Leixlip chat

buffalo

This thread may die a death, but sure may as well see where it goes.

I was delighted to see PP approved on the main street for "2 No. Shops and 1 No. Cafe" and some apartments above them. Except when I went to look at the application, it's now 11 apartments. Bizarre that an application can change so fundamentally and no revised notice be published or displayed.

I was looking forward to some new blood in the village whenever Covid ended, but guess I'll be waiting.

CBFi

buffalo wrote: »

This thread may die a death, but sure may as well see where it goes.

I was delighted to see PP approved on the main street for "2 No. Shops and 1 No. Cafe" and some apartments above them. Except when I went to look at the application, it's now 11 apartments. Bizarre that an application can change so fundamentally and no revised notice be published or displayed.

I was looking forward to some new blood in the village whenever Covid ended, but guess I'll be waiting.

Where on the main street would this be located? Great to see some plans, despite Covid. There's a few empty shops that it would be nice to see occupied.

buffalo

Across the road from Town, but a little nearer the junction with Captain's Hill.

terraced properties numbers 29, 31, 33, 37 and 39 Main Street including for reconstruction of existing fire damaged two-storey terraced property 33, 35 Main Street

http://www.eplanning.ie/KildareCC/AppFileRefDetails/191433/0

Seth Brundle

How many apartments were included in the original design and when was that application made?
The newspaper advert for the current application in December 2019 mentions 11 apartments.
http://idocsweb.kildarecoco.ie/iDocsWebDPSS/ViewFiles.aspx?docid=2340919&format=jpeg

buffalo

Seth Brundle wrote: »

How many apartments were included in the original design and when was that application made?
The newspaper advert for the current application in December 2019 mentions 11 apartments.
http://idocsweb.kildarecoco.ie/iDocsWebDPSS/ViewFiles.aspx?docid=2340919&format=jpeg

Originally 3 commercial units and 11 apartments, now just 11 apartments.

There seems to have been an FI site notice and notice in the Leinster Leader which I don't read, so I have to retract part of my earlier post. Still disappointed not to have a few new commercial units on the main street.

Seth Brundle

Yeah, I see that now.

See http://idocsweb.kildarecoco.ie/iDocsWebDPSS/ViewFiles.aspx?docid=2418052&format=jpeg

Naos

Motorway noise - any progress on resurfacing the M4 with the sound-reducing tarmac between Leixlip - Kilcock?

Seems to make a big difference when you hit it around Maynooth.

Davexirl

Naos wrote: »

Motorway noise - any progress on resurfacing the M4 with the sound-reducing tarmac between Leixlip - Kilcock?

Seems to make a big difference when you hit it around Maynooth.

I thought I read it was going to be resurfaced as far as Lucan.

knucklehead6

Are they not extending the stretch to 3 lanes each way? Out as far as Kilcock as far as i remember...

Seth Brundle

TII will be widening it to Maynooth. It is at Pre-Appraisal stage...
https://www.tii.ie/projects/road-schemes/#120

Discussed on boards here: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?p=109628732

Naos

Seth Brundle wrote: »

TII will be widening it to Maynooth. It is at Pre-Appraisal stage...
https://www.tii.ie/projects/road-schemes/#120

Discussed on boards here: https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?p=109628732

Is the third lane going to be a bus lane though?

Will a third lane mean more noise or will the noise-reducing asphalt make a big difference?

Seth Brundle

Naos wrote: »

Is the third lane going to be a bus lane though?

Hopefully!
However, knowing Irish road design, it is likely to facilitate cars.

Naos wrote: »

Will a third lane mean more noise or will the noise-reducing asphalt make a big difference?

You'd have to read the design specs to seek the asphalt type.
If the extra lane is for cars (as with the N4 from M50 to Leixlip is) then you can expect more cars on the "build it and they will come" basis.
Therefore, you can expect more noise and air pollution.

L1011

The intention is for three general traffic lanes both ways and a bus lane as a fourth lane inbound only. We'll see if that happens though.

Naos

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Hopefully!
However, knowing Irish road design, it is likely to facilitate cars.


You'd have to read the design specs to seek the asphalt type.
If the extra lane is for cars (as with the N4 from M50 to Leixlip is) then you can expect more cars on the "build it and they will come" basis.
Therefore, you can expect more noise and air pollution.

