Alleged drug-dealing in weeded area of Newbridge estate highlighted to Kildare County Council

Alleged drug-dealing and drug usage in a Newbridge estate was discussed by local councillors at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting.

Fianna Fáil Cllr Rob Power submitted the following motion at the meeting, which was held on Wednesday, July 17 last: "That Kildare County Council (KCC) undertakes to clear a weeded area in Dara Park, Newbridge."

His motion found further support in the Mayor of the MD, Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O'Dwyer, as well as Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender.

Commenting on the issue, Cllr Power claimed that there drug usage and drug dealing in the weeded area is 'open and unbelievably brazen.'

He added: "One quick action we can take, as a council, is to trim it back, and to liase with An Garda Síochána."

'TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE'

Cllr Power further said that there are many elderly residents in Dara Park, and said that it is 'totally unacceptable that they have to put up with' the alleged drug issues in the area.

In response to Cllr Power’s motion, KCC said: "The location and the extent of the work required would have to be inspected before this work could be committed to; any works required will have to be considered in the context of the existing works programme in the area."

Simon Wallace, KCC’s Acting Senior Parks and Landscape Officer, also reassured councillors: "A clean-up will happen in the next couple of weeks."