Leixlip chat

2011abc · 03-08-2022 2:01pm

Maybe just a little outside our ‘zone of interest ‘ but I went on a long walk yesterday and ironically Liam Lawlor’s former Lucan residence seems to have a preservation order on it also . An incongruous monument to planning corruption in the Adamstown ocean .It’s sad to see even in this mega development the race to the bottom from the previous ordinary decent worker’s 3 bed semi with garden front and back to tiny box townhouse with a few flowerpots out front to five storey tower block :-( Did I read somewhere that in some parts of Dublin ( Dunlaoghaire )five storey developments are being scrapped (or even knocked down ?!) in favour of eleven storey ? And even more bizarrely ( as in all the city centre )you can see the current less well heeled residents being ethnically cleansed out of there in favour of richer ones

Anyway I don’t know if ‘Rossmore Civils ’ are connecting the latest Kilmacreddock roundabout development to the water mains nearer the town ( trench being dug from their down) but their previously not bad traffic management went to pot a few days ago round 5pm with road raging ladies much in evidence !

buffalo · 03-08-2022 3:25pm

Whatever the works on the footpath are, I think they combined badly with the road resurfacing last week to create some tailbacks. What will drive me to pot in a few months is that the road surface seemed perfectly fine and yet was resurfaced because... budget available? Its turn in some rotation? But the lumpy tarmac that the cycletrack and footpath trench was filled in with will probably still be there in 2024.

On the topic of the Kilmo development, I can understand why it wasn't called Leixlip Gate, but where on earth did they pull Harpur Lane from? And why did the council allow it? I agree that it's sad to see the replacement of front gardens with hard-surfaced driveways. Less drainage, less carbon absorption, less space to stand outside talking to neighbours, gradually building a community.

buffalo · 20-08-2022 5:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058256163/1971-aerial-photo-of-leixlip

In case others didn't notice it either.

20-08-2022 3:00pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119423752#Comment_119423752

I actually lived over in Adamstown in one of those for about 2 years. I was renting with a few lads. Lack of a garden not a big issue.

2011abc · 22-08-2022 10:42am

I think a lot of people pushing ‘apartment’ ( or even little boxy house with no garden ) living forget what it cuts off and entails .Many interests and hobbies need a bit of space whether it’s ( d’uh…!) gardening or working on your car etc or a host of other pursuits . I listen with pity to my workmate tell me about how many trips up and down it takes to defrost their car windscreen in Winter from their apartment . Obviously kids are happier ( and safer ?) in your own garden … pets likewise …OK so some people may prefer apartment lifestyle but majority given choice would want a ‘house with garden ‘ . Sad that this has been stolen from our kids due to greed of a few

Stealthirl · 24-08-2022 9:51pm

Seams even a dedicated parking space is a luxury these days.

Gotfoodforphil · 22-09-2022 3:22pm

I know this isn’t the right forum per se, but could anyone offer an opinion on the area around Confey station? Was looking into some second hand homes in the area

Buddy Bubs · 22-09-2022 3:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119651092#Comment_119651092

Glendale and riverforest? They are grand, mainly older residents now as they would have moved in there in late 1970s and 1980s amd the majority have stayed. A few new families have moved in recently of course but mainly people in their 60s or so now. Not an old folks home yet by any means but not a huge amount of children there any more.

Depends on the house and how its was maintained and what work was done. Some are in great shape and have been renovated and extended, others will need big money put into them to get them anywhere near modern standards.

Decent sized houses and gardens front and back mainly. Glendale is the nicer estate and has a fabulous park at the back of it. Some houses at back of riverforest very far to walk to in some cases, it's a long estate. Not really any social problems in either of them.

Gotfoodforphil · 22-09-2022 4:11pm

Really appreciate the response! Yeah the estates did have a much older feel to it alright, and given the period as you’ve said you would expect and older population. Would think plenty of young people would move into the area over time though, given its location and the decent gardens, etc. that you’ve mentioned

buffalo · 07-12-2022 7:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119174349#Comment_119174349

New application for this, ref 221409 - no docs online yet.

