Bus stops removed across County Kildare are not being replaced
by Paul O'Meara · Leinster LeaderBus stops are being removed from various locations across County Kildare and not being restored.
Independent councillor Bill Clear criticised this at a time when people are being urged to use bus services to reduce the damage caused to the climate.
He told a Kildare County Council meeting this is causing inconvenience for passengers.
He claimed that the responsibility for this lies with Kildare County Council though the National Transport Authority has overall responsibility for public transport.
“Bus stops are crucially important in rural Ireland,” he said, asking the council to provide a list of all bus stops that have been removed and not replaced in the last 12 months within the county.
“It’s important that we provide safe bus stops,” he said.
Cllr Brendan Wyse said the stops were removed between Allenwood and Killina “with no consultation”. He said one set of bus stops on each side of the road at one location have gone.
He added that the NTA had indicated that KCC said they could be removed.
He also claimed that the stops were in use and there were no accidents.
“Decisions like this are made with no consultation,” he said.
KCC official Celina Barrett said the NTA decides where the stops are located and if any are taken away this should be reported to the NTA.
She also said that the NTA gives permission for buses to stop in consultation with KCC.
Some €500,000 was allocated to the council to do work for the NTA on its behalf but the NTA decides where the stops go.
Ms Barrett said an audit of the stops is to be undertaken to establish if the stops are operating according to standard practice.
Ms Barrett also said that nobody has been ]specifically assigned to this area within Kildare County Council because of a resources issue but added that this will be done.