Latest news with #StephenStokes
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Wicklow councillor highlights ‘range of issues' after extensive roadworks in Greystones
Councillor Stephen Stokes proposed a motion at the May meeting of Greystones Municipal District, 'to call for the urgent completion of the Church Road, Greystones, upgrade works', referencing in particular the verges and edges, which he said were incomplete. Wicklow County Council announced the project in August, last year, and said it was a holistic approach scheme utilising Department of Transport funding for the road resurfacing, National Transport Authority funding for the active travel improvements and Wicklow County Council's Climate Action funding to provide the verge side drainage. The works began in October. The work itself involved a new kerb line installed along the western side of the road from Circle K to Church Lane; a new kerb line to be installed on the east side of the road from Church Road to Turnpike Lane; kerb build-outs around the existing trees on the east side of the road from Turnpike Lane to Bellevue Road; and resurfacing the road from Circle K to Bellevue Road. However, Cllr Stokes said at the meeting he had 'quite a number of residents writing to me about a range of issues'. He said he was advised in January that the 'contractor has to return to complete a number of road jobs including this one'. He also said he was informed that there was a tender for additional works, which he said was 'quite a shift in position' and that six months later 'there doesn't seem to have been a very joined-up approach and a we're going to have to tender' for its completion. He also pointed out the town had lost parking spaces and that there were concerns over the height of the kerbs. District manager, Marc Devereux, pointed out that Cllr Stokes's motion did not refer to the kerbs, which was acknowledged, and that as far as he was concerned there were no design flaws with the project and that it was intended to slow down traffic. He pointed out the project necessitated different contractors in that the landscaping works were not the remit of the conventional roadworks contractor. Councillors were also told that there was a plan to go out to tender for the landscaping works within the week. Commenting following the meeting, Cllr Stokes said: 'The people of Greystones welcomed the much needed resurfacing of Church Road last October, but six months later, we are still waiting for the rest of the job to be finished. "The incomplete verges are not only a visual blight, they also pose a potential safety risk, particularly for pedestrians. It must be remembered that hundreds of school children use these footpaths on a daily basis.' He explained that as the main street, Church Road is a key artery in Greystones, linking the town centre with local schools, businesses, and residential areas and said the unfinished verges have led to concerns about water drainage, pedestrian safety, and the general appearance of the area from local residents. Cllr Stokes said he is calling on Wicklow County Council and relevant contractors to urgently complete the long delayed works on Church Road in Greystones. "The May 2025 meeting was positive, and there was an important dialogue with our council officials. In fairness, the road re-surfacing was completed to a high standard. However, we need to ensure public infrastructure projects are delivered in full and without unnecessary delays. Local residents deserve an efficient service." Residents have also contacted Cllr Stephen Stokes to express concern about the loss of parking and high kerbs. He is urging Wicklow County Council to provide a clear timeline for when the remaining works will be completed and to prioritise the final restoration and landscaping of the verges.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
41 social homes still empty as Co Wicklow project mired in ‘unending snagging'
Bray People Residents in Greystones have expressed frustration at the ongoing delay in the release of the long-awaited Cois Droichid housing scheme by Wicklow County Council, which was due to be completed and allocated by the second quarter of 2024. The issue was raised once more at the April meeting of Greystones Municipal District by Councillor Stephen Stokes, when he referred to