Thanks for the information, appreciate it alebit slightly disappointing, I thought the intention was to reduce road noise, not increase it.

jorry

Downtown Leixlip is a shambles, so derelict and grim IMHO. Compared to neighboring main streets of Maynooth and Celbridge which are inviting and you can walk around at ease. I reckon a one way traffic system between DaVinci's and Alvitos is required thereby closing a traffic lane in favour of foot traffic would breath new economic opportunities into the town.
My proposal, construction of a raised flyover bridge between the Rye river bridge (beside Aldi) merging with access road across Liffey to the water treatment works. Sketch attached. In reality this might be too costly but something radical should be done.

Seth Brundle

Should we knock the castle while we're at it?

CiaranW

Would be far too costly but the village definitely needs something.
The footpath is so tight that oncoming pedestrians make you realise how close the cars are.

jorry

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Should we knock the castle while we're at it?

Well not to digress and we can start a seperate thread to discus BWtF we're they thinking building it so close to the road and under a dam!

knucklehead6

jorry wrote: »

Well not to digress and we can start a seperate thread to discus BWtF we're they thinking building it so close to the road and under a dam!

Riiiiiiiight. Yes. They built the castle after the dam and road.

But I suppose you’re just being funny

jorry

knucklehead6 wrote: »

Riiiiiiiight. Yes. They built the castle after the dam and road.

But I suppose you’re just being funny

buffalo

jorry wrote: »

Downtown Leixlip is a shambles, so derelict and grim IMHO. Compared to neighboring main streets of Maynooth and Celbridge which are inviting and you can walk around at ease. I reckon a one way traffic system between DaVinci's and Alvitos is required thereby closing a traffic lane in favour of foot traffic would breath new economic opportunities into the town.
My proposal, construction of a raised flyover bridge between the Rye river bridge (beside Aldi) merging with access road across Liffey to the water treatment works. Sketch attached. In reality this might be too costly but something radical should be done.

I was thinking something similar while in the village yesterday, as a double decker bus flew past me while I was standing on the particularly narrow stretch of footpath between the Courtyard and Bernard Owens. The first and easiest thing to do to make the village more pleasant would be to introduce and enforce a 30km/h speed limit. I'd go from just before the Salmon Leap to the pedestrian lights at the church, and to the summit of Captain's Hill by Leixlip House.

No access restricted, no expensive new infrastructure to budget, no detours needed. Sure half the time you can't drive faster than that anyway. Slightly more pleasant village atmosphere, friendlier for families wanting to cycle down, and a little bit more discouragement for those driving through the village to use a different route.

buffalo

If we're talking dream infrastructure though, I was also thinking yesterday that access to Castletown via Leixlip Gate would be a great thing to restore for pedestrians and cyclists. At the moment, anyone who wants to get from Easton area has to go the ring road (ugh) and across the M4 flyover. That involves crossing the on-ramp in two parts, no signals and a lot of drivers already getting close to 100km/h, then crossing the off-ramp also in two parts. Then if you're cycling, when you get to Castletown entrance, they haven't even dished the kerb for access.

Instead, the council could restore the old road at the back of Leixlip Gate (yellow) a new ped bridge across the M4 (red). Assuming the road hasn't been subsumed into someone's property since the M4 was built, there'd be the cost of the bridge, and possibly CPO the entire field on the far side and re-forest it.

With the amount of people in estates on that side, now including Beechpark, Westfield and the new Leixlip Gate estate (if that's what it's to be called), there's plenty of demand.

L1011

There was a pedestrian bridge there from the construction of the M4 originally (~1993) until the new interchange was added (2003) which reduces the time that the land could have been sold/squatted on.

You can see it on the "1995" and "2000" (dates are not exact) aerial photography on geohive.ie

buffalo

L1011 wrote: »

There was a pedestrian bridge there from the construction of the M4 originally (~1993) until the new interchange was added (2003) which reduces the time that the land could have been sold/squatted on.

You can see it on the "1995" and "2000" (dates are not exact) aerial photography on geohive.ie

I see, thanks for the link. Looks like the bridge wasn't quite big enough to accommodate the slip roads going underneath it.

