Palisade fencing around new Athy Pool must be removed - Daly

The surrounding of the new swimming pool in Athy with excessive palisade fencing is a making the building look more like a fort in a troubled area than a public community building according to local Fine Gael councillor Richard Daly

“Having been part of the Swimming Pool Liaison Committee for the past two years I was absolutely appalled to see the erection of palisade fencing around what is to be the Community Swimming Pool. At the meetings we had several discussions on the protection of the car park area from unwanted activities and the landscaping of the area with no mention of fencing.

To the surprise of the committee Kildare County Council have suddenly surrounded the pool and the parking area with unsightly palisade fencing without any discussion with either the residents of the area or the liaison committee which was interfacing between the residents and the development.

Not only is the lack of discussion an insult to the committee but the very erection of the fence is delivering a very wrong signal to the community of Athy. This will be the fourth adjacent premises in public hands which have had this protective fencing installed. It is making the area appear like a neighbourhood under siege instead of an area being developed for the people.

I have tabled a motion to Athy Town Council for the immediate removal of this unsightly barrier in an area which had only recently had CCTV installed. Not only does it act as a physical blight to the local residents but it is also a blatant waste of taxpayers’ money at a time when funding cannot be found for taking the jetties in charge, motorised street sweepers, the development of an Arts centre, hand held parking monitors, the erection of the 1798 monument and many other civic projects.

I feel personally affronted that we have wasted time in discussions with council officials, residents and the developers about the overall development while it was never mentioned that the area was being planned as a security zone. This is not the way we teach people respect for their public buildings.” Said Cllr Daly

Castledermot students need adequate road safety measures - Daly

Increased traffic, the lack of bus bays and inadequate pedestrian crossings are putting Castledermot students in danger according to Cllr Richard Daly of Fine Gael

“The current volume of traffic through Castledermot and the lack of adequate bus bays are becoming a hazard for students attending the schools each day. Parents have expressed their concerns with the lack of measures and buses have been able to use the church car park as a safe location for alighting students until recently.

The crossing outside the primary school has never been made operational and safe means of crossing the road will have to be installed. Personally I think the installation of a standard zebra crossing would be a very acceptable measure. The zebra crossing put the onus on both the pedestrian and the driver to take caution while the “green man” can lead to pedestrians assuming that traffic will stop.

Arrangements should also be made for safe alighting areas similar to the church car park to ensure that dozens of students do not simply spill onto the footpath.

Our young people and our road safety must be a priority” said Cllr Daly

ENDS

Clarity needed on Kildare decentralisation projects – Daly

Media reports today predicting uncertainty for the decentralisation programmes for Kildare are very disturbing according to Fine Gael’s Richard Daly.

“Already we have seen the proposed decentralisation of Revenue to Athy being put on hold indefinitely and now there are scares for the Defence decentralisation to Newbridge.

The delays in implementing these projects over the past few years have meant that their future has been put in jeopardy. If the government hadn’t dragged its heels during our boom these two decentralisations could have been completed long ago. Now as resources are diminishing their future is uncertain.

The 250 personnel who were to locate to custom built premises in Athy has been reduced to 40 who already live in the locality being catered for in rented offices

Our infrastructural investment was lacking during the boom years and has left us ill prepared for the world financial crisis. The Irish economy is the only one in recession amid this economic uncertainty. Projects like decentralisation which would bring enormous benefit to the county are now the possible casualties of years of incompetence.” Said Cllr Daly