FAO: Senior Executive Officer,
Planning Department,
Kildare County Council
RE: Submission on Draft Kildare County Development Plan 2023-2029.
Dear Senior Executive Officer:
As a resident in this county who votes in this constituency, I wish to make a submission on the above county development plan.
We strongly object to TM O38 - road connection between Naas Town Centre, Sallins Railway Station and the Northwest Quadrant. If introduced this will merely move thousands of vehicles through Finlay Park which currently is a quiet residential estate.
Building an additional road through Finlay Park and the environs of the canal with its associated habitats is inconsistent with government policies (environmental, climate change, active modes of transport). This would also inevitably become a ‘rat run’ for motorists seeking to avoid Naas Town Centre. The proposed creation of a new road would lead to a dramatic rise in vehicular trips through Finlay Park, which is currently a private residential estate.
This would merely move traffic congestion to Finlay Park leading to inevitable traffic ‘bottle necks’ at peak times. This proposal is unacceptable and will lead to increases in NOX and PM10s which have detrimental health issues. In addition, this will result in increased noise from traffic passing through the housing estate. Furthermore, the risk of traffic accidents and collisions would thereby be increased significantly.
The resultant increased volumes of traffic would also off course present difficulties for Finlay Park residents entering and exiting the estate, which is currently a quiet residential estate.
Investment in a greenway and safe cycle lanes for school children to travel to and from Finlay Park and the Northwest Quadrant would be welcome instead.
We also strongly object to TM O39 - Bus priority route link to Sallins Bypass through the Northwest Quadrant. This should be removed and replaced with the development of bus routes outside residential areas and using an outer orbital route.
We agree with HO P28 proposed restrictions relevant to the Canals’ designation as Proposed Natural Heritage Areas (pNHAs). Section 3.17 FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT- we agree with the requirement for site specific flood risk assessments to be carried out and particularly before any further development at Finlay Park/Northwest Quadrant.
In relation to this issue, please note that Finlay Park is surrounded by farmland, wetlands and woodlands. Building an additional road in the vicinity of the Grand Canal and Millennium Road would destroy habitats containing a wide diversity of wildlife including water birds and ducks. Habitats containing egrets, herons, buzzards, sky larks, pheasants and many native mammals are also to be found on lands in the environs of Finlay Park.
For your attention and consideration, please.
Yours Sincerely.