Rosahane

buffalo wrote: »

If we're talking dream infrastructure though, I was also thinking yesterday that access to Castletown via Leixlip Gate would be a great thing to restore for pedestrians and cyclists. At the moment, anyone who wants to get from Easton area has to go the ring road (ugh) and across the M4 flyover. That involves crossing the on-ramp in two parts, no signals and a lot of drivers already getting close to 100km/h, then crossing the off-ramp also in two parts. Then if you're cycling, when you get to Castletown entrance, they haven't even dished the kerb for access.

Instead, the council could restore the old road at the back of Leixlip Gate (yellow) a new ped bridge across the M4 (red). Assuming the road hasn't been subsumed into someone's property since the M4 was built, there'd be the cost of the bridge, and possibly CPO the entire field on the far side and re-forest it.

With the amount of people in estates on that side, now including Beechpark, Westfield and the new Leixlip Gate estate (if that's what it's to be called), there's plenty of demand.

It is not a public road from the Leixlip gate and has always been private property

buffalo

Rosahane wrote: »

It is not a public road from the Leixlip gate and has always been private property

Interesting. I don't know the history of this side of Leixlip at all, but from the land registry it looks like it's part of the same folio as that section of the M4, so perhaps it was CPO-ed at the time?

Rosahane

buffalo wrote: »

Interesting. I don't know the history of this side of Leixlip at all, but from the land registry it looks like it's part of the same folio as that section of the M4, so perhaps it was CPO-ed at the time?

That’s an interesting map - and a slightly strange one.

To explain:
Looking at the spike bit at the top of the CPO folio, it finishes short of the public part of the road which ends at those three adjacent new houses with the access road in yellow on your map. Also it includes only a wedge of the narrow strip of land that is alongside the private road to the Leixlip Gate Houses, which strip of land is immediately behind the bricked up gate lodge at the Leixlip Gate. That strip of land is only about ten metres wide in any case as you can see on the map.

Interestingly the CPO piece seems to include a piece on the other side of the motorway opposite the current Castletown entrance. I don’t think this if currently fenced off from the other land there.

You are probably aware that ABP have recently granted planning permission for a large scheme of houses in the first couple of fields in Kellystown and the drawings for that estate leave a possible access for further development to the south up to the motorway and the CPO folio piece.

The latest Leixlip development plan includes a new road from the motorway roundabout to the south and alongside the motorway to the Celbridge road at Barnhall which would meet the CPO piece.

I must check, but I don’t think the development plan has anything using the CPO piece but it would make sense to have a walk/ cycle route there.

FitzElla

Rosahane wrote: »

The latest Leixlip development plan includes a new road from the motorway roundabout to the south and alongside the motorway to the Celbridge road at Barnhall which would meet the CPO piece.

There is a new planning permission application for a 25,268 sqm warehouse facility on the old HP campus (now the Liffey Business Campus) which would cover the area where the proposed road from Barnhall roundabout to the M4 at Castletown would be. Not sure if the planning application made any reference to a new road, but it would make sense for trucks to access the site directly from the M4 rather than the barnhall roundabout. Be interesting to see what happens with it.

Rosahane

FitzElla wrote: »

There is a new planning permission application for a 25,268 sqm warehouse facility on the old HP campus (now the Liffey Business Campus) which would cover the area where the proposed road from Barnhall roundabout to the M4 at Castletown would be. Not sure if the planning application made any reference to a new road, but it would make sense for trucks to access the site directly from the M4 rather than the barnhall roundabout. Be interesting to see what happens with it.

I was the person that put in the proposal for that road in the first and second drafts of the development plan. My proposal was that it go along the Castletown / HP boundary to meet the roundabout at Barnhall Rugby Club.

They amended it to run along the motorway, utilising and upgrading the existing HP internal access road. This makes sense as the rationale was to allow traffic from the Celbridge Rd side of the village access to the motorway without going on the rat runs through the Castletown houses and this would be a more direct and shorter route.

You can see it as a proposed upgrade / new on the map below in the north of the HP campus.

http://kildare.ie/CountyCouncil/AllServices/Planning/LocalAreaPlans/LocalAreaPlans/LeixlipLocalAreaPlan2020-2023/Map%201%20(20018942)%20Leixlip%20Transport%20MapA1.pdf

I suppose they could amend the draft development plan and make the developer of the Transport Hub pay for it as part of their planning permission although I think that the Transport Hub is outside the Leixlip area and actually in Celbridge. edit: it's actually in the Leixlip curtilage

FitzElla

Rosahane wrote: »

They amended it to run along the motorway, utilising and upgrading the existing HP internal access road. This makes sense as the rationale was to allow traffic from the Celbridge Rd side of the village access to the motorway without going on the rat runs through the Castletown houses and this would be a more direct and shorter route.

