cllr Evelyn Bracken said young Naas people who can’t afford to buy a house should be considered first while Cllr Pat O’Reilly said people working and living in Naas were entitled to be housed by the local authority. Cllr Charlie Byrne told how young people were going through estates in the town looking for a house they could afford. He was against the scheme being extended to include present council tenants as he believed the majority of them would prefer to purchase the house they were living in already instead of having to move to another house. Chairman Cllr Seamie Moore said everybody is entitled to apply for the scheme which should be graded to allow people see where they stood on the list. Cllr Pat McCarthy said the council will have to provide such schemes to a much greater extent and he, too, wanted to see a transparent points system introduced. Officials are to come back with the revised criteria within weeks - to be agreed by councillors before it can be advertised to the public. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email  THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

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Concerns raised over effects of dumping near fen POLLARDSTOWN, 3 February 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. Kildare County Council is to investigate whether dumping in the Pollardstown area near the fen is complying with the terms of a court order gained by the council six years ago. The council is also 'at an advanced stage' towards instigating action agaiinst 'unauthorised development' in the vicinity of the fen (above). The issue was raised at Monday’s meeting of the council by Senator John Dardis (right) who queried why, when there had been so much concern about the effects of the motorway project on Pollardstown Fen, there appeared to be little worry about dumps operating on the edge of the fen itself. Senator Dardis said there were serious local concerns about traffic levels and the possibility that illegal dumping was going on, and he asked if the council was ensuring that the terms of a High Court order obtained in 1994 (against Thomas and Patrick Munnelly) were being complied with. County engineer Jimmy Lynch agreed that there was a ‘significant’ environmental issue for the fen from dumping in gravel pits operating near it. He said it was necessary to get evidence that anything illegal was going on. County secretary Tommy Skehan said that the matter had already been discussed with officials in the Planning Department and that they intended to assess the situation and talk to the council’s legal advisors about what action might be taken. In observations over the last few days, KNN has found that a steady stream of loaded trucks travel the narrow roads around Pollardstown, coming from various parts of the country, and dump their loads on Tom Munnelly’s land (above). Mr Munnelly himself supervises their arrival and departure. Other trucks take gravel extracted from the site, and from others nearby. Mr Munnelly told KNN he has ‘a licence from the High Court’ to dump builder’s rubble, gravel and stones on the site, and that no illegal dumping was taking place on his property. Indeed, the terms of the court order DO allow him to do this ‘for the purposes of infill’. Further, the order allows Kildare County Council officials absolute access to the site to monitor what is being dumped. The core of the problem, according to Senator Dardis, is that it seems the council has not been monitoring the dumping over the years, and there is no knowledge of what kind of material has been put in. He also told KNN he’s concerned at the continuous abstraction of gravel from a number of sites and the effect it could have on the fen. “The concerns about the motorway project were legitimate, but I think any changing of the geology right beside the fen itself merits at least equal concern,” he said yesterday. The area also has a high level of bloodstock activity, with no less than 400 horses being stabled in Pollardstown alone. “At ride-out time, you can have up to 250 horses on these roads,” one horseman told KNN yesterday. “The lorry drivers themselves are very careful, but at the very least it is a real pain for us.” The constant traffic has also had serious effects on the country roads, which are dangerously muddy (above) and have verges and surfaces literally destroyed (below) from the impact of the truck numbers. One local man told KNN he tore the sump from his engine last year, suffering £600 worth of damage. “There was nobody I could claim from,” he said ruefully. Senator Dardis also raised local concerns that a railway bridge (above) with an 8-tonne weight limit was being used by some hauliers. While KNN didn’t see such activity during our own observations, there was clear evidence on the bridge itself that it has been recently used by heavy vehicular traffic. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

DK Music A Musical Millennium with DK Music in Newbridge. See what's in store. A special page for the work of Kildare authors. Chronicle of a Small Village Ballymore looks back on its past. 89 KADETT Tiffany (special edition), Recaro seats, sports wheels 175/70, 4-speaker stereo, tinted glass, met paint,1.3-litre £600 045 866319. MORE DEALS  THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