Outline is:

(i) demolition of existing two-storey house and single-storey outbuilding; (ii) construction of a residential development comprising 1 no. three storey over basement level plant room apartment building comprising 27 no. apartments (13 no. one bedroom & 14 no. two-bedroom) with each apartment having access to private amenity space, in the form of a balcony, and having access to an area of communal amenity space (163sq.m), public open space (1,017sq.m), a vehicular parking area (36 no. spaces), 4 no. bicycle sheds (48 no. spaces) and secure bin store all at surface level; (iii) construction of new pedestrian entrance via Old Hill Road; (iv) provision of private amenity space (48sq.m) to serve existing gate lodge dwelling; and (v) all ancillary works including landscaping, boundary treatments, SuDS drainage and all site services, site infrastructure and associated site development works necessary to facilitate the development.

Previous was 22625, you can play spot the difference - less apartments in the new one with more public open space:

(i) demolition of existing two-storey house and single-storey outbuilding; (ii) construction of a residential development comprising 1 no. four storey over basement level plant room apartment building comprising 40 no. apartments (17 no. one bedroom, 19 no. two bedroom & 4 no. three bedroom) with each apartment having issues to private amenity space, in the form of a balcony and having access to an area of communal amenity space (260sq.m), public open space (515sq.m), a vehicular parking area (50 no. spaces) 5 no. bicycle sheds (60 no. spaces) and secure bin store all at surface level; (iii) construction of new pedestrian entrance via Old Hill Road; (iv) provision of private amenity space (48sq.m) to serve existing gate lodge dwelling; and, (v) all ancillary works including landscaping, boundary treatments, SuDS drainage and all site services, site infrastructure and associated site development works necessary to facilitate the development

Mikros · 08-12-2022 1:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119968524#Comment_119968524

Crazy. The first reason the original planning was refused was "the loss of a 19th century dwelling of significant architectural merit" and the new application has it straight up demolished again. Can't wait to see how they square that circle in their application.

Tornaedo · 01-02-2023 4:56am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119345767#Comment_119345767

Willow & Wild opened within the last couple of weeks. It's been full anytime I've passed it (3-4pm), definitely going to try it one these days. Also they have a sign up looking for staff.

buffalo · 01-02-2023 9:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119970708#Comment_119970708

Refused again, heard the news earlier this week.

buffalo · 01-02-2023 9:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120185492#Comment_120185492

I haven't been in, but herself has and says it's really nice but very cold. They might be trying to save money on the heating bills.

Mikros · 08-05-2023 9:17am

Another new estate being planned: Glenveagh have put in planning application for 237 new units on the land at the rear of Leixlip Park. No documents online yet but the entrance will be at new traffic lights across from Wonderful Barn. Usual mix of 4 bed / 3 bed / 2 bed and apartments. Seems like a decent place for new houses if a little close to the motorway. If they ever got around to resurfacing it wouldn't be as big an issue.

cgorzy · 09-05-2023 3:41pm

Good site for proximity to the Village, I would assume there will be pedestrian and cycling access somewhere, ideally straight to the Village but not sure how difficult that would be. Noise is a serious issue though. In around the Wonderful Barn the noise levels are atrocious in my view and the same in some parts of Barnhall estate especially towards the newer paths from the Barn. Anyone think noise has gotten much worse in recent months? either since the removal of the site access road or, I would say more likely, since the tree felling along the motorway?

buffalo · 17-05-2023 1:58pm

There'll be access through Leixlip Park (see application below). I can't see how you'd do a route direct to the village without knocking a few houses or providing a public route through Leixlip Castle. Maybe drop down into the Aldi car park?

