KCC Called On To Sell Naas Landbank To Fund Municipal Sports Grounds.

The lands are to the north of the Harbour.

There are calls for the use 8 acres of land in Naas, idle for the last 17 years, to fund a municipal sporting grounds.

The site, the former wastewater treatment works site to the north of the Harbour Area, is currently zoned residential.

It is currently proposed as Strategic Reserve in the draft Naas Local Area Plan

Independent Cllr., Seamie Moore, speaking to Kildare Today, says the land should be sold, and the monies used to create a space for use for  clubs, teams and events.

Kildare County Council, in it response to Cllr. Moore at the May meeting of the Naas Muncipal District, says "The land bank in question is the former wastewater treatment works site to the north of the Harbour Area. This land is currently proposed as Strategic Reserve in the draft Naas Local Area Plan recently placed on public display, with the eastern boundary along the stream identified as part of a proposed Linear Park – Open Space and Amenity Zoning. Access to this land for development purposes is from the canal area to the east of the site and is currently limited. Access for development may be provided as the zoned lands to the south are developed. The site is also located along the route of the future Bus Only Route as identified in the Naas & Sallins Transport Strategy (which is contained as an objective of the Draft LAP) with a view to providing a quick service from Sallins Railway Station into the Harbour at Naas.

A masterplan for the area is proposed once the OPW’s revised flood risk assessment for the area is complete. A portion of the lands are subject to flood risk and identified in the OPW’s CFRAMs maps.The remaining development land may be considered for social housing, particularly in light of the diminishing land bank of lands in the Council’s ownership. The preservation and implementation of the bus only route and the ability to engage with other landowners with an interest in supporting the route is critical. It would be premature to sell these lands in advance of the Masterplan as the site is critical to the sustainable expansion of Naas to the North West Quadrant/Millenium Park and making a coherent and legible link to the new Junction 9A on the M7/Millenium Park. It is intended that that masterplan for this area will identify significant land for active open space and sporting grounds. It should also be noted that the Draft Local Area Plan has identified and zoned other lands for Municipal Sports Grounds for Clubs and events – notably at Jigginstown, the Naas Racecourse and at Kerdiffstown and the Council is pursuing the delivery of these."

Cllr. Moore joined Clem Ryan on Wednesday's edition of the programme, to discuss this and his other motions.