Relocation of collection banks sought for this Kildare village

A local councillor has urged Kildare County Council (KCC) to relocate a number of collection banks in one Kildare village.

Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Duffy made the request via a motion at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which took place on Wednesday, November 19 last.

While in attendance at this meeting, Cllr Duffy motioned for KCC to "explore options to relocate the collection banks located at the side of Super Valu, Cowpasture, Monasterevin".

According to Cllr Duffy, the area is currently affected by the presence of "ongoing car parking on the footpath", which in turn is "causing accessibility issues to a more suitable location, including potentially the council’s yard in Skirteen".

His motion was seconded by Sinn Féin Cllr Noel Connolly. 

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Responding to Cllr Duffy's motion, KCC said via the report it presented at the meeting: "The current location at Cowpasture in Monasterevin is central and easily accessible by residents of the town.

"Any illegal parking related issues at the site could be addressed by An Garda Síochána or the traffic warden."

KCC also told Cllr Duffy that its yard in Skirteen is not considered a suitable location due to "its distance from Monasterevin Town Centre" and "its hidden nature from the public road".

However, KCC asserted to Cllr Duffy that it is willing to explore alternative, or indeed additional, viable sites in the town.

Moreover, KCC listed the most common reasons for constraints on relocating sites — these include: the lack of access for service vehicles; the absence of overhead cables; setback from residential properties (50 metres); the lack of safe access for the public, including adequate sightlines, lighting etc; and landowners’ agreements.

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Replying to the contents of the report, Cllr Duffy told KCC that he was "happy" to take the response.

However, he stressed to KCC: "There has to be flexibility when it comes to finding a suitable location."

Cllr Duffy also told KCC: "Nobody walks [to the collection banks] in order to drop off their bottles; everybody drives." 

Following Cllr Duffy's comments, Social Democrats Cllr Pat Balfe, who attended the meeting by virtual means, told KCC that he supported the motion.

He also claimed that there an issue with littering at the collection banks whenever they become full.

In addition, Cllr Balfe suggested to KCC that collection times at the banks could be increased.

Fine Gael Cllr Kevin Duffy. Photograph credit: kildarecoco.ie

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Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.