That's interesting thanks for sharing. I'm not sure the way the road sweeps down off the M4 bridge at that point would make for a great junction but it certainly would help stop cars using Castletown housing estate as a rat run.

Rosahane

FitzElla wrote: »

There is a new planning permission application for a 25,268 sqm warehouse facility on the old HP campus (now the Liffey Business Campus) which would cover the area where the proposed road from Barnhall roundabout to the M4 at Castletown would be. Not sure if the planning application made any reference to a new road, but it would make sense for trucks to access the site directly from the M4 rather than the barnhall roundabout. Be interesting to see what happens with it.

Reading through the planning application on page 13 of this document you will see reference to the proposed new road. It states that this new road will be "Key to the development" so probably intend to use this new road.

http://idocsweb.kildarecoco.ie/iDocsWebDPSS/ViewFiles.aspx?docid=2413258&format=jpeg

buffalo

FitzElla wrote: »

That's interesting thanks for sharing. I'm not sure the way the road sweeps down off the M4 bridge at that point would make for a great junction but it certainly would help stop cars using Castletown housing estate as a rat run.

I don't understand this approach. If the problem is people using Castletown as a rat run, why not block through access in Castletown?

FitzElla

buffalo wrote: »

I don't understand this approach. If the problem is people using Castletown as a rat run, why not block through access in Castletown?

Fair point. I don't live in Castletown so don't want to speak for the residents there, but maybe they want to keep the access open?

I think the new proposed link to the M4 should be a requirement if the HP campus is developed as planned to avoid having HGV or commercial traffic going through the town. Reducing the traffic through Castletown would just be a bonus in my eyes.

Rosahane

buffalo wrote: »

I don't understand this approach. If the problem is people using Castletown as a rat run, why not block through access in Castletown?

The problem is that it's a route to the schools, shops and sports clubs in both directions and to the train also. Blocking through access would mean all traffic would have to go in and out on to the Station Road.

Stealthirl

I made that suggestion to a few councilors over the years, it was ridiculous having a road only running into HP, it should have been a through road from the start.

buffalo

Rosahane wrote: »

The problem is that it's a route to the schools, shops and sports clubs in both directions and to the train also. Blocking through access would mean all traffic would have to go in and out on to the Station Road.

They sound like mostly short journeys, that should be encouraged to be done by foot or bike?

A long trip using that route would be from Elton Court to the Amenities is a 1.7k walk, which most people could cover in 20-25mins.

If carrying a lot of equipment, doing a big shop in Lidl or for drivers with disabilities, the same journey of 2.3k would become 2.6k. Not really a hardship?

Rosahane

buffalo wrote: »

They sound like mostly short journeys, that should be encouraged to be done by foot or bike?

A long trip using that route would be from Elton Court to the Amenities is a 1.7k walk, which most people could cover in 20-25mins.

If carrying a lot of equipment, doing a big shop in Lidl or for drivers with disabilities, the same journey of 2.3k would become 2.6k. Not really a hardship?

I think there was a proposal to close off through traffic in Castletown many years ago which got little or no support - including from the people in Castletown!

2011abc

buffalo wrote: »

I was thinking something similar while in the village yesterday, as a double decker bus flew past me while I was standing on the particularly narrow stretch of footpath between the Courtyard and Bernard Owens. .

That is an unbelievably dangerous spot alright .I remember standing there one Summer's afternoon as an unmarked Garda car drove at high speed (blue lights flashing)the entire length of Main St on 'wrong side of the road' from current Aldi location to traffic lights at high speed.I pressed behind in against that wall fairly hard I can tell ya .