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Brindsley enters Hall of Fame NAAS, 3 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. The second Naas UDC Hall of Fame Award has been given to Brindsley Sheridan, a man who ‘has given unstintingly of himself’ to Naas over the years. He is pictured above receiving the special award from Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore. Brindsley was born in Naas in 1919 and after his education in the Green School and Naas CBS, he qualified as a craftsman painter - along with Brendan Behan - in Bolton St College of Technology. He has decorated hundreds of premises in the Naas area, leaving on many business premises his particular trademark of superb signwriting. Through the years he was heavily involved in Naas Hockey Club, St Patrick’s Players, and the Naas Table Tennis and Dramatic Society - the forerunner of the Moat Club. His talents with the brush helped in no small part with teh group’s successes, including approporiately one All-Ireland award for artistic design.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

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KNN viewership soars KILDARE GENERAL, 3 February 2000: On a January to January comparison, KNN page requests have increased by a massive 361%, and are now approaching 12,000 per month. This reinforces strongly our original belief that there is a place for a dedicated county-based news service such as KildareNet News. Over 70% of our readers are in the immediate Kildare area, but we also provide a 'window on home' for many Kildare people living overseas. Understandably, the bulk of these are from North America, but we also have regular readers in the UK, Australia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the Netherlands and Argentina. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and advertisers, and all those who make KNN their regular stop each day for the community news that matters. Now that we have proved the service can work (and learned a lot in the process!) we intend to provide a number of innovations which will use the latest technology of the fast-growing internet to provide a better information and advertising medium with a very focussed readership in Kildare. Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Bus representatives for area meeting MAYNOOTH, 3 February 2000: Brian Byrne. Representatives from Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus have been invited to the next meeting of area councillors in the Leixlip area, to be given details of problems caused by their vehicles in Maynooth. Councillors have received complaints of inconvenience and serious traffic build-up on Main Street because drivers don’t pull properly into bus bays to collect their passengers. “In addition, the two bus turning bays on the Straffan Road are an eyesore,” says Cllr John McGinley (right). “This is as a result of buses griving up on the green areas. We hope to agree with the representatives on a new design for turning points.” NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Naas harbour plan a 'death trap for children' - concern NAAS, 2 February 2000: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Naas UDC is facing a revolt over its pedestrianisation of the harbour area from the very people it is doing the work for - the pedestrians. People with young families in the Pacelli Road/Sarto/St Martin’s Avenue area are deadly scared that the UDC is constructing a death trap for their children. The problem is centred on the fact that the edge to the harbour under the pedestrianisation will not have a restraining wall or fence, under the current plan - just a decorative white chain BEHIND the seats, leaving those using the seating area wide open to the water. “I think it’s going to be very dangerous,” says Mary Burke from Pacelli Road (pictured above with Cllr Evelyn Bracken and her daughter Caoimhe), who plans to begin a petition against the situation if the UDC doesn’t change its plans immediately. “This area is used an awful lot by children going to and from school, and even by mothers with small children going up town to do shopping. Even if our children are told to hold onto the buggy, they’ll run to water ... they all want to look at water.” Her concerns are echoed by Mary Larkin from Sarto Road, who says the plan as it stands will leave the area particularly dangerous for children. “They have to put something up ... anybody with a bit of common sense can see that this simply isn’t on. Or do we have to wait until there’s a tragedy before they see sense?” Cllr Evelyn Bracken is taking up the cudgel on behalf of the concerned parents, and plans to bring forward a motion on the matter to the next meeting of the UDC. “I’m more than happy that the area is being pedestrianised, and it will be lovely for everybody ... we’ve been waiting 20 years to have it done. But I want a three-foot wrought iron fence put up, because everybody here is concerned for their children.” Cllr Bracken suggests that the fence she proposes could incorporate a plaque commemorating the centenary of the UDC, which happens this year. She also points out the worry about adults walking the area at night. “People coming home from the pub use this area as a short cut all the time. There’s a real worry that somebody after a few drinks could end up in the water.” As for the argument that the plan makes something more scenic of the harbour, Mary Burke has a straight answer. “Without a fence, this place will become a dump, for supermarket trollies, refrigerators ... there’s a;ready a chair in there since they took down the old wall. There’ll be nothing scenic about it if there’s no railing, I can guarantee you.” Naas town clerk Declan Kirrane confirmed to KNN that there are no plans to have a railing around the harbour. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

