Kildare Councillor Criticises Lack Of Updates As Newbridge Yard Deemed Unsuitable For Swimming Pool

It was revealed following a question at a recent Kildare-Newbridge MD meeting

Kildare County Council have said that the provision of a swimming pool at the former Machinery Yard in Newbridge is not feasible.

Social Democrats Councillor for Kildare-Newbridge MD Chris Pender had asked if the site is included in, or being considered as part of, any funding application already submitted or being progressed for the Newbridge Central Settlement Consolidation Site.

KCC stated that, as noted in the Newbridge Settlement Plan, "consideration should be given to the lands to the east (immediately adjacent to the road)" of the Machinery Yard, if the land itself is deemed as not being feasible.

It added that a swimming pool for the Kildare-Newbridge District "is not currently listed in the Capital Programme", as well as no funding being available to progress a study on a pool in this district.

Cllr Pender criticised the fact that councillors hadn't heard the news of the update of the Machinery Yard not being feasible until a recent MD meeting, while also emphasising the need for regular updates in relation to such issues.

Speaking on Kildare Today, Cllr Pender said that the lack of updates is a big "bugbear" of his:

"Basically they [the council] decided that the Machinery Yard site was too small, based on a feasibility study that was done for a pool in north Kildare, this meeting and this question was the first time I have heard that.

"To be fair to council staff, they did say that information given to them was effectively hot off the press because they had only finished the feasibility piece from the Kildare north pool, but I would also question how long it would've taken for us to find out that it wasn't a suitable site.

"I'm not saying the council are trying to hide anything or aren't doing their jobs, but if we don't have those updates, it makes it tough for us to do our jobs, and represent the people of Newbridge the way they want us to represent them."

Cllr Pender added that councillors are often "the second-last people to know" of updates within the county, stating the importance of constant engagement to allow for them to be in the know.

KCC said, in conclusion, that The Land Activation Office is at remediation planning stage of the Machinery Yard and masterplan stage, both of which will be issued for tender before the end of the year, even though "both these projects remain unfunded at this point".

The full interview can be heard below: