The feasibility study on the Liffey Bridge in Celbridge is now complete. It has been published and available to read in detail on the Kildare Co Co website www.kildarecountycouncil.ie

I have discussed in detail the findings of this report with an in-studio interview on KFM. There are seven options in total. Five of them deal with the long term solution which is the different locations for a new bridge and one option details an immediate solution. I have made submission to this report and engaged with the consultants together with Kildare County Council in delivering an immediate solution.

Long Term Solution: Five locations are identified for a new bridge with the preferred option been a bridge at the St. Raphael’s Clane Road car park taking the traffic away from the town. Any new bridge option will take some time to consider and deliver due to all the different detailed studies and designs that are required and not to mention the funding. However we must not wait for a new bridge to reduce the traffic delays as we can implement improvements now as I have set out below.

Immediate Solution: I have done a detailed submission in this regard with the Tidy Towns to reduce traffic delays at peak times in Celbridge at the bridge and associated junctions. I have met with the C.E.O and Director of Services on this proposal which will have a positive consequence. The Council will be progressing this option. I hope by the end of August 2015 traffic will be restricted from turning right after you cross the bridge heading for Dublin which will reduce the tail-backs. This option is also covered in the RPS report. I believe this is worth trialling. If this has a positive effect I have discussed with the council that they do a design and go to public consultation on removing the current footpath of the bridge and putting a new walk and cycle path on the Mill side of the existing bridge. This can be free standing or supported of the bridge. This will then give full safety to the vulnerable road user. This immediate solution will improve the current problems and delays. I hope that real improvements are now on the way and they are deliverable. I will keep this issue as one of my main priorities for Celbridge.

I have been in contact with senior management in Dublin Bus this week to put extra services on the Celbridge Bus Route to and from Dublin, Route 67X, following a meeting with a number of Bus commuters in recent days.

Over the last few days, a number of Dublin Bus commuters have made contact with me to put pressure on Dublin Bus to have extra Bus Services in the morning from Celbridge around 8.15am and returning from Dublin around 6.15pm.

As plans continue to restrict vehicular traffic entering Dublin City, we must continue to improve the level of services that are available on Public Transport routes. Last week, I met with Irish Rail to campaign for improvements to the rail timetable on Hazelhatch Routes. Following on from this representation, commuters have made contact with me in relation to the 67X  Bus Service.

There is a gap in the morning bus service and the evening return service to Celbridge. We must fill theses gaps to ensure they have a regular and reliable bus service. Countries that have a successful public transport model have public transport services that are regular, so that people do not have to wait long for a Bus or Train, and reliable so that people can rely on Timetable information supplied either using Apps or Real Time Information on Information Boards.

The 67X route is used by my own family  and it provides an important service for Celbridge. By removing the gaps in service, we will encourage more people to use this Bus Service.

North Kildare Councillor Frank O Rourke met with Senior Management of Irish Rail again this week to press for additional services for the Hazelhatch Rail commuters.

‘In recent months, I have put pressure on Irish Rail to improve the level of service for Hazelhatch rail commuters. In particular we need additional services leaving Dublin to service Hazelhatch between the time of 5.20pm and 5.55pm in the evening. This is a critical time for many Celbridge commuters who leave work in Dublin around 5.00pm. There is no excuse for such a gap to be left in the timetable, between the times of 5.20pm and 5.55pm.’

‘Since getting elected to the Council, I have made continuous representations to have the rail service improved. We have made progress. This week, I again left the Senior Management of Irish Rail in no doubt about the necessity to fill this gap in service in the evenings. I am confident that the management will resolve the issue and that the 2016 timetable will be more suitable for the Hazelhatch rail commuters.’

‘We need to continue to grow the numbers using the rail service. We will only do this by having a regular and reliable service. We also need a timetable that suit the many users of the service in the evening between 5pm and 6.00pm’

As a member of the CBA committee I was delighted to have been involved in launching this Shop Local Campaign. The poster slogans and designs were organised by chairperson Pat Byrne. It is very important that local business is supported at every opportunity to make sure the local economy thrives and jobs are maintained.

Local businesses give a great service and supply a great choice of products, not to mention the friendly and welcoming atmosphere. All the businesses are displaying the “Shop Local” posters in an effort to remind us all to shop local as regular as possible.

The local businesses support all the community groups as much as they can so we all need to “Keep it Local”. There is a fantastic response from the public to this campaign.

The pay parking review for Celbridge and Leixlip is underway. The drawings and maps for both towns are on display in the local libraries and in the Council offices in Naas. I am encouraging everyone to make a submission on any area of concern they have or a change they may like to have considered. I am happy to meet with anyone or group to discuss any query or concern they have.

Submissions must be sent in by July 1st. I brought forward major changes four years ago, when I got enforcement reduced from 60 hours per week to 30 hours per week for Celbridge and Leixlip. This had been the wishes of the businesses and public in both towns and I was committed to delivering it. This has worked well among other small changes that has taken place. We need to have the signs changed now and have other minor changes implemented in both towns.

This is a great opportunity to fine tune a pay parking policy that is now reflective of the people that use it. Please contact me on any pay parking issue as it maybe four years before their is another review.