KILDARE: No pedestrian crossings for busy Naas square

Pedestrian crossings have been ruled out for a  part-pedestrianised section of Naas.

Cllr Evie Sammon was told at a Naas Municipal District meeting that while Kildare County Council appointed a “multi-disciplinary service provider team” to develop a design at Poplar Square, no money is available.

KCC engineer Donal Hodgins said some  €320,000 was sought by KCC  from the National Transport Authority for the Poplar Square scheme in 2023.

And this would have covered the contract.

The scheme included permanent public realm improvements to increase movement across the Dublin Road and at the junction with the Sallins Road.

However just  €30,000 was received from the NTA for this year and “as a consequence, the contract for the consultants was terminated by the council.”

This happened, he said, because the project cannot be progressed without the support of the NTA or an alternative funding source.

“No further engagement is envisioned with the NTA in this regard” he added.

Cllr Sammons expressed disappointment and noted that a school warden scheme is operating there instead.