‘Over my dead body’ will O’Connell Street be in Adare, declares Limerick councillor
“ADARE will be an extension of O’Connell Street over my dead body,” declared Limerick Councillor Adam Teskey on Monday.
He was speaking at a special meeting of the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District to discuss the draft Adare local area plan for 2024 to 2030.
The meeting heard of proposals to narrow main street, expand pedestrian areas, include cycle routes, off-street parking to replace on-street parking in parts and plant two rows of trees as part of a draft public realm plan.
Cllr Emmett O’Brien said Adare dates back centuries but there is a feeling out there that you have to be “trendy and progressive”.
“The calamitous O’Connell Street has devastated commercial enterprise,” said Cllr O’Brien.
Cllr John O’Donoghue said it is an attempt to build an “idyllic village”.
“We are in a main agricultural area and they want to narrow the road. What about bin lorries, buses, tractors - two tractors side by side is six metres and the road is 5.5 metres. There are major agricultural machinery companies in Adare. Are we creating a village for the Ryder Cup or the children of the future?” asked Cllr O’Donoghue.
Cllr Teskey, cathaoirleach, asked if any of those present had ever driven a tractor?
“I drive one every day. It is a testament to the Dunraven family that Adare is an English-style village and very wide but you want to narrow it to 5.5 metres,” said Cllr Teskey, who added that “Adare will be an extension of O’Connell Street over my dead body”.
He said he called the special meeting due to the “lack of engagement” by the council with councillors, and a draft Adare Public Realm Plan being taken in conjunction with the draft local area plan as part of a statutory process.
“I have requested meetings about the public realm plan since May 22 and none forthcoming. I was being left with no alternative but to potentially seek my own legal advice on the matter - this is simply not good enough.
“We have a duty to represent the public that elected us here. It’s a sad reflection on democracy and transparency that an elected representative and chairman of the area would have to potentially engage legally to convene a special meeting.” said Cllr Teskey.
Cllr Kevin Sheahan said taking the two plans together surrenders their authority as councillors.
“I am dissatisfied to say the least,” said Cllr Sheahan.
Cllr Teskey said he thought the two plans would be linked together and “not married”.
In contrast, Cllr Bridie Collins said she was perplexed by the special meeting being called.
“We were supposed to have a meeting to thrash things out and you insisted on a public meeting. It’s a distraction - we can’t mention pieces of land / landowners. We are going through a public consultation process. This Thursday is the most important event,” said Cllr Collins.
Members of the public and interest groups are invited to attend a drop-in public information evening this Thursday, September 7, between 3pm - 7pm in the village hall, Adare.
Maria Woods, head of forward / strategic planning with the local authority, said it is a legal process and they are following development and planning guidelines.
“Both plans are there and anyone can make submissions,” said Ms Woods, who added that the plans will be back before this meeting in due course.
One of the pre-draft submissions in the local area plan is the need for housing and especially affordable homes in Adare.
There are currently 139 properties in the system with planning, and provision for a further 156.
Cllr Stephen Keary said the situation in Castletroy is “diabolical”.
“Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are buying up whole sites. Young couples can’t buy one house.
“There is nothing stopping an AHB coming in here and buying 70 houses,” said Cllr Keary.
Cllr Teskey said young couples who want to build a one-off house are totally precluded.
Cllr O’Brien said we are a long way from tar being put on the bypass of Adare but Irish Rail is undergoing the biggest infrastructure project in the county in 10 years and “it is not even part of the plan”.
The meeting, held in the Manor Fields Community Complex, had to pause briefly due to the sound of a helicopter flying overhead.
Read the draft Adare local area and public realm plans at www.limerick.ie