'Insufficient width' to extend footpath on this Kildare road

Kildare County Council has ruled out extending a footpath on Rathcoffey Road, Maynooth, due to there being “insufficient width” on the carriageway at the location.

A report was issued by the council to Cllr Donna Phelan (FF) at last Friday's (6 June) monthly Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting.

Cllr Phelan had motioned: “That the council explores extending the footpath past the metal barriers at the traffic lights on the Rathcoffey Road, as there are houses on that side of the road that have no footpath to walk on once people leave their houses.”

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Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Phelan explained the reason for putting forward her motion: “The residents on that road actually approached me (on the issue), because when they come out of their houses they're on the patch where there's grass, so in order for them to cross the road they have to go out onto the road and around the safety barrier to cross.

“They had asked would it be possible to get that footpath connected and try and bring it down a bit further, or amend the safety barrier.”

According to Cllr Phelan, there is also a problem with vehicles speeding on Rathcoffey Road, making crossing the road particularly treacherous without a footpath.

The council pointed out that there is a speed ramp at the top of Rathcoffey Road, with signage also in place, attributing a substantial part of the problem to driver behaviour.

Cllr Phelan added: “I also highlighted that there's a massive piece of land up there for sale (near the location), it's strategic zoning so if there is housing that's going to go in there in the future that whole road needs to be looked at.

“The council should really be making forward plans for all these changes and this extra footfall and the amount of cars that will come into the town in a couple of years.”

Cllr Phelan said she is “disappointed” with the council's response.

She said: “I'm a bit disappointed I suppose. Every time, again I'm only new but I would have thought they'd (the council) be much more proactive in doing things, and from what I've seen that hasn't really happened at all.

“Maybe they're not able to do as much as people think they're able to do, and I've seen with my motions over the last couple of months that you're hit with there's no funding, and that's what needs to be questioned, is why do they not have the funding that they need?”

In terms of the council's response, Cllr Phelan pointed to the size of Maynooth and the fact it is a growing town, and expressed her disappointment at the restrictions in having projects carried out by the council.

Cllr Phelan said she will now raise the issue of Rathcoffey Road with Kildare North TD Naoise Ó Cearúil (FF) to gain his advice on the matter.

Kildare County Council's report on Cllr Phelan's motion stated: “There is not sufficient width available to extend the footpath past the metal barrier to link up with the footpath further along the road.

“There are existing pedestrian traffic signals at each location where the footpath ends which allow people to cross the road to the footpath on the opposite side.”