Lack of Gowran Hub parking an ‘accident waiting to happen’

Safe parking for families visiting the new outdoor Community Hub in Gowran needs to be a priority for Kilkenny County Council, says the local councillor.

Cllr Denis Hynes has been involved with the community group which has fundraised and overseen the development. Work is coming to close to being complete, however, Cllr Hynes says the condition of the road outside the facility is “an accident waiting to happen.”

With the opening of the hub just weeks away Cllr Hynes took the opportunity to ask Kilkenny County Council to fund parking facilities adjacent to the development.

He explained, at the recent meeting of Castlecomer municipal district councillors, that the developer of the hub had widened the road by a metre and run a footpath to the playground.

Acknowledging the council’s “huge investment” in the development, Cllr Hynes asked if there was “anything that can be done” to complete this last part of the area.
With no designated parking area outside the hub “I fear it is an accident waiting to happen,” Cllr Hynes said.

Supporting the call, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick asked the council to look and see if there was anything that could be done to “help out.” He said it’s important to see good facilities there.

With no promise of funding being made a frustrated Cllr Hynes remonstrated with council officials: “Surely to god there is something amiss here if we can’t come up with €15,000 or €20,000?”
Describing the Community Hub in Gowran as “one of the finest community parks” Cllr Hynes said the new park is “fantastic, an example for us all, but it’s not safe outside.
“This is deadly dangerous.”

Asking if all the district’s discretionary roads budget was allocated for the coming year, Cllr Hynes said he could not accept this.
The community has raised money for the playground but if there is no money for the car park he is prepared to go back to the community and “get into debt.”
Director of Services, Martin Prendiville, said he could not give Cllr Hynes an answer at the meeting, but he would “have a look at it.”