Pressure ramps up as politicians disagree about whether to take a ramp away from a Kildare village
'People can't sleep at night'
A move to have a road ramp removed by a councillor ran aground at a Naas Municipal District meeting after other politicians criticised the move.
Cllr Anne Breen asked for the road ramp adjacent to the Johnstown Cottages, Johnstown, at the T junction in the village to be modified. She said some people can’t sleep at night because of this.
She said this would “reduce the excessive noise emanating from heavy goods vehicles crossing over the ramp.”
The councillor claimed that this “is causing an environmental issue affecting the quality of life for neighbouring residents.”
However, Kildare County Council pointed out the ramp was provided to manage traffic speed and benefit the community.
It added it will be reviewed but “reducing or removing the ramp may lead to increased speeding of vehicles.”
But Cllr Bill Clear said he did not understand why this would be done or why anyone would oppose speed bumps adding “I think it’s madness to want to do this.”
He said everyone knows why they can produce noise.
Naas Mayor Fintan Brett said he lives very close to the ramp and he described it as “absolutely essential on a busy road.”