Excerpts by Peter Kelly in the Liffey Champion (page 5)

This article in the Liffey Champion by Peter Kelly reveals that after 2 years there is no progress whatsoever on the Iarnród Éireann park and ride project for Kilcock. And now it seems it has been halted indefinitely. A Mr Page from Iarnród Éireann Head of New Works briefed the Clane Area Committee this week: (excerpt from the paper)

Iarnród Éireann has parked plane to add extra parking spaces for commuters using Kilcock Station are the costs of the project proved prohibitive.

A representative from the company reported on Tuesday (11th May) that it had halted plans to provide a park and ride facility  on CIE-owned land north of the Royal Canal just yards from the station platform after the costs threatened to run to more than €1m.

Mr Page [Iarnród Éireann's Head of New Works] said his department had initially looked at gaining access to the site from Shaw Bridge in Kilcock town centre through an existing access point.

“However, having been informed that any ca park would require a new point of entrance and exit, Mr Page said more than €1m would have been required to fund that part of the project alone.

In brief the article continues with some comments from our Councillor Liam Doyle who stressed it was never an option that proposed car park be entered from the Shaw Bridge area; the alternative requested was Alexandra Bridge. He went on to point  out the effect commuters, parking all day in car spaces in Kilcock are having on local traders saying; “The effect this is having on local businesses is hugely detrimental”.

Comment: Parking and lack there of, is a big problem for Kilcock traders and is an issue that the KBA has pledged to work on. This is news of the permanent shelving of a park and ride development is a real blow. Paid parking, even at a very low rate, means that those living close by are encouraged to walk down to the station (most Kilcock town dwellers live within a 10 minute walk of the station) and leaves enough spaces around the car park for those who need to drive to the station. Cllr Doyle goes on to suggest that the current parking area could be improved by removal of the grassy verge to allow parking for a further 15 spaces. However this is really just a stop gap and once again it seems that Kilcock is missing out on a development that would have offered significant improvements to residents and local traders alike. Adding to the frustration is the obvious lack of communication between the council and the railways on the practicalities of the development and the long length of time taken just to come back and say it’s been shelved.

Dragon Gavin Duffy tells Kilcock Businesses to ‘hang on’.

Excerpts by Kim Mullahey in the Liffey Champion (page 10)

Gavin Duffy - evening with a Dragon

This article is close to my own heart (as secretary of the Kilcock Business Association) as I was involved in the promotion and set up of the evening with Gavin Duffy in the GAA Hall on Wednesday 5th of May. We were delighted by the turn out of between 240 and 250 people who were engaged for around 1.5 hours by an energetic and entertaining Gavin Duffy, who started off the evening by explaining how we got into this financial crisis from a global perspective and then brought it back home to Kilcock:

“We have to engage with customers, we have to be positive and we have got support our local business associations.

“You have got to keep the spend local, get involved and support another through this.

“What we have all got to do is hang on until we get through this, and tread water until we have come to the other side.

Gavin mentioned a number of times the effect that the media is having on people’s spending habits. According to Gavin, the media have us (and our spend) running scarred. I tend to agree here though I feel in particular it’s the national newspapers and radio that are the culprits rather the regional newspapers and radio which by their nature are more positive in their focus on local events. It seems that everytime you turn on the radio there is another financial expert telling us that we are all doomed and the country will never recover.

Comparing this resession to the 80′s dip Gavin Duffy believes it was easier for people back then as they had been used to living on less already. He went on to point out that the slow breakdown in communities and collapse of public perception of the institutions like church meant that our traditional support networks have all but disappeared for many of us and as such coping with this recession more difficult.

I guess that’s all the more reason to start to get involved locally from taking part in local groups, sports organisations and of course… spending local as well.