Stealthirl

Planning in to develop apartments and shops on main St opposite The Town
https://www.kildarenow.com/news/home/595398/kildare-planning-go-ahead-for-historic-leixlip-house-development.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Planning number is 191433
http://webgeo.kildarecoco.ie/public/planningsearch/171

FitzElla

Stealthirl wrote: »

Planning in to develop apartments and shops on main St opposite The Town
https://www.kildarenow.com/news/home/595398/kildare-planning-go-ahead-for-historic-leixlip-house-development.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Planning number is 191433
http://webgeo.kildarecoco.ie/public/planningsearch/171

No car parking spaces provided for in the development at all. Council were happy to ignore this on the basis the apartments are well served by public transport and located centrally. I think not even having a loading bay or space for a bin truck to pull in will be an issue with traffic given how crowded main street is already.

buffalo

Looking forward to getting a bit of exercise to Maynooth for a lazy breakfast of a Sunday morning!

https://twitter.com/dublingalwaygw/status/1370354945661276164

CiaranW

That's excellent news.

Davexirl

buffalo wrote: »

Looking forward to getting a bit of exercise to Maynooth for a lazy breakfast of a Sunday morning!

https://twitter.com/dublingalwaygw/status/1370354945661276164

Thanks for sharing, I am delighted to hear this news.

buffalo

Some planning applications that might be of interest...

21644 to change the old Palua boutique in the mall into a cafe - be nice for a bit of extra life in the village, once we're allowed sit indoors again!

And two medium sized developments: 21655 is for 57 units in the field behind Hillford House on Station Road. 21732 is for 65 units in the field between the Kilmacredock roundabout and Westfield estate, including a 5 storey apartment block (probably to go beside the one in progress in Westfield?).

Both of those under the 70 unit threshold where developer is required to build a creche, yet together over 120 units with no extra childcare provided. And I see childcare was front page of the Champion this week!

2011abc

‘Units’ and ‘housing’ all the talk lately .Doesn’t seem that long ago that people lived in houses .Amount of apartment blocks being built ( and tired old terraced houses being turned into multiple ‘units’ )staggering God help our kids .

jorry

buffalo wrote: »

Some planning applications that might be of interest...

21644 to change the old Palua boutique in the mall into a cafe - be nice for a bit of extra life in the village, once we're allowed sit indoors again!

And two medium sized developments: 21655 is for 57 units in the field behind Hillford House on Station Road. 21732 is for 65 units in the field between the Kilmacredock roundabout and Westfield estate, including a 5 storey apartment block (probably to go beside the one in progress in Westfield?).

Both of those under the 70 unit threshold where developer is required to build a creche, yet together over 120 units with no extra childcare provided. And I see childcare was front page of the Champion this week!

Does planning notice for Kilmacredock not pitch 5 storey block somewhere within said corner field site. I hope finished, site will be asthetecally pleasing given this being a gateway site to Easton road.
The over allocation of bike spots to car spaces is to appease planning surely??

Seth Brundle

jorry wrote: »

The over allocation of bike spots to car spaces is to appease planning surely??

I presume that it is because to include more car park spaces would result in less land for apartments and therefore each apartment would have a higher price.

Flibble

There's a new coffee shop opening next week in the Leixlip Amenities centre, they have an outdoor seating area being built and I believe will be doing salads/ sandwiches/ baked goods.

The businesses inside the centre now include a coffee shop, physiotherapist, acupuncturist, sports massage therapist & hair dresser- it's a bit of a hidden gem!!

buffalo

jorry wrote: »

Does planning notice for Kilmacredock not pitch 5 storey block somewhere within said corner field site.

There's one 5 storey block just getting started in Westfield (foundations being laid this week) right beside the corner field, and this application is for a second one.

I presume they'll sit next to each other, as the only other logical spot would be right beside the roundabout which would cast a shadow over most of the development in the evening if I've got the orientation right. Anywhere else would surely have to overlook other properties and devalue them, meaning less profit.

FitzElla

buffalo wrote: »

There's one 5 storey block just getting started in Westfield (foundations being laid this week) right beside the corner field, and this application is for a second one.

I presume they'll sit next to each other, as the only other logical spot would be right beside the roundabout which would cast a shadow over most of the development in the evening if I've got the orientation right. Anywhere else would surely have to overlook other properties and devalue them, meaning less profit.

Will this new development be part of Westfield given it is the same developer or will they give it a new estate name?

Personally I think 5 story apartment blocks on the absolute edge of town are an over development, especially considering the other new development going across the road at Leixlip Gate. Asides from a small Spar you are at least a 20-30 minutes walk from anything else: shops, cafes, pubs, schools, parks, train station. Lots more cars on the road who will continue to ignore Leixlip village given the parking there.

n97 mini

Anyone know what the story is with the bollards that were put at the bottom of Captain's Hill in February?