ref 23513

Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) at a site of c. 14.3 hectares. The application site is principally bounded by: Celbridge Road (R404) and Back Gate Lodge, Celbridge, Leixlip, Co. Kildare W23E0F6 to the west; the existing residential developments of Leixlip Park and Wogansfield to the north; the M4 Motorway to the south; and by agricultural lands to the east. The development will consist of the: (1) Construction of 237 No. residential units ranging in height from two-three storeys comprising 30 no. two-bedroom houses (c.86.8sq.m each), 124 no. three-bedroom houses (ranging in area from c.103sq.m to 114sq.m each), 13 No. four-bedroom houses (ranging from c. 151sq.m to 168sq.m) , 20 No. one-bedroom apartments (ranging in area from c.56.6sq.m each), 22 No. two-bedroom duplex apartments (ranging in area from c. 86.9sq.m to 89.0sq.m) and 22 No. three-bedroom duplex apartments (ranging in area from c.127sq.m to 139sq.m each); (2) Construction of a two storey creche (c.278sq.m in area) with associated external play area (c.85.8sq.m. in area); (3) Provision of public open space (totalling c.7.71 ha of which c.5.61 ha comprises strategic amenity space), communal open space (serving the duplex apartments) (c. 570sq.m), and private open space (in the form of private garden areas serving the houses and terraces/balconies serving the apartments/duplexes); and (4) Provision of vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian access/egress and associated circulation routes (including the construction of a fourth arm to the existing three arm junction on the Celbridge Road (R404) opposite the entrance to the existing Barnhall Meadows residential development and pedestrian and cyclist access to the north-east of the site providing access to the existing residential development known as Leixlip Park). The development will also consist of: (5) 303 No. car parking spaces (including 31 No. car parking spaces for visitors and 12 No. car parking spaces serving the proposed créche): (6) Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure; (7) 355 No. bicycle parking spaces (including 17 No. bicycle parking spaces serving the proposed créche and 160 No. bicycle parking spaces serving the proposed strategic amenity/public open space); (8) Bicycle storage; (9) Bin storage; (10) 3 No. ESB substations; (11) Undergrounding and diversion of the existing 20kV and 38kV overhead power lines; (12) Equipped play areas; (13) Photovoltaic roof panels; (14) Boundary treatments (including gates, piers, railings, walls and openings to the former demesne wall); (15) Provision of lighting; (16) All hard and soft landscaping; (17) Provision of Sustainable Urban Drainage systems (SuDs); and (18) All other associated site excavation, infrastructural and site development works above and below ground, changes in level (including the relocation of artificially raised ground from construction of the M4 to create an enlarged berm to the southern boundary of the site bounding the M4 Motorway) and associated retaining features, and associated site servicing (foul and surface water drainage and water supply). An Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been prepared in respect of the proposed development and submitted with this LRD application

cgorzy · 18-05-2023 4:21pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120607894#Comment_120607894

Oh right so through Leixlip Park for pedestrians/bikes will be a bit of a long way round from behind Wogansfield to the Village but handy for local shops I guess. Direct access to the Village was unlikely but might have been useful to existing residents in a few estates so it’s a pity. The Celbridge road paths aren’t great and a proper cycle route would be nice on the way to the Village at least. Would need a lift home!

Seth Brundle · 18-05-2023 5:47pm

Pretty much any cycling infrastructure (cycle paths or cycle storage facilities) that are provided by a developer are put there simply as box ticking exercises and are are of such inferior quality that I would not use them. Those cycle paths, more often than not, tend to put you at more of a disadvantage than staying on the road. I have no reason to believe that whatever is included in this development would be any different.

That said, apparently there is a plan within KCC to have a safe cycling route from Louisa Bridge to Hazelhatch but I don't think anyone has yet taken the time to put anything down on paper.

Stealthirl · 25-05-2023 12:26am

For anyone interested, the application is here https://eplanning.ie/KildareCC/AppFileRefDetails/23513/0

There does look to be a potential route leading to Aldi and the castle gates via the field behind Highfield Park, but it could just be a quirk of the plans.

jorry · 25-05-2023 1:43pm

Hopefully many in the community can support and benefit from our pop-up pool.

https://www.swimireland.ie/get-swimming/pop-up-pool/pop-up-pool-programmes

I recommend a visit, very clean and safe.

Mikros · 26-05-2023 2:15pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120637604#Comment_120637604

From my reading of the plans there is no access across the lands owned by Guiness, except to enable services (water etc.) to be connected. There is an "indicative" link shown where a potential route could go to, but I don't think the neighbouring land owners gave permission. Which is a shame, as you could have had a cycle/pedestrian path that goes from the village, past the castle, into this new estate and then connects into the new planned pedestrian bridge from the Wonderful Barn up to Castetown house estate. Literally anything that can bring more footfall into the village is a good idea as the main street is nearly derelict at this stage.

RayCon · 15-07-2023 9:41am

Only just realised the Hospice Charity Shop at the Salmon Leap Inn end of the Main St has closed. That's a pity - I picked up some good stuff in there over the years.

jorry · 12-09-2023 9:59pm

Can we all support this petition to prevent closure of castletown access from M4 / Leixlip please !

It probably scuppers planned foot/bicycle bridge between Wonderful Barn and Castletown lands...

https://www.change.org/p/stop-permission-being-granted-to-develop-historic-castletown-celbridge-co-kildare?redirect=false

Similarly anyone has anyone heard any news lately on pending Deey bridge level crossing (opp. Intel) threatened closure ?