Plan to return Kilcock as a Major Trading Centre with launch of new directory

Excerpts by Kim Mullahey in the Liffey Champion (page 10)

The evening with Gavin Duffy also saw the launch of a comprehensive directory of the Kilcock Business Association members and community organisations. It’s a great little book and has been delivered to all residents in Kilcock town (if you missed out just visit one of the local shops!). It’s got a surprising amount of local services and business and a full list of emergency numbers, local organisations and sporting clubs.

And there is an online counter part http://www.kilcockbusiness.ie for all you web savvy Kilcock residents.

Research contributed in the new directory by author and historian Seamus Cullen has placed commercial activity in Kilcock from AD1299.

“We of the Kilcock Business Association want to return Kilcock to it’s rightful place as a ‘major trading centre from as far back as medieval times” said Tara Lane of Harmony Holistic Health.”I am honored to be part of such a hardworking committee. We have an amazing selection of business and useful numbers.”

Gavin Duffy is coming to Kilcock

Tara Lane, PRO of the Kilcock Business Association:

This is a great opportunity for our members and guests to have a speaker of Gavin’s calibre come to Kilcock.  When I first spoke to Gavin about speaking to our members, he immediately agreed to join us as he understands the issues that businesses are facing at the moment.  We have a fantastic evening planned with Gavin speaking, the launch of the Kilcock Business Directory and some other exciting surprises.  It promises to be an evening of inspiration and networking, one not to be missed.  The tickets are great value at €20 each or €10 for members of the KBA and their guests.

The date is set for the 5th May, starting at 7.30pm in the Kilcock GAA. Refreshments and bar are available on the night.

There are a limited number of tickets available and to get your hands on them for yourself and your guests you can either contact Tara directly on 087 9789318 or email her on tara@harmonyholistichealth.ie. There are several shops around Kilcock also selling tickets: Harmony Holistic Health, John Ryan Butchers, Centra, Londis / Esso Station, Bruce Betting and Mick the Barber. Tickets are €20 for the general public and €10 for Kilcock Business Association members and their (unlimited number of) guests.

This is my first weekly roundup of Kilcock Local News. I’m really looking forward to bringing you this regular update on what’s happening in our town and what’s being said about it in local news. I’ll be scouring the newspapers and Internet for anything that concerns where we live and if there is anything newsworthy going on in the area that you’d like me to write about, I’d be delighted to hear from you.

Anger at Kilcock court rumours

http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Anger-at-Kilcock-court-rumours.6059454.jp

In the Leinster Leader (10th February 2010), an article by Conor McHugh brought our attention to the rumour that Kilcock Court’s fortnightly sittings could be moved to Naas in the future. However, it seems that no decision has been made on the matter at this stage and reviews of all court locations are taking place, according to a Court Service Spokesperson.

The issues concerning Kilcock locals and business owners were outlined by Councillor Liam Doyle to the Leinster Leader. If the court is moved to Naas, business in Kilcock will be greatly decreased. The lack of adequate parking facilities in Naas combined with poor public transport links between the towns is of huge concern to those without transport. Moving the court would also have a detrimental effect on security in the area as it would mean that the Garda Station (which is currently able to stay open during court days) would have to close due to lack of resources.

Kilcock Business Association spoke out upon hearing the rumours and echoed Cllr. Doyle’s concerns about local business by saying that it will have “huge negative implications on Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock, Newtown, Tirmohan, Johnstown Bridge and Carbury.” They are also concerned that currently there are up to 10 Garda Cars visible and patrolling the area on a court day and if the court is moved to Naas they would no longer be centrally located to respond to any emergencies in the District with minimum delay.

Another issue concerning the KBA is that people involved will have to take public transport into Dublin and back out again to Naas which would incur extra costs and considerable time lost from work.

Cllr. Doyle suggests that the local GAA Club, which currently lies empty during the day, could be considered as a venue for Court sittings as there is ample parking and a good sized hall that could accommodate people. “I’m sure that the committee of the GAA would be open to discussions on making their facilities available to the court services, until such time as new facilities could be provided within the confines of the town” commented Cllr. Doyle.

