Canal Bank between Naas and Sallins soon to be made local access only for motorists

The Canal Bank between Naas and Sallins, from Abbey Bridge to Osberstown Bridge, will soon be made local access only for motorists, making the route safer and more attractive for walking and cycling.

The project is part of the Naas to Sallins Greenway. It will eventually also form part of the wider Grand Canal Greenway, but it is seen to have a high potential to enable more active travel locally in the short term.

Cllr Bill Clear (Social Democrats) said he thinks the move will enable more children to walk and cycle to school in Naas. He said: “It’s been nine years in the making, so I’m very happy it’s going ahead.”

The plan to remove cars from the canal path has been a long-term policy objective supported by councillors, but motorists who use the route as a rat run have strongly objected with some taking to Facebook and calling the council “dictators” for planning to implement the project.

Cllr Clear said: “There are 2,500km of roads in Kildare, and this is only 1.8km. We have a ring road, the motorway bypass, and various regional roads coming into the town. This is a small local road. If people want to stay in their car, they can still do so.”

Kildare County Council said that the project includes the prohibition of through traffic whilst retaining access of local resident traffic along the scheme extents, the installation of retractable bollards and coloured surfacing at Lock N4 along the Canal Road and at Lock N1 along the Canal Road and in vicinity of Osberstown Bridge, and the installation of traffic calming ramps on the approaches to Abbey Bridge, Tandy’s Bridge and Osberstown Bridge.

Some councillors have taken note of the annoyance of motorists, including parents using the canal route to drop their children at school. However, because the project is progressing under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Acts, no vote was needed at a recent local area meeting which included a debate on the project.

But while it’s unclear how many councillors would have voted for or against the project — only Cllr Anne Breen (Labour) expressed outright disapproval of the project proceeding while other councillors mentioned timing and better communications.

Some councillors want the project trialled, but council officials said that it is not a trial. The measure has also previously been implemented temporarily on Sundays and has proven popular.