Naas residents express strong opposition to Route 2 for Naas Inner Relief Road at meeting last night Pics by Ben Kelly

Naas residents are expressing outrage at proposals to construct 12ft walls next to their homes due to the construction of the controversial Inner Relief Road.

Last night, hundreds of residents, who are part of the Combined Estates Group, attended a meeting, chaired by Cormac Ahern.

Opening the meeting, representing the group opposed to Route 2, Christina O'Sullivan says that the proposals are 'unacceptable.'

Route 2 runs close to hundreds of homes as it cuts from the Dublin Road to the Blessington Road along the edge of the grounds of Naas Racecourse.

Population areas to be affected by the Route include: Mountain View, Sunday's Well, The Paddocks, Elmwood, Woodlands, Kingsfurze, Kings Court, The Gallops and Racecourse Gate, as well as areas of Monread and Tipper Road.

Residents' pokesperson Ms O'Sullivan slammed Kildare County Council for sending out glossy leaflets over the weekend promoting Route 2, which she claimed will make the residents 'prisoners in their own homes'.

€4.6million in funding has been allocated for the Naas Inner Relief Road. The funding is being provided by the Department of Housing. Planning for housing has been given the go ahead in this area but is dependent on the road going ahead.

Ms O'Sullivan said: "Why is Kildare County Council not fighting for funding a proper road?"

Ms O'Sullivan also claimed that the walls as high as 12 ft will remove the green areas where she lives at Racecourse Gate.

She said: "We did not realise this until the residents of Sundays Well marked out how many green areas will be lost."

There are serious concerns from residents about pollution and questions were raised from the public about whether an environmental impact assessment has been carried out.

Ms O'Sullivan said: "We will be prisoners in our own homes, how will we get out of our estates?"

Resident of Sunday's Well, Gerry Costello, fears that if Route 2 goes ahead, the residents will suffer doubling of noise and air pollution within the first year. Trees and green areas will be replaced by 12 ft walls and noise barriers, he claimed.

Kevin Green, of Dún na Rí, says that the plan for Route 2 is 27 years too late, and that residents are being asked to accept 10,000 or more vehicles per day.

A vote by the nine Naas Councillors is due to take place on April 16, but no guarantees have been given that it will not be pushed out until after the Local Area Election.

Cllr Carmel Kelly, who attended last night's meeting said: "I will be there on the day of the vote, I will be voting against Route 2. It will not solve or relieve any traffic in Naas."

Cllr Séamie Moore, told the meeting that he has lodged an objection to Route 2.

He said:"I am not being influenced by pressure, the road is in the wrong place at this time. I am advocating an outer ring road."

Cllr Darren Scully said that he will be voting against Route 2 and that a outer route in the town is needed.

Cllr Anne Breen said: "I have not changed my mind, I will be voting against this."

TD Catherine Murphy, who attended the meeting. while not being able to vote, says that an outer route is needed. She encouraged people to make submissions.

Cllr Rob Power says that he will be voting for Route 2 along with Cllr Fintan Brett, who while not in attendance, provided a letter showing his support for Route 2.

TD Bernard Durkan says that he has doubts about Route 2. Also TD James Lawless expressed doubts  about Route 2.

He said that a road should be looked at that will not 'affect and offend people in a residential area.'

Local Election Candidate Brian Larkin says that if elected, he will be opposing Route 2.

Election candidate, Vincent P. Martin opposed Route 2, along with another election candidate, Fergus Carpenter.