SPONSORED POST
Residents opposed to the proposed Route 2 for the Naas Inner Relief Road have released a statement re-affirming their opposition to the project.
The Combined Estate Action Group against Route 2 said:
"To the people of Naas,
The residents of Naas will be hosting another public meeting on Monday, 25 March at the Osprey Hotel to voice our dismay that Kildare County Council have chosen to choose Route 2 as the Inner Relief Road against the wishes of hundreds if not thousands of residents. It defies logic and is contrary to basic common sense.
It is both insensitive and illogical to locate a main road that adversely impacts so many of Naas’ residential estates/areas, to include, the Ballymore Eustace Road, The Gallops, Racecourse Gate, Kingscourt, Sunday’s Well, Cluain Aoibhean, Woodlands, Kingsfurze, Mountain View, Craddockstown Road, Craddockstown Rise, Craddockstown Court, Ard an Laoi, Church Court, Oakfield, Alderwood Park, Hazelmere, Beechwood, Chestnut Hill, The Paddocks, Ballycane, Kingspoint, Elmwood, Tipper Road housing and estates and Monread.
The Kildare County Council website states that the Naas Inner Relief Road, Route 2, will bring “important and necessary improvements to the town and the local community”.
If so, it begs a question: Why is it that that last April hundreds of local residents attended a public meeting before Route 2 was even selected to let the Council know that this was not the correct option and would negatively impact their quality of life severely.
At said meeting, the majority of councillors publicly stated that they would vote against Route 2.
The majority of Councillors have thus listened to the residents of Naas, considered our submissions and ultimately agreed with us, the people who are impacted by these decisions.
Nonetheless, the Council plough on with utter disregard to the strongly expressed wishes/opinions of the vast majority of the residents of the areas adversely impacted upon with a plan developed in 1992.
It is difficult to conceive how a plan that had its genesis in 1992 when Naas had then a population of 11,000 can remain either pertinent or relevant in 2019(ie almost a quarter of a century’ later!)
In addition, in 1992, the south of Naas, contained significant agricultural land which is manifestly not the current situation in a densely populated urban environment. The growing population of Naas require a ring road, akin to what Kilkenny, Kilcock and Kenmore have.
Kildare County Council state that the Inner Relief road will be ‘free-flowing’. This is not true. The junction at which it is placed is already exceptionally busy. Making the road entering and leaving Naas Racecourse a main road will result in traffic back logging from the big ball, from the town centre, and the Monread Road will be at a standstill. The residents of the estates in the Inner Relief road will not be able to leave their estates unless traffic lights or roundabouts are erected outside each estate. I doubt there is enough room for traffic lights considering, the council are already taking land from our common areas.
All over the country, county councils are introducing speed limits of 30km p/h in residential estates. There is no provision for speed controls despite this road being built through estates and residential zones. In addition, a significant amount of heavy duty trucks will be diverted through residential areas due to the location of the quarry. The noise and pollution that so many residents will have to endure if the road goes ahead is scandalous. Building concrete walls around our estates, as if we live in a prison will not solve this. In addition how can the council talk about mini greenways when they plan on removing green areas and surrounding estates by 7 feet walls. Not only will this destroy the environment around our residential areas but creating hidden areas behind high walls will be an incentive for anti social behavior.
From a basic analysis, it is evident that this road will not alleviate traffic problems. In fact, it will exasperate same. It is the equivalent of fixing a car that keeps breaking down, a complete waste of money and time, prolonging the problem and eventually having to put in place a proper road. In addition, it is quite evident from a review of the other route options, that other routes would open Naas up for further development as opposed to route 2.
It is frustrating and disappointing that this is what Kildare County Council have suggested to the traffic issue in Naas. However, we are very grateful to Councillors who have publicly assured us that they will vote against this outdated, intrusive and inadequate proposal. We hope that Kildare County Council will fight for the funding for a proper ring road and not waste our hard earned tax money and we intend to put up a huge fight to ensure this happens and Naas town prospers."
Yours faithfully
The Combined Estate Action Group Against Route 2.
