Concerns over third lane planned for Kilmacanagoue
COUNCILLOR Joe Behan brought up reservations a resident of Kilmacanogue had shared with him regarding concerns they had over the creation of a third lane.
The project aims to improve road safety, particularly by the Circle K (formerly Topaz) petrol station in Kilmacanogue.
‘I am wondering what the status is with the third lane on the N11 in the vicinity of Kilmacanagoue, the exit lane if you like to serve the garage,’ asked Cllr Behan at Monday’s county council meeting.
‘It is not referred to in the Manager’s Report and I would have thought the works would have started by now. I was contacted by a resident who is concerned with what he saw in the E Tender documents. He says changes have been made to the design and says it will result in extreme danger for the five or six houses situated before you get to the garage.’
Council Chief Executive Frank Curran responded that one tender applied for the scheme and Transport Infrastructure Ireland is ready to make an appointment. He added that a meeting was taking place on Friday with the resident in question.
An official from the Roads Department confirmed that a meeting had been arranged with the resident.
He said: ‘It is largely the same scheme. We sat down with each landowner so we could come to specific agreements. We will sit down with them and sort it out. We had already hoped to be on the site by now but we would be hopeful of final sanction from the TII over the next week.’ THE last contact the Department of Justice had with Wicklow County Council over Direct Provision was last year regarding the Grand Hotel in Wicklow town.
During discussions over the Manager’s Report at Monday’s monthly meeting of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Pat Kennedy questioned whether the Department had recently been in touch with the Local Authority.
‘We know the Department of Justice gets in touch when bringing in a centre for direct provision. If so, when was the last time the Department of Justice contacted the council?’ asked Cllr Kennedy.
Council Chief Executive, Frank Curran responded that the last contact with the Department was in Wicklow town over the Grand Hotel.
Mr Curran also praised Wicklow Welcomes, a community group set up to provide a warm welcome and support to the asylum seekers being housed in the Grand, for their success in winning an ward at Friday night’s Chamber of Commerce Awards.
‘Has anyone from the Department been onto the council recently looking for anywhere?’ further inquired Cllr Kennedy.
In reply, Mr Curran said Wicklow County Council hadn’t received anything.
Cllr Grace McManus requested information over the role Wicklow County Council plays in supporting asylum seekers.
‘We have two centres in this county. I would be here all day If I was to start talking about my feelings over Direct Provision. However, I was wondering what role do we have in supporting asylum seekers, in welcoming them and making sure they have access to the services they need and deserve?’ she asked.
Mr Curran said that Wicklow Welcomes works closely with asylum seekers in Wicklow town, but that they are generally the responsibility of the Department of Justice.