2020 Vision for Athy - Entire Document - Kildare.ie

Again, Section 6 below will analyse if the zoned land for employment purposes in the current development plan
can be considered as adequate to meet the need of the target population.
Flood Plains
Along the river Barrow environmentally sensitive areas, prone to flooding, are not suitable for building upon.
These areas are the green space around Woodstock Castle to the north of the town centre; and the area south of the
disused railway bridge designated for the new bypass, notably the lands where the Barrow splits up to form
Ardreigh Island.
As much as the flood plains represent a physical development constraint they are one of the key amenity assets of
Athy and should be protected and consolidated as such.
Railway Line and Proposed Bypass
The railway line, as well as the proposed bypass, constitute substantial physical barriers to uninhibited movement
in the town. The access to residential and employment lands outside those lines are restricted to a few road links,
with limited pedestrian links to and from the town centre. Mitigation measures in relation to pedestrians and cycle
movements would be necessary in order to minimise the severance.
Inner Relief Street and Redevelopment Areas
The Athy Development Plan designates Redevelopment Areas in the town centre, mainly along the new Inner
Relief Street. Urban renewal policies are aimed at ensuring the redevelopment of specific sites and thus
contributing to the revitalisation of the backlands of Leinster and Duke Street and the town centre as a whole. The
Inner Relief Street will lead to the opening of those backlands, which will enlarge the pool of available
development lands in the town centre for retail and commercial use.
Availability of Land for High Density Employment
Because of the general land availability limitations in and around the town centre, owing to flood plains, railway
line and bypass, but also to the industrial areas of Minch Norton Malt Ltd. and Tegral Ltd. close to the town centre,
locations for medium to large scale high density employment are limited.
Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
Water supply and wastewater treatment provision in the town could potentially be a major constraint against
development. Whilst the provision of these services is beyond the scope of this Study it is important to recognise
the significance of these services in terms of future development and investment. The issues relating to these
services are outlined below.
Water Supply
Two regional water supply schemes, namely the Mid- Regional Water Supply Scheme and the North East Regional
Water Supply Scheme, supply the bulk of water to settlements in County Kildare.
Athy has its own water supply and distribution system. The Council-maintained public water supply scheme
currently delivers approximately 1.8 million litres of water every day. Most of the water comes from boreholes
and sources within the town.
It is hoped within the next few years to provide the South Regional Water Supply Scheme, which will be a further
extension of the Mid-Regional Scheme. This will meet the requirements of the rural areas as far south as a line
from Grangemellon to Moone, as well as providing water to Athy Urban District. As part of this plan the Town
Council in conjunction with Kildare County Council proposes to construct a new reservoir at Ardscull, which will
be supplied by the South Regional Water Supply Scheme. This reservoir will be connected to the town main via a
400mm main. In addition to the above the Town Council will also provide further water intake points from ground
sources.
Sewage Treatment
Two major regional sewerage schemes provide facilities in the most populated areas of County Kildare. These are
the Lower and Upper Liffey Valley Regional Sewerage Schemes. Athy has its own sewage treatment plant. Within
the Athy Development Plan it is proposed to provide new separate sewers to serve developments located at
Rathstewart, Woodstock, Ardrew and Chanterlands.
Athy IFPLUT Study 31 Final Report December 2004