Ragged approach road needs attention
KILKENNY COUNCIL CALLED ON TO BEGIN INVESTING IN WATERFORD ROAD
The approach road in to New Ross on the Waterford side is in need of major work.
This was the view of several councillors who called on Kilkenny County Council to allocate funding to improve the look of the roadside and to maintain the area.
Director of Services for Planning with Kilkenny County Council Sean McKeown said contractors have been appointed to cut all the verges along the road. Mr McKeown said one concern the council is the maintenance of the road and what will happen it after the New Ross ring road opens.
New Ross Municipal Senior Executive Engineer Abraham Dunne said 300 metres of hedging was cut back by New Ross outdoor staff this year from Stafford’s to Adamstown tyre garage.
250m of paths were repaired and the footpath as far as the Waterford Road Business Park is being swept twice a week, along with footpaths in to New Ross. ‘ Three years ago footpath improvement works were carried out at the Albatros junction and 100 metres of the N25 was resurfaced at the Railway Bridge. We have completed our flood defence scheme and we now have anew stone granite wall making for a pleasing vista as you drive in and it will prevent flooding of the N25, which flooded every two years on average.’
Mr Dunne said council staff have worked with New Ross Tidy Towns to enhance an area between the Moorings apartment block and the railway. ‘ Trees were grown and plants and flowers are watered and maintained.’
District director Eamonn Hore said tidy towns judges deduct marks every year because of the condition of the approach road into New Ross. ‘ They judge out as far as the derelict service station. We need to sit down with the area engineers and come up with a plan sooner rather than later to improve that stretch.’
Cllr Fidelis Doherty complimented Mr Dunne and everyone involved in the flood defence scheme, describing the stone finish as ‘really high class’ and ‘quality’. Cllr Doherty said she has made representations about improving the look of the approach in to New Ross. ‘Hopefully funding will be allocated under the road works scheme this year.’
Cllr Melissa O’Neill said approach roads in to towns are very important as they are the first impression visitors get of an area and its people. ‘Budget wise it’s very hard as €700,000 goes into Kilkenny City. There is no budget for the incoming roads. We only got €30,000 last year for Ferrybank. We will certainly be looking for more this year.’
Cllr Michael Sheehan said the stretch from the Pink Rock junction to the service station is very run down and tired looking. ‘It’s unkempt from the junction to the old car sales place, next to the old garage and then after the house you have a burned down house and then palisade fencing. If we are serious about this area we need to have a plan. We have a plan for Marshmeadows which will be the other entrance road in to New Ross. When a particular approach road looks run down it sets a bad atmosphere. By the time you get to the town you have a feeling that it’s a tired, run down area.’
Cllr Willie Fitzharris said the section of road is letting New Ross down. ‘Some serious works need to be done, including to signage, which looks very tired. If the two engineers and Eamonn have a meeting together I’m sure that even on a small budget improvements can be made.’
Cllr Ger Frisby said: ‘We can see the benefit of a forum like this. Hopefully both councils can look at different streams of funding as this is on the greenway route and it’s tired looking. I am someone who drives this road the whole time and you get used to it, but for people driving it for the first time it doesn’t look good.’
He said similar issues were raised at a joint meeting with Waterford City Council and progress arose from that situation.
Cllr Sheehan made a formal proposal for funding to be put in place by Kilkenny County Council for the reinstatement of the entrance road into New Ross, which was seconded by Cllr Doherty.
Cllr O’Neill asked if anyone had contacted the owners of the properties along the road and district manager Sinead Casey said contact has been made but it takes time.