Council rules out bollards for this Kildare village footpath

Kildare County Council has ruled out installing bollards along a footpath in Ardclough, Co Kildare, as requested by a councillor in the interest of pedestrian safety.

The council was responding to a question tabled by Cllr Declan Ryan (FG) at a Celbridge Leixlip Municipal District meeting, held on Friday, April 17 2026.

Cllr Ryan had asked the council if there were plans to install bollards along the footpath from Williams Grove, Ardclough (L2008) to the village centre.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Ryan acknowledged that the issue – as stated in the council's report – was “a garda matter”, but pointed out that the matter had been reported to gardai in the past, who “can't be around all the time.”

Cllr Ryan told the MD meeting that cars are frequently parked illegally along this road, obstructing access to pedestrians and presenting a hazard.

The problem is forcing people including children and senior citizens to walk out onto the road, he said, with often no room on the footpath “to get a child's buggy past.”

READ NEXT: "What a loss" - Kildare pub to close after 120 years

Cllr Ryan said the council has a duty to provide safety for pedestrians, and Ardclough was now “a vibrant village” with many young people in the area.

Admitting he was personally somewhat averse to bollards, Cllr Ryan said that some measure was nevertheless needed to guarantee safety to local residents.

He asked the council to look at the matter again and “come back to me on it.”

A council official, responding, pointed to the fact that it is illegal to park on footpaths, but suggested that the Road Safety Officer link in with local schools over the concern, as the problem appeared to be more prevalent during school opening and closing times.

A report issued by the council stated: “There are currently no plans install bollards at this location. It is illegal to park a vehicle on a footpath and an incidents should be reported to An Garda Síochána. The road also has a solid white line which does not permit parking at this location.”