Minutes - Kildare County Council Meeting - 24 ... - Kildare.ie

Kildare County Council
Councillor O’Donnell indicated that this was a strategic site for development and that
pedestrian movement should take priority and he sought clarity on what is proposed. Ms
Sweeney outlined to the members that it was proposed to include the following: The design
of these streets shall ensure that vehicular movement function is moderated and that a high
quality pedestrian movement function is achieved. Furthermore, the Kildare Traffic
Management Plan should be reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis.
Resolved on the proposal of Councillor O’Donnell, seconded by Councillor S. Doyle, with all
members voting in favour, to accept the Manager’s recommendation and agree the motion.
Motion No 8
Councillor O’Donnell on behalf of Kildare Area Committee:
That submission number 22 – having regard to the strategic significance of this site as a key
landmark location, that the SWEA include specific reference to independent vehicular access
to this site indicating same on accompanying relevant maps.
Manager’s Response
Strategic access points to the SWEA are provided for under the design brief for this area and
illustrated on Map Ref 8.2 Transport and Infrastructure objectives. Access points other than
strategic points as identified in the LAP may be considered separately and are not provided
for in the LAP.
The Transportation Department strongly disagrees with this proposal. The provision of
individual access points onto public roads is considered as part of the planning process for
individual developments. The inclusion of a specific objective that an access be provided to
any site would seriously undermine the planning process, and would remove the discretion
of the Planning Authority, and of the Roads Authority, to determine the appropriate means of
access to that site. Access to the subject site is of particular sensitivity in this respect, given
it’s location adjacent to the strategic access route to Kildare Town from the motorway
network, and it’s proximity to an important junction on that route. Consideration must be
given to the potential for an access point at this location, either by itself or by the precedent it
would set, to have a very real and detrimental impact on the Nurney Road itself, or on the
M7 Interchange to which it links, potentially causing serious difficulties in accessing the town.
Assessment of the likely impact of any access point is best carried out through the planning
process, and in the context of the scale and type of development proposed on the site.
Manager’s Recommendation
No change.
Councillor Doyle outlined the concerns of the Kildare Area Committee in relation to this site
and the importance of it being developed appropriately. Ms Sweeny outlined to the
members that strategic access points to the SWEA are provided for under the design brief
for this area and illustrated on Map Ref 8.2 Transport and Infrastructure objectives. Mr
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Minutes of meeting of Kildare County Council 24 September 2012