DK Music A Musical Millennium with DK Music in Newbridge. See what's in store. A special page for the work of Kildare authors. Chronicle of a Small Village Ballymore looks back on its past. 89 KADETT Tiffany (special edition), Recaro seats, sports wheels 175/70, 4-speaker stereo, tinted glass, met paint,1.3-litre £600 045 866319. MORE DEALS

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Policy on planning retentions questioned NEWBRIDGE, 2 February 2000: by Brian Byrne. The question of planning retentions raised some debate at this month’s meeting of Kildare County Council when material contraventions were considered for two developments in Newbridge - one from Finlay Motors for a car compound (above) and the other from Baba Developments for an industrial units project (right). Cllr Tony Lawlor said it seemed absolutely unfair that most people should have to take six or eight months to go through the normal planning process and yet others who had gone ahead without permission should be able to apply for retention. His view was supported by councillors Mary Glennon and Tony McEvoy. “We can’t be seen to be condoning this practice,” Cllr McEvoy said, but Senator John Dardis noted that it was the law that retention could be applied for, and must be considered. On the matter of advance information on such developments, Cllr Catherine Murphy said it was not good enough that prior information was not given to councillors, and they had to depend on details being read out by council officials on the day. Cllr Emmet Stagg TD said the information was ‘being bounced on’ councillors. Assistant county manager Terry O Niadh told the councillors that they could only consider retention applications under the matter of proper planning, and they must put aside any other feelings that they might have on the applications. In relation to an application by Finlay Motors of Newbridge, to which there had been a number of objections, a decision on the matter was deferred until the next meeting of the council at the request of Cllr Stagg. The application by Baba Developments of Newbridge was disposed of when Cllr Stagg elicited a promise from the assistant county manager that in future, advance briefing on such applications would be given to councillors. The application was carried 22-1, with Cllr Mary Glennon voting against. Cllr John Dardis later expressed his own concerns at the proportion of planning applications which were for retentions. He said he had asked for a figure for the proportions last year, but it had not been furnished to him. “There are some very clever people using this system,” he said. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114 89 KADETT Tiffany (special edition), Recaro seats, sports wheels 175/70, 4-speaker stereo, tinted glass, met paint,1.3-litre £600 045 866319. MORE DEALS

'Preferred route' for M4 motorway presented to council COUNTY HALL, 2 February 2000: by Brian Byrne & Trish Whelan. A presentation on the ‘emerging preferred route’ for the next stage of the M4 has been made to Kildare County Council by the project’s lead authority, Westmeath County Council. The other partners are Kildare County Council and Meath County Council. The project will be 34km long, with interchanges at Kilcock, Enfield and Kinnegad, and is expected to be completed in 2005. It will cost £150 million. The emerging preferred route follows a review of the information gathered at public consultation and technical studies. It goes from Kilcock through the townland of Pitchfordstown, south of the Cloncurry GAA pitch and north of Johnstown House and across the Broadford-Carbury road before crossing the Glash and Boyne rivers, going south of Clonard and Kinnegad to link with the Galway and Sligo roads west of the latter town. A second public consultation is planned for later this month, and a CPO/Motorway Order should be published by July. This will be followed by a Public Inquiry in September and, barring problems, the project partners expect contractors to be on site by January 2002. Almost 800 people attended information days held in Kinnegad, Enfield, Kilcock and Broadford last September. Some 200 questionnaires were completed, in which 95% of respondents considered the project necessary to alleviate traffic volumes and congestion, reduce accident rates, enhance the region’s economic development and improve the quality of life. The plans as presented also indicate the routes of possible relief roads for Enfield. During a discussion after the presentation, Maynooth-based councillor Senan Griffin (left) expressed his concern that any local public display of the motorway plans withing 10 days of the expected decision on the incinerator issue by An Bord Pleanala might influence that decision adversely for the people of Kilcock. In reply, county engineer Jimmy Lynch said that the planning for the motorway predated any suggestion of the incinerator, and it would be very wrong to suggest that it would prejudice the decision. (Ed’s note: At last week’s oral hearing on the incinerator issue, a key point of objection by Kildare County Council’s chief Roads Design Engineer, Dick Burke, was that the Kilcock Interchange would not be available until at least 2005.)

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

HGVs ban for North Kildare towns CELBRIDGE, 2 February 2000: Brian Byrne. Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are to be banned from parking in public placers and in a number of estates in Celbridge. Under the proposal, to be prepared and implemented by Kildare County Council following agreement with local area councillors, HGVs in excess of three tonnes ULW will be banned from parking in public roads in St Patrick’s Park, Dara Crescent, Dara Close and Castletown Estate. Owners of the vehicles will, however, be allowed to park them on their own property. Welcoming the move, Cllr Emmet Stagg TD suggested the scheme should be extended to estates in other towns in North Kildare. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Naas civic awards presented NAAS, 2 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. The winners of this year’s Civic Awards from Naas UDC are the (above) Order of Malta Cadet Unit (community), and (below) the Nas na Riogh Singers (cultural), and jointly Naas GAA Juveniles and Naas Football Club (sporting). The awards were presented at a function in the Town Hall by the chairman of the UDC’s Protocol Committee Cllr Pat O’Reilly, who said it was one of his favourite functions because it keeps the council in touch with organisations and groups in the town. UDC chairman Seamie Moore said there is ‘a constant need’ to harness community effort and promote the ‘safe development’ of Naas’s youth population, cultural needs and social requirements. “There is a wonderful history of effort by stalwart groups and individuals, who undertake the organisation and standards that allow the rest of us to avail of and enjoy our community structure,” he said. The Civic Awards winners received £500 each. Cllr Moore also noted the other recent financial support given by the council to other community groups - £250,000 to the Moat Club, £500,000 to the Caragh Road Sports Group, and £50,000 to Naas Rugby Club (representatives pictured below).

GARDA PATROL If you are going away for early holiays, use devices such as timers to make it appear that your home is occupied. Let local gardai know if your home is going to be vacant. When at home, be alert for any suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let gardai know if you see something that disturbs you.

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'M50' gang expected on rampage KILDARE GENERAL, 2 February 2000: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Special high-speed rapid response units of gardai may be deployed in the Kildare area in the expectation of a spate of raids by the so-called ‘M50 gang’ in the near future. The gang is composed of criminals from the Neilstown area who specialise in using high-powered stolen cars for their transport, vehicles which are way beyond the capabilities of the normal patrol car. Their name comes from their use of the M50 motorway to gain rapid access to various counties on the periphery of Dublin. Isolated petrol filling stations are a particular favourite target of the gang, who have been known to operate in many widespread locations on the same night, usually between midnight and 6am. Meanwhile, gardai in Naas are looking for information to help them find three people who carried out an armed robbery at Petrie Wholesale Cash and Carry in Monread Commercial Park. The robbery on Tuesday 25 January happened at about 5.30pm ... and employee locking up was attacked by the three, one armed with a rifle and another carrying a hammer. They were wearing balaclavas and escaped in a dark green Volvo estate, 95 D 18140. There have been reported sightings of the Volvo in Naas and Celbridge. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

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To Advertise on KNN, call 086 8267104, fax 045 481091, or email tellingtales@yahoo.com Advertising rates here

Heated exchange over waivers charge proposal COUNTY HALL, 1 February 2000: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. A suggestion by Kildare county manager Niall Bradley (right) that a charge should be made on applications for waivers for domestic refuse demands led to heated exchanges at yesterday’s meeting of Kildare County Council. The manager expects that the charge would raise up to £100,000. The suggestion was in the preamble of the Estimates for 2000, which was passed by the council at the end of last year. But Cllr Emmet Stagg, who raised the matter on the discussion of the minutes, asked for a suspension of standing orders to allow a full debate. Cllr Stagg said the matter had been brought to his attention by people who said they had been asked to pay the fee. Chairman P J Sheridan (left) refused his request, saying that ‘a democratic decision’ had been taken by councillors in voting in the Estimates. Cllr Catherine Murphy, who was present at all the Estimates meetings, said ‘she didn’t remember that decision specifically being made’. “It is valid for the question to be asked if it was not included in the minutes,” she said. Cllr Stagg repeatedly interrupted the meeting, accusing the chairman of trying the ‘steamroll the matter through’. He said the matter was a ‘mean, miserable and unjustified attack on the very poorest, the very weakest, and the most vulnerable’ people in Co Kildare. “The council wishes to raise £100,000 by this tax on the poor, in one of the richest counties in Ireland,” he said. “This is only the thin edge of the wedge, as the council really wants to get rid of the waiver system completely.” The chairman suspended the meeting on two occasions, and eventually the matter was put to a vote in which Cllr Stagg numerically won 14-9 but didn't achieve the required two-thirds majority, with the FF/PD alliance voting against, to win a suspension of standing orders. However, he was promised that if he put in a motion for the special meeting on housing on February 14, the chairman would allow it. During the discussion, the manager said the raising of the charge was ‘an administrative matter’. Later, Cllr Stagg told KNN that as far as he was concerned the manager had allocated expenditure of any savings made without detailing the actual raising of the income involved. He is to get a clarification on this from council officials at the next meeting. Some 4,000 requests for waivers were made to the council last year, and approximately 80% were granted. Only old age pensioners living alone are always approved for waivers, otherwise an assessment must be made. The proposed charge of £20 would be non-refundable. County finance officer Eamonn O’Sullivan said anybody who was on their books last year ‘will not get a bill anyway’, so the issue of a waiver does not arise in these cases. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

DK Music A Musical Millennium with DK Music in Newbridge. See what's in store. A special page for the work of Kildare authors. Chronicle of a Small Village Ballymore looks back on its past. 89 KADETT Tiffany (special edition), Recaro seats, sports wheels 175/70, 4-speaker stereo, tinted glass, met paint,1.3-litre £600 045 866319. MORE DEALS

To Advertise on KNN, call 086 8267104, fax 045 481091, or email tellingtales@yahoo.com Advertising rates here

Naas house links to double murder? NAAS, 1 February 2000: by Brian Byrne. Garda forensic experts spent two days last week examining a house in Craddockstown Park (not one of those visible here) in Naas, in connection with investigations into the murder of two young men near Celbridge. Armed units guarded the house during the examination. It is understood that the house had been under surveillance for some time, and that two occupants of the rented premises were believed to have a connection with people the gardai want to talk to in relation to the murders of Patrick Murray and Darren Casey. The occupants were not in the house at the time of the examination, and no arrests were made. The dead men were found in the canal near Lyons Estate, between Newcastle and Celbridge. A man gardai wish to question in relation to the murders is currently in custody in England, and efforts are being made to have him extradited. He was arrested in a cooperative operation between British police and gardai. The investigation into the murders is under the direction of Chief Superintendent Sean Feely of Naas.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

Committee to fight power station DUNSTOWN & KILCULLEN, 1 February 2000: Brian Byrne. Residents of the Dunstown and Two Mile House area near Kilcullen have formed an action committee to formally fight the power station proposed for Dunstown Wood. The first action of the committee, formed at a public meeting last Thursday night, is to formulate an objection to the planning application for the station, which is a joint venture between Bord na Mona and French and Finnish energy interests. More than 150 people attended last week’s meeting, and according to one of the organisers, Cllr Billy Hillis(left) ‘not one of them were in favour’ of the plan when they left. Cllr Hillis said the planning application currently being considered by Kildare County Council seems defective in a number of ways. “The Environmental Impact Survey, for instance, doesn’t deal with noise emissions from the plant. And there is no detail on the kind of turbine being planned. It is a totally inadequate document.” Another public meeting is to be held next week, in Kilcullen Community Centre, to advise on progress and discuss strategy. Meanwhile, Cllr Hillis has also commented on allegations in the current Helmut Kohl scandal which, if substantiated, implicate Elf Aquitaine, one of the partner companies in the project. “It makes you wonder if Bord na Mona knew enough about who they’re getting into bed with,” he told KNN. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

GARDA PATROL If you are going away for early holiays, use devices such as timers to make it appear that your home is occupied. Let local gardai know if your home is going to be vacant. When at home, be alert for any suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let gardai know if you see something that disturbs you.

Widow prepares to be merry NAAS, 1 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas Musical Society will present Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow from 19-25 February in St Mary’s College. It is the society’s 5th production, and proceeds from the opening night will go to KARE. Pictured at the launch night in the Town House Hotel are Joan Murphy and Aine Costello O'Brien, from the cast, with Naas UDC chairman Seamie Moore. According to society president Dave Smyth, there’s a lot of ‘new blood’ in the organisation this year. Principal parts are played by Celine Byrne (Anna), Sean O’Keefe (Danilo), Ronan Dillon, Fiona Bergin, Paul Lenehan and Tony McCarthy. It’s a family affair for the society’s chairperson/treasurer, Tina O’Kelly, whose husband Bob is stage manager and their daughter Amy playing the part of Cupid. Two other young players are Helen and Jane Mahon. Tickets are available from Dillons Newsagents on Main Street, Naas. Telephone bookings from 045 866162. Clockwise from above, at the launch of the show: leads Celine Byrne (Anna), Sean O’Keefe (Danilo); Charlie McCreevy and Bernard Durkan; Helen and Jane Mahon and Amy O'Kelly; Tina O'Kelly, chairperson; Margaret Hayes Mahon, musical director; Dave Smyth, President; and Mary Fox, secretary.