Mikros · 13-09-2023 1:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121102955#Comment_121102955

Incredible that the OPW did not secure some form of permanent access to the existing carpark off the M4, or go through the planning process / consultation for a new carpark elsewhere before now. It seems very poor risk management to rely on the goodwill of a 3rd party landowner indefinitely for the main vehicle access to your site. A completely avoidable mess of their own making.

2011abc · 13-09-2023 2:19pm

Absolute 5h1t show by all involved .It seems companies can do literally whatever they want and meanwhile people cant build a shed in their own back garden or a bungalow on a country site for their kids to live in .

buffalo · 13-09-2023 3:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121104849#Comment_121104849

It's not great planning, but I'm not sure they had much choice. My understanding is that they asked the Dept for money to buy the land when it went up for sale, got an amount and bid over the asking for the land, but were still outbid (it's not known by how much). Given the land is zoned recreation/open space and it would take a while to get planning for anything (e.g. a pool) and even longer to get it rezoned, then there was very little reason not to expect the new owner to continue leasing the land to them for the short to medium term.

They asked the OPW to pay premium rates to continue leasing the land - far more than its worth. So if they had agreed, there'd be uproar over wasting public funds. If they'd started building another car park at any point before this, they'd also have been accused of wasting money when there was a fine car park already in use.

This is all a power play by the new owner (and I've had some dealings with them) to either force the OPW's hand into purchasing the land at an inflated price (i.e. flip the asset) or blackmail them into getting some of the land rezoned by KCC.

Hopefully a CPO process can be started promptly for the whole lot, and the developer makes the bare minimum in profit at best.

emo72 · 13-09-2023 7:21pm

Absolute **** show is right. There's no way they'll get planning for anything there. Too much bad feeling and anger. That land should be lungs for the surrounding towns. The fields with crops should be planted up as deciduous forests. Let's see what happens.

jorry · 13-09-2023 11:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121105449#Comment_121105449

I speculate the carpark and access was their Trojan horse to achieving zoning/planning for desired development.

This same developer in Westfield Leixlip, got silly with many failed attempts to up storey's of apartment buildings having received initial planning on houses, then in subsequent planning applications and having initially given assurances that they would not overlook neighbouring estate (Glen Easton), or exceed 3 storey's. Eventually they settled with the boyo's in Kildare CoCo on 4 storeys. And 1 block impose on GE. So form there to push the envelope...

jorry · 13-09-2023 11:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121106398#Comment_121106398

Incredible that the views down avenues that look towards Wonderful barn and the Folly would be possibly obstructed by a residential development. I am pleasantly surprised of the local unity this single issue has stirred up. A sleeping (green) giant has been awoken from its slumber, there was no such dismay to the development in Wonderful Barn!

buffalo · 14-09-2023 8:46am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121107289#Comment_121107289

They got permission for four storeys by GE and five storeys at the other end, but only built four because the fifth wasn't financially viable/profitable enough (ABP condition that it be set back).

From the meeting with the OPW, it sounds like the short-term is to try force an asset flip. I'd say he paid about €7m and was asking for €18m six months later. If KCC can establish a historical RoW (pre-1997) or get an injunction to prevent the closure, it would take the bite out of his negotiating power.

Long-term, he just has to sit and wait until someone is desperate enough for housing or jobs that they rezone it. Might take 20-30 years, but he'll still turn a profit. It'd be political suicide to rezone it in the near future.

edit: the only possibility in the near term is a CPO, hopefully KCC/OPW push ahead with it pronto! They're currently seeking legal advice.

emo72 · 16-09-2023 2:12am

Gates stay open for now. Negotiations ongoing.

emo72 · 03-10-2023 6:10pm

All gone Pete Tong again. CPO it and make a nature reserve please.

Big Pussy Bonpensiero · 05-10-2023 4:14pm

Any one have any interest in setting up a regular 5-a-side group? Or even if anyone part of any group is short a player on the regular?

jorry · 06-10-2023 10:19pm

https://tenor.com/bh9fj.gif

There will be killings how this will be doled out. Personally I would suggest a chunk on sports facilities at the Leixlip Amenities, lighting and weather proofing. It is an underestimated sports facility. A pedestrian bridge over canal from Loughnamona or Glen Easton (Residents probably object) or from Matt Goff Bridge into Amenities....

buffalo · 07-10-2023 4:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121203556#Comment_121203556

Swimming pool at Amenities seems like the obvious one. It's been promised for decades!

