KCC "Didn't Address My Motion At All" About Proposed Kilcullen Skate Park, Says Cllr

She also had proposed a greenway for the area

A local Councillor has expressed disappointment after Kildare County Council's response to her motion about a new proposed skate park and greenway for Kilcullen.

At a meeting earlier this month, Fine Gael Councillor for Kildare/Newbridge MD Tracey O' Dwyer had asked KCC to develop and an urban design framework for the park and a greenway.

She had proposed it for the council-owned land to the rear of Kilcullen GAA and Kilcullen Business Park.

In response, the Council said that, under the Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029, Variation No.1 Kilcullen Settlement Plan,  the lands "aren't under consideration" for recreational and amenity development as lands are zoned Industry and Warehousing Vehicular access to this area of land is solely through Kilcullen Business Campus.

It added that due to this, there are no public pathway links and the lands back onto private housing and the Kilcullen GAA complex.

KCC concluded in saying that the urban design framework for a skate park and greenway "would not be considered a feasible project at this time".

Speaking on Kildare Today, Cllr O' Dwyer said the Council "did not address my motion at all":

"The response I received from the Council did not address my motion at all actually. I believe there is potential to create a pedestrian and cycle greenway as identified in the Kilcullen Settlement Plan, as well as a skate park, which funding has already been secured for," she added.

"At every public consultation in Kilcullen the young people have said that this is what they want. Not everybody is into soccer or GAA, the mainstream sports I suppose."

Cllr O' Dwyer warned that anti-social behaviour there could be a future concern if a use is not made for the lands:

"I believe there's a chance for the Council to deliver something truly special to Kilcullen if the Parks and Planning Department work together, only recently we had to remove a den from this location, if a piece of land doesn't have a specific use, it becomes attractive for other uses, potentially anti-social behaviour.

"There is a vision here, but it would require an overall plan," she stressed.

She described the need for sustainable infrastructure there as "essential", given that future housing is set to built in that area of Kilcullen in the coming years.

On a more positive note, Cllr O' Dwyer concluded by saying that she had agreed to take the motion "offline" and discuss it with the relevant Council departments, emphasising the importance of addressing the plans "collectively", rather than in isolation which can lead to "unexpected consequences".

The full interview can be heard below: