KILDARE: Opposition to proposal to close off town's main street to traffic
There was a mixed reaction to a proposal that the town centre in Naas should be closed to traffic for one Sunday a month.
Naas councillor Seamie Moore said this should be done during the summer period covering the months from May to September next.
He said there was a positive reaction to this when the town was partially closed to traffic for the Bealtaine festival event earlier this year.
He said doing it in 2023 would provide an opportunity to “feel the water and see how people react to it.”
He was supported by Cllr Bill Clear who said people are not against it and it could facilitate more festival activity in Naas.
However, Cllr Fintan Brett said the move is premature because the opening of the car park at the derelict Naas Shopping Centre, creating hundreds of car park spaces, would be necessary to facilitate a street closure.
And Cllr Anne Breen said that the traders of the town would have to be considered and their views would have to be taken into account.
“We need to keep the shops open, if we don’t have traders we don’t have a town,” added Cllr Breen
She also questioned how buses would be accommodated in the event of a closure along with emergency vehicles.
KCC official Pamela Pender said a significant amount of input was needed by Kildare County Council, the gardaí and emergency services to manage the closure for the Bealtaine event.
“There was also a considerable cost element for each sector to ensure the management and safety of all.”
Ms Pender pointed out that the main street is a regional road, serviced by a number of public transport providers.
She said while there is no objection a number of points need to be addressed.
“Alternative arrangements for bus access would need to be determined and a mechanism for notifying the providers and those who use the services needs to be considered.”
She said agreement would be necessary with the gardaí and emergency services and “a funding source needs to be identified to cover all costs.”
A Naas Municipal District meeting also heard that an appropriate public consultation process is required and staff and volunteers would be needed to to prepare for the road closure and to staff barriers.