April date on horizon for Kilbeggan

The first week of April should see Kilbeggan’s enhancement works largely complete, members of the Mullingar Municipal District were informed at their February monthly meeting by council engineer, Paul McCool.

“That’s the plan,” stated Mr McCool, after outlining what stage the various elements of the enhancement are at.

“The water mains, the draining and the ducting are completed; the base course on the road is 75 per cent complete; the kerbing is 75 per cent complete; the footpath paving is 70 per cent complete,” Mr McCool stated, adding that he anticipates that the kerbing and paving work will be finished by the end of the first week in March.

Work on the removal of overhead electricity wiring is 50 per cent done, as are the works on the public lighting, he continued.

Signage, road reinstatement and street furniture are also on the list of tasks to be completed.

A welcome for the news came from Cllr Liam McDaniel, who said it will be a great benefit to the town when it is finished.

However, he said, there are some concerns among the local traders. “Some of our traders are a little bit concerned by the ongoing work and the effect it is having on business,” he said.

Cllr Johnnie Penrose said the men working on the enhancement project deserve to be complimented on the work they have done. “It will be worth it in the long run,” he said.

Later in the meeting, Cllr McDaniel had a motion on the agenda calling on the MMD to develop plans for the creation of off-street parking in Kilbeggan. He pointed out that business people and their employees need to park, as do customers, and there is a need for set-down areas for deliveries.

“It’s going to be difficult if a lot of car parking spaces are not available,” he stated, asking that the MMD look at providing off-street parking.

The official response was that following the completion of the street enhancement works, the MMD will review day to day parking activity and consider proposing parking bye-laws.

At the same meeting, Cllr Penrose asked that the public lighting be extended out from Kilbeggan as far as Coola, on the Mullingar Road as, he said there are a number of houses there, and this would improve public safety.

The official written response from the MMD stated that while the addition of lights there might be advantageous, there was a need to consider the wider issue of the condition and maintenance of the overall public lighting network before additions such as this were considered.

“In this regard, the council is working with other local authorities and the Road Management Office to progress the replacement of all traditional lights with LED lanterns as soon as practicable,” the response concluded.

Pressed on the issue by Cllr Penrose, the MMD has, however, agreed to re-examine the question, although director of services Martin Murray warned that it may still not be possible to do as requested.

Cllr Penrose also asked that in the Estimates, the MMD provide for installation of a section of footpath adjacent to the Clara junction in Kilbeggan. The response was that the work could be considered as part of the Estimates.

Support came from Cllr McDaniel, who said it would complement works already done in that area.

A further Kilbeggan issue aired at the meeting related to the provision of bins in the Brosna area of the town.

It was Cllr Sorca Clarke who raised the issue, suggesting that the MMD consult with residents regarding the potential to install recycling bins there.

However, Cllr Clarke was disappointed by the MMD response – which stated that the town is currently served by a bring bank located at the filling station on the Dublin Road.

“Capacity has not been an issue at this location, or in its previous location at St James’s Hall,” the response stated.

Continuing, it stated that the Environment Section, in conjunction with Mullingar Municipal District, will consider the potential for an additional/alternative facility in the town of Kilbeggan and to this end, would be available for consultations with the residents in the Brosna Park, Brosna View and Relic Road areas.