...although if it's built, then where will the Intel staff park?

Seth Brundle · 07-10-2023 5:02pm

A million euro won't build much of a pool tbh

jorry · 08-10-2023 10:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121206041#Comment_121206041

Earlier this year I recall reading a letter to the editor in the Champion where the letter poster queried where a reported €300k - €400k was currently resting. it was meant to be the proceeds of a fundraising account setup as far back as the 70's specifically for a Leixlip pool.

I had thought a cheap solution to this would of been to immerse an enclosure somewhere in the Leixlip reservoir, but when I looked into it further why it is not a 'thing' - there can be undisclosed issues with water quality - undisclosed effluent dumping upstream 🤢 Weil's disease even...

buffalo · 18-10-2023 8:00pm

Main Street reimagined... how much time would you spend here compared to the existing one?

https://storage.googleapis.com/dutch-cycling-lifestyle-images/results/57772818-051c-4e48-81a8-cb06dd76a560

edit - created with https://dutchcyclinglifestyle.com/imagine

2011abc · 20-10-2023 4:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121256343#Comment_121256343

Not in favour of being forced out of the town by Interchange(would cause traffic mayhem during rush hours -especially with apparently unbridled apartment building up at Westfield/Harpurs Lane )) and pointless with current number of derelict unused premises

buffalo · 20-10-2023 6:13pm

There's already traffic mayhem at rush hours - the village is totally congested and the motorway is the same. As for the derelict premises... do you not think this would result in them getting a new lease of life?

Mikros · 27-10-2023 2:46pm

If they ever do develop the lands at Confey as planned hard to see how the traffic down the Captains Hill and through the village would cope. Problem with closing off Main Street like that is that people would still look for somewhere to park down there. The whole planning in Leixlip with medium-high density apartments getting built on the very edges of the town (Westfield, Harpur Lane, etc) while the core of the town goes derelict is a lesson is how to promote car dependency.

jorry · 30-11-2023 12:57am

Siro product available shortly, Siro contractors are actively doing ground works in Gleneaston & Beech Park.

https://siro.ie/news-and-insights/siros-full-fibre-broadband-on-the-way-to-celbridge-and-leixlip/

buffalo · 30-11-2023 10:04am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121435834#Comment_121435834

Virgin has been installing fibre-to-the-home on behalf of Sky in a couple of estates as well.

L1011 · 01-12-2023 9:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121436355#Comment_121436355

Virgin are installing it primarily for themselves; Sky are just a customer of theirs

Virgin want to get rid of the coaxial network entirely.

SIRO skipped entire estates in Maynooth so don't expect them to go everywhere.

buffalo · 02-12-2023 12:20am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121443692#Comment_121443692

The only people I know in Leixlip who've gotten FTTH installed are those who switched to Sky. No VM customers.

L1011 · 02-12-2023 12:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121444353#Comment_121444353

That doesn't change that Virgin are building the network first and foremost for themselves. At some stage every customer on a given cabinet will be made move, so they can decommission the coaxial.

Sky offer service over all three fibre networks - SIRO, Eir and Virgin - the only provider to do so.

Subutai · 02-12-2023 5:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121443692#Comment_121443692

SIRO find it difficult to go into areas where the electricity cables were buried without ducts - involves digging the whole thing up as they can't blow fibre through the ducting.

Unfortunately that means a lot of 1970s estates may be missed - which is a lot of places in Leixlip.

Mikros · 15-12-2023 12:01pm

The new Confey development master plan is now out for public consultation:

https://consult.kildarecoco.ie/en/consultation/amendment-no-1-leixlip-local-area-plan-2020-2023-extended-2026

The plan is proposing fairly significant development on the far side of Cope Bridge. With good links to the Confey train station it seems like an ideal site for more sustainable development but I think the traffic implications are the big hurdle. May be of interest to some here.

Seth Brundle · 15-12-2023 12:15pm

This will surely bring the suggestion for a new road via St. Catherines back to the table (which completely I'm opposed to) as Cope Br. along with Collins Bridge to Lucan and the bridge over the Rye at Kellystown simply cannot sustain that level of development.

As for other locations, there really only is one and that is between Intel and the canal but with the Sap, etc there, I can't see it going there.

Leixlip chat

Comments