Exclusive Interview - KCC buys Donaghcumper Lands

Major Land Purchase raises hopes for Celbridge: Councillors Discuss Donaghcumper Development

Celbridge, County Kildare – 26th July 2024:

A significant land acquisition by Kildare County Council marks a transformative step for Celbridge, as the Council has signed a contract for the purchase of Donaghcumper House and its adjoining 26.3 hectares. The move unlocks access to an adjacent patch of land that’s already owned by KCC, who can now promise extensive public amenities and community spaces.

I was joined by all 4 Celbridge councillors to discuss the news – Labour’s Rupert Heather, Claire Orourke for the Social Democrats, Lumi Panaite Fahey of Fine Gael and David Trost of Fianna Fáil. In this exclusive interview, local councillors shared their reactions, and their insights about the project.

The strategic purchase of Donaghcumper lands, combined with the existing 12.33 hectares owned by the Council on the south side of the River Liffey, aims to establish the River Liffey Amenity Park and corridor. This will unify the area, ensuring its preservation and opening it up for public use. Plans include sports facilities, recreational areas, and biodiversity initiatives.

Councillors' Perspectives

Cllr. Rupert Heather of the Labour Party was the first to highlight the significance of this purchase. "KCC told us about these plans last week and I've had to sit on them to some extent which has not been easy … it is such an exciting development but we're now able to go fully public with the news," he said. "This purchase brings together the strip of land that KCC have owned for a while and new lands, so we'll get on to what that will mean for the community but essentially this addresses so many things. It addresses the issue of money being spent in Celbridge, the lack of funds that we've had that has been identified."

Treasa Keegan raised potential community concerns with Cllr. Claire O'Rourke of the Social Democrats, who detailed the long history of the land. "The Donaghcumper House itself in recent years was bought by a private developer and in the last two decades there have been various attempts by private developers to build a town centre and residential units. And over a long number of years and different struggles the lands have really been saved unspoiled as they are and kept free from development. The latest announcement by Kildare County Council that they've bought the lands and the house for amenity use is actually fabulous news."

Addressing the balance between development and preservation, Cllr. Lumi Panaite Fahey of Fine Gael underscored the importance of careful planning. "I requested the map from KCC today and I've also looked for the purchase price. So I'm just waiting for that information. I'm really happy to see this going ahead. I feel that this is going to make quite a difference to Celbridge in that we are told that this will also facilitate parking."

Cllr. David Trost of Fianna Fáil reflected on the broader implications for infrastructure. Referring to the 3 Schools project on the other side of the Dublin Road, he said "You're talking about very significant development from the point of view of the moving of St. Patrick's Primary School, the community school which is located opposite the Salesians at the moment and St. Raphael's Special School. So you're talking about a very, very significant education campus going in there."

Community and Environmental Considerations

Throughout the interview, the councillors acknowledged the community's role in shaping the future of Donaghcumper. Public consultation will be integral to the plan, ensuring that the development aligns with local needs and environmental considerations.

O'Rourke reassured viewers about the sale conditions: "The house requires an enormously expensive amount of restoration work. And the condition that they're making an agreement with the third party is that they will fully restore it to a specific standard. And because of that I also asked them whether this third party was a private body or a public body. They were unable to say but they did say that they felt people would be happy with the purchaser but they haven't revealed that purchaser as yet."

Heather echoed the sentiment, emphasising a community-focused vision. "Now we have a large area of Council-owned land and it ticks all the boxes in terms of the provision of a second playground, playing pitches, mixed-use amenities... This is not just about providing those key amenities. It's about regenerating Celbridge. It will have an impact on the main street. It will have an impact on the whole town."

Moving Forward

While the councillors celebrated the acquisition, they also acknowledged the historical underspend in Celbridge and the need for swift action. "We've lost out a lot over many years in terms of like a delivery for all sorts of different reasons. And I think … that we really do need to keep the pressure up," Trost remarked. "Fantastic news story but we certainly need to keep the pressure up in terms of getting plans in place and starting to get funding in place for delivery."

The initial steps will involve closing the sale and beginning the public consultation process. Councillors expressed their commitment to transparency and community involvement throughout the project's development.

This landmark purchase brings hope for Celbridge, promising to transform the town's landscape and improve quality of life for its residents. But there are so many questions to answer – like when will we see delivery. It can only be done with the collective efforts of the Council and the community. If things go according to councilors’ hopes, Donaghcumper House and its lands are set to become a cherished public space for generations to come.