‘Car priority culture’ needs to change, Kildare councillor says

Ireland’s current 'car priority culture' needs to change, according to an Independent county councillor.

The comments were made at the latest Clane-Maynooth Municipal District (MD) meeting on Friday, October 6 last.

He put forward the following motion at the meeting: "That the council consider the pattern of car parking at the upgraded footpaths and pedestrian crossing near the schools on the Prosperous Road, Clane, and whether any further engineering interventions are required to take account of the needs of pedestrians and cyclists at school opening and closing times."

Cllr McEvoy’s motion was seconded by Social Democrats Cllr Aidan Farrelly, and he also received support in the form of Green Party Cllr Peter Hamilton.

In response to his motion, Kildare County Council (KCC) said in its report at the meeting: "The MD engineer will carry out an inspection and from correspondence already received it seems cars are parking up on the new footpaths.

Independent councillor Pádraig McEvoy. File photograph.

KCC continued: "Scoil Bhride on the Prosperous Road, Clane, is currently on round 2 of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programme.

"The council are currently awaiting the outline delivery plan for Scoil Bhríde Primary School as part of the SRTSl programme.

"A full design review will be completed at that stage by the Sustainable Transport Section," KCC concluded.

Cyril Buggie, an engineer with KCC who was present at the meeting, said that he has seen photos of the area, but stressed that 'the works come down to the developer... you have no idea how frustrating this is for me too.'

"The most we (the council) can do is to drill in bollards in this area," he added.

Cllr McEvoy also told those in attendance that he read a news article that discussed car emissions near schools, and how it may potentially negatively impact children.

He said: "We really have the wrong culture , and we need to change this car priority culture we have in Ireland."