The spokesperson for the Court Service added that the proposed building of a new courthouse in Maynooth was being pursued, subject to funding availability.

Unemployment continue to rise in north Kildare

The level of unemployment in North Kildare continues to rise as 93 more people signed onto the Live Register for Unemployment Assistance at Maynooth Social Welfare Office in January 2010.

An article in the Liffey Champion (13^th February page 11) by Sarah Egan tells outlines how the total number of people signing on in Maynooth at the end of January rose to 5,853 according to the Central Statistics Office.

This is an increase of 1,669 in North Kildare in the last 12 months. The number of unemployed people in the whole County has more than doubled in the last two years with 367 people signing on in January 2010, with the overall figure of rising from 17,229 in Dec 2009 to 17,596 in January 2010.

Therese Brady is a local aspiring writer and writes mainly about food, fiction – novels and short stories, restaurant, movie and book reviews and I have my own website www.theresebrady.com and blog called Writer’s Cramp. This is where I keep my creative juices flowing during those down moments of writer’s block. I’ve completed one novel and am currently working on the second. Find me on Facebook and Twitter.

The Kilcock Business Association was formed as a result of a very proactive meeting called by Councillor Liam Doyle at which approximately 50 business owners attended. The business owners were keen to address the issues that have been caused by numerous factors among which are the sewerage works and the dreaded “R” word. There was a very positive feeling at the meeting and everyone was keen to pull together to promote and regenerate our fabulous village.

Committee Members

A vote has held amongst all interested parties and the committee elected consists of Colm Doolan from Centra, Dorothy Daniels from Dorothys Hair and Beauty Centre, Heidi Jermyn from Cookie Web Consulting and ourkilcock.ie, John Ryan from Ryans Butchers, Mark Leonard from Twin Oaks Bakery, Mick Cotter from Mick the Barbers, Seamus Davey from Kilcock Post Office, Sean Browne from Brownes Londis, Tara Lane from Harmony Holistic Health and Thomas Byrne from Bruce Betting.

The following positions have now been filled from the committee:

• Chairperson: Sean Browne
• Secretary: Heidi Jermyn
• Treasurers: Mark Leonard & Thomas Byrne
• PRO: Tara Lane

Since the inaugural meeting on 1st October, the committee have achieved very positive results with the opening of the Gael Scoil to improve the parking situation in the square during the sewerage works. We will work on the parking on a long term basis to make it easier for people to have access to all the wonderful businesses in Kilcock.

Parking – Commuters please take note!

Did you know that if you drive from one of the local housing estates and leave your car on the Fairgreen or in the square for the day while you get the train or bus into work, your car is costing local businesses €120,000 a year in lost revenue? This lost revenue could mean the loss of a job in the area. So why not walk or share a lift to the train and help local businesses to keep jobs in Kilcock. If investors see how well trade is in Kilcock, they will start up more businesses in Kilcock and it will become an even better place to live. That’s a healthy new years resolution for you!

Kilcock Online

Like all forward thinking associations we wish to have an online presence so the website www.ourkilcock.ie has been chosen as it is a great source of local information. Contact Heidi on hello@ourkilcock.ie with any news or events to be featured on the website or for more information about placing an advertisement.

Another of our objectives is to publish a Kilcock Business Association Directory in the near future so if you wish to advertise in it, please contact me at Harmony Holistic Health. This will be an ideal opportunity for you to advertise your business in as it will be distributed to every house in Kilcock and the surrounding areas. Don’t miss out on having your details available to every possible consumer in the area.

The committee wishes to work on behalf of the businesses in the area to promote Kilcock as the place to shop locally and encourage you to employ local trades people. We also wish to highlight all the fantastic businesses that are in the area. If you have any suggestions for the committee or wish to be added to the newsletter email list please contact me on tara@harmonyholistichealth.ie. Watch out Kilcock – its onwards and upwards!!!

Happy shopping in Kilcock,

Tara Lane

Tara Lane is the PRO of the Kilcock Business Association.