Alienated Co Kildare community "fed up" with lack of action on road closure, to host public protest at Town Hall, Naas today.

The detour route via Mullaboden Lane in wet weather

Over ten months ago, the road collapsed after banks over the River Liffey subsided. Given that gas, water and seweage pipeplines had been introduced in recent years, many homeowners were critical that pre-planning studies and engineering reports failed to predict the vulnerability of the road structure.

The detour route and the safety of same has been criticised by residents, local business interests and regular road users.

"The Mullaboden road which connects the L6048 to the R411, Ballymore and Naas road, and the R412 (Carnalway Cross) are narrow, secondary route and despite the recent re-surfacing and road signage, the Mullaboden road is especially not able to cope with the increased traffic" said an irate resident.

However, strong opinions were voiced at a recent meeting hosted by Fiona O'Loughlin TD; whilst the topic of the meeting was on the vulnerability of rural post offices, attendees from Kilcullen, Brannockstown, Dunstown and Ballymore Eustace aired their anger at the lack of urgency or optimism coming back from "officialdom".

Deputy O'Loughlin said she had warned at a public meeting in October 2016 that there would not be an immediate resolution to the road closure and that major investment from national funding would be required, despite other opinions voiced that the road might re-open by Christmas last.

"The closure of the L6048 is not just impacting on the families who live in that area; it is alienating so many townslands from the village, i.e. families who live in the Harristown, Dunstown, Dunshane and Mullacash areas. These families have children in the local national school, children who participate in local clubs, parents who shop locally. Now the additional length of the detour, along with the horrendous condition of the route, has resulted in these residents heading to the five cross roads at Carnalway and heading to Kilcullen via Logstown for groceries, pharmacy, butchers, restaurants, etc.

"Our local businesses are reporting a drop in trade as families chose a safer, better road to Kilcullen. Another woman said at the meeting if the L6048 is not opened this year, she will register her children at another primary school, and that's the last thing we need, to lose more pupils from Scoil Mhuire, which is going to lose a teacher next year anyway".

Cllr Carmel Kelly (FF) intends to submit a motion at today's MD meeting: "That the Council provide an update on the progress to get funding to re-open the Coughlanstown Road; residents and businesses are suffering badly because of the closure".

Meanwhile, Deputy Martin Heydon told KildareNow that Kildare County Council have come up with three potential options for addressing the ongoing issue. 1). Carrying out significant upgrade of the present detour route and not reopen the Coughlanstown road to cars. 2). Acquire land in what was the pit in the adjoining field and build a new road through that. 3). Construct a protection wall on the cliff face/river bank to reinforce the bank and build back up the road where it collapsed.

"The final option, No. 3, is expected to be the most expensive costing well in excess of €3m. There are a number of utilities that have services in the ground under the existing road, including Eir, Bord Gais and Irish Water. They have been consulted by the Council as they should play a roll in any resolution. Whatever about who is to blame for the subsidence in the first place, all of the services are potentially affected by any deterioration of the present situation, so all utilities should be actively involved and contribute to any solution".

Deputy Heydon stated he was pushing KCC to conclude their negotiations with the utilities as soon as possible and to adequately investigate the potential of the second option which he feels is the most practical.  That said, the neighbouring land entails landfill which may not be safe/suitable for years to come.

Deputy Fiona O’ Loughlin assured residents at the recent public meeting that she would raise the issue in the Dáil before summer recess. "I have been trying to speak on this issue in Leinster House for some time. Huge  disruption has been caused to the residents of Ballymore Eustace and the surrounding area. Although many of them only live half a mile from the village they have to travel a detour on bad, narrow roads of 9 miles and I'm told there has been a negative impact on businesses in the area.”

Deputy O’ Loughlin referred to this matter in the Dáil by questioning  An Taoiseach on the section of the programme for Government, which deals with connectivity between villages and refers to rural roads. The engineering firm Arup has indicated the cost of restoring this vital artery would be €3.5 million at a minimum. That would amount to 25% of Kildare County Council's annual fund for roads.

O’ Loughlin concluded  by saying “Kildare County Council is responsible for 2,528 km of road in the county. It is essential that national funding be provided. I have spoken to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, on the issue but we need An Taoiseach's support.”

Residents feel the protest tomorrow is called for, as once again, rural communities are the first to suffer when service cuts are introduced but at the bottom of the list when investment is needed for infrastructures or in this case, to reinstate a major road to/from the village.

"We are asking for support tomorrow, at 3pm outside the Town Hall, Naas. We are not second class citizens; we feel alienated from our local community, our houses are devalued, our cars are rattling over poor roads - we're sick of being ignored and put 'on the long finger'!"