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Sycamores junction 'extremely dangerous' NAAS, 1 February 2000: by Trish Whelan. A report to Naas UDC on the junction of The Sycamores and the Sallins Road, (above), described by Cllr Pat McCarthy (left) as ‘an extremely dangerous junction’ is to be returned to the Roads Design Section of Kildare County Council asking them to have another look at the situation. At last week’s meeting of the UDC Cllr McCarthy said he was not satisfied with the bones of the report which said the RD Section would not favour the elimination of the right turn from the Sycamores on to the Sallins Road because if that right turn was closed, the traffic would have to go through the junction of the Dublin Road and the Sallins Road and that would create additional pressure on that junction and there is not the capacity at the junction to cater for such traffic. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

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Naas UDC agrees to travellers' accommodation plan NAAS, 31 January 2000: by Trish Whelan. Naas is to provide accommodation for up to 11 indigenous travelling families in the next few years. This follows the UDC’s adoption of the Draft Traveller Accommodation Programme compiled by Kildare County Council on behalf of the county which would see travellers accommodated in five standard houses; a six-bay halting site beside Millennium Park business campus as well as accommodation for six transient families when the 11 are accommodated. Two families are to be housed this year with two more in 2002, one further in 2003, and the six-bay halting site with caravan parking in 2002. Agreement for the plan was proposed by UDC chairman Cllr Seamie Moore(right) and seconded by Cllr Mary Glennon. Cllr Moore said the families involved have been consulted over which choice of accommodation they want to live in and had opted for standard housing and halting sites. However, Naas could end up with two halting sites, according to Cllr Moore, who said any attempt to push all the families into one area could create a ghetto situation in one part of the town. He had difficulty with a situation where the Government decided they need to provide ‘X’ amount of sites per transient families and said no one on the Council’s housing list ‘would be in such a position to look for another house in another part of the country if they wanted to go there on holidays.” In the county plan, three halting sites are to be provided for transient families, in the north, the middle and the south of the county, according to the town manager and Naas or Newbridge are on the cards for one of the sites. When these are in place, Mr O Niadh said, there should be no problem in dealing with transient families as there ‘are laws that are quick and effective remedies available and you won’t have to go to court to have them moved on.’ Five councillors voted for the Naas part of the plan with councillors Pat O’Reilly and Charlie Byrne abstaining. Cllr Timmy Conway had already left prior to the discussion. Cllr O’Reilly (left) said he abstained as he was against the idea of a halting site and he believed the families should be housed instead. Cllr Charlie Byrne took a similar line ‘out of respect for the people of the town who have mortgages to pay and who don’t want the value of their homes cut in half by having a travelling family housed beside them, with horse boxes and Hi-Aces outside their homes’. Cllr Mary Glennon said many travelling families’ neither want or are suitable for housing as they do not know the culture of living in a house’. She believed it would be a halting site situation for years to come - trying to coordinate all the necessary services to help them into society. Cllr Pat McCarthy said the plan was ‘a positive approach’ but new legislation is needed to deal with the traveller merchants. Cllr Willie Callaghan proposed the Council visit a number of ‘well run’ halting sites around the country to see how they operated. He asked when the halting site in Millennium Park is full would the council still have to go to court to move any newcomers in the area? The final plan must be adopted by March 31. Main Rover, Land Rover and Volvo dealers, Kildare town. Phone 045 521203; Fax 045 521785. See our selection here. And read Brian Byrne's review of the new Rover 75.

