Monday, September 23, 2013

Council turns down buggy-friendly gate again

Looks like there's not going to be a buggy-friendly gate at Thompson's Cross any time soon, writes Brian Byrne.

When the idea was first proposed by a local resident, Kildare County Council told Cllr Ivan Keatley that they didn't have the funds available to make it happen.

But the Councillor persisted, and the issue was up again for decision at the Athy Area Meeting today.

However, the Road Department's report to the meeting said it wouldn't recommend making the change, as the existing pedestrian gate opens onto a 'gravel path' and subsequently the hard shoulder of the busy Kilcullen-Athy Road.

Apart from the fact that it's not so much a gravel path as the less than perfect surface of the former N9 main road, what's the difference between allowing pedestrians through and pedestrians with children's buggies and bicycles? At the very least, making it easier for those latter to access the old road means they have less distance of busy hard shoulder to walk or cycle on.

Is there some kind of logic disconnect here that the Diary isn't aware of? Maybe there's an alternate dimension involved to which only Council officials are privy?

C'mon, let's try and think this out again.