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Kildare 'could not supply water' for incinerator MAYNOOTH, 31 January 2000: by Trish Whelan & Brian Byrne. Kildare County Council would not be in a position to supply the water needs for an incinerator proposed for Kilcock, a senior water engineer for the council told the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing on the appeal against a refusal of planning permission for the project. Des Page said the requirement for the plant as proposed by Thermal Waste Management Ltd would be 2,400 cubic metres of water a day, but even an increased demand for 220 cu mts a day would cause the council difficulty in the area. He noted that currently Kildare County Council had two sources of supply - the mid-Kildare system provided by the Ballymore Treatment Plant and that provided by Fingal County Council to North Kildare. Mr Page agreed with counsel for those opposing the project, Barry White SC, that the council was currently dependent on outside-county sources for 85% of water supply, and 'more at times of peak demand'. he said it was the council's intention to reduce that dependency to around 50%, but could not say when this might be possible. Later, in response to Michael O'Donnell BL for the developers, he agreed that three wells suggested on the site for the incinerator could provide all the water required, and also that a system could be put in place that would minimise the effect on nearby wells of conical depression of the water table. In previous questioning, Kildare County Council planner Michael Kenny had agreed with Barry White that the original Material Contravention given on the site for a specific 'light industry' (which did not subsequently materialise) included a 'little or no water' requirement. The rezoning was from agricultural use.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING Noreen McCabe, MNAPCP Anxiety, depression, loss, phobias, childhood trauma, eating disorders, relationships, personal growth, coaching for work-related stress. Strictly confidential. Moorefield Clinic, Newbridge. Phone (045) 432111 or call Noreen at (045) 431936; mobile 086 2496823; email dmccabe@tinet.ie   Specialist travel operators to Cheltenham, Aintree, and other major international racing venues. Phone 01 2958901; Fax 01 2958902; Email

KILCULLEN ESSO AND XL STOP 'N' SHOP Open 7am-10pm for Fuel, Groceries, Toiletries, Flowers, Newspapers, Deli Food, Fresh Coffee and more.

UDC 'setting profits for private company' NAAS, 31 January 2000: Dear Editor, The following is a quote in your reporting the comments of Naas town clerk in regard to parking fees: ‘He said in considering the matter the Council will have to have regard to the cost of construction and operation of car parks and the effectiveness of a car parking charge in optimising the use of car parking spaces. He hoped to have a map where disc parking will apply at the next meeting of the Council. Town manager Terry O Niadh asked that the motion be deferred until a later date.’ Correct me if I'm wrong, but this gives the impression that the town managers are considering setting the level of fees for parking in order to force the residents of the town to use the car park being built by a private company. Forgive my naivete, but is it not the job of public servants to serve the public, not to maximise profits by private individuals? Not only is land sold to these at a knockdown price but now there are efforts to force people to use these car parks. The reason? ... NOT as I would have hoped, on the grounds of public safety or public interest taking cars off the street and clearing up dangerous parking, but on the grounds of the need to protect the private company’s income!!! Who are the principle parties in this company? Yours in shock, John Kavanagh. NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

GARDA PATROL If you are going away for early holiays, use devices such as timers to make it appear that your home is occupied. Let local gardai know if your home is going to be vacant. When at home, be alert for any suspicious activity in your neighborhood and let gardai know if you see something that disturbs you.

Parkinsons AGM next weekend KILDARE GENERAL, 31 January 2000: by Trish Whelan. The AGM of the Kildare and District Branch of the Parkinson's Association of Ireland will take place at 3pm on Sunday, February 6, in the Day Care Centre, Newbridge Road, Naas. The meeting is expected to be of interest to people with the disease and their families and friends and all are welcome to attend. A guest speaker will provide a practical and helpful insight into Parkinson's which is a progressive disorder of the nervous system which affects over 200 people in County Kildare. It's not a psychiatric condition and neither is it contagious. Its best known symptom is an involuntary tremor. Information and mutual support can help and the provision of these is an objective of the Kildare and District Parkinsons branch, which was founded in 1997 to meet the needs of people in County Kildare and those from adjoining counties who may wish to avail of its services. Anybody who is interested in the branch can contact the chairperson, Marian Deely, at 32 Langton Park, Newbridge (phone 045 435024) or Linda Logan, 3189 Avondale Drive, Kilcullen (phone 045 481087) or Michael Brady, 42 The Gables Kill, (phone 045 877569).

THE LEINSTER PRINTMAKING STUDIO THE OLD CONVENT, CLANE Artists' resource, Training, Gallery sales. Phone Margaret Becker 045 868168 or 087 2310114

Corporate Magazine Publishing - Business Writing - Journalism & Broadcasting Training - Internet Marketing Consultants - Web Site Design - Book Writing Telling Tales Ltd, PO Box 106, Naas, Co Kildare. Phone 045 481090, 086 8267104; Fax 045 481091; Email tellingtales@yahoo.com

Bond Bridge 'must provide traffic access to rail car park' MAYNOOTH, 31 January 2000: by John Sweeney. Kildare Planning Alliance has welcomed the recent announcement that the reconstruction of Bond Bridge in Maynooth will commence this summer, but the decision by Kildare County Council not to provide vehicular access from the bridge to the new railway car park is short-sighted and will cause ‘traffic chaos’ for years to come. Bond Bridge has for long been a serious source of pedestrian and vehicular danger and its reconstruction is long overdue. More so than most towns in Kildare, Maynooth has a substantial pedestrian and cyclist population by virtue of its 4,000 university students and many of these, together with residents of the area, have had to take their life in their hands over the years in coming and going across Bond Bridge to and from their accommodation.” Kildare Planning Alliance strongly supports the views of its constituent organisation, Maynooth Planning Alliance, in insisting that the reconstruction of the bridge must be accompanied by a vehicular access to the new railway car park. The recent extension to the car park, comprising an extra 100 car park spaces, was rapidly carried out by Iarnrod Eireann following the proposals made by Maynooth Action Strategy. It is to the credit of Iarnrod Eireann that they have moved swiftly to relieve what was becoming an intolerable situation for commuters and they are to be congratulated. However, it now appears that all of this good work may be undone by a short-sighted approach on the part of Kildare Co Council in deciding that the new Bond Bridge will not include a car access to the station car park. Kildare Planning Alliance echoes the dismay of the general population of Maynooth at reports that the County Engineer is refusing to incorporate such an access in the design for the new bridge on the grounds of an additional £95,000 cost. This appears to be Kildare County Council accounting at its very worst. By forcing all traffic to exit and enter by the Straffan Road, traffic chaos for the foreseeable future is assured. Maynooth Planning Alliance supports the position on this issue being taken by local councillors and asks the County officials to urgently address the following issues: 1. A recent traffic survey submitted to them for a proposed development at the motorway junction indicated that between the hours of 5.30 and 6.30 in the evening 785 vehicles travel up the Straffan Road towards the motorway while 702 travel from the interchange down the Straffan Road. These figures are expected to increase to approximately 900 in each direction over the next 4 years. How does the engineer propose to enable over 100 cars to leave the station car park when on the main road cars are passing at a rate of 25 a minute, or one every two seconds. Traffic lights will not relieve this situation since the space on Straffan Road will be non existent due to car queuing. The consequences of the present proposals are obvious to present users of the car park - a long tailback which presently occurs in the station car park will become acute and ultimately make the car park unusable for the purposes it was designed. 2. Does the county engineer realise that a 100-car tailback stretches for over 0.5kms, i.e. the full length of the car park? Many of these cars are going to estates within a few hundred metres of Bond Bridge and yet he wants to route them down Straffan Road, through the Main Street and Parson Street bottlenecks - an additional distance of two kilometres. Even the completion of the Meadowbrook link will not make this proposal workable. 3. Is the Co Engineer aware of the real cost of 100 cars idling their engines for 15 minutes a day, and then spending a further 15 minutes getting through the town for 200 days a year? At a rough estimate 10,000 hours of petrol consumption must be worth about £25,000. By this reasoning Bond Bridge would have paid for itself in a little over four years. Or is the Council's commitment to 'sustainable development' merely lip service? Kildare Planning Alliance calls on all residents to express their views on this matter to the Council when the public consultation stage is announced shortly. Is it really beyond the ingenuity of the Celtic Tiger to provide access from a road 60 cms higher than its 19th century equivalent? Can an engineer not come up with a solution which would alleviate the motorists' plight in Maynooth as well as doing a little towards reducing Kildare's greenhouse gas emissions? NEWS OR VIEWS? Something happening in your community that's bothering you? Or do you simply want to share the news from your village or town in County Kildare? You can, by phoning 086 8267104 emailing us at KNN

DK Music A Musical Millennium with DK Music in Newbridge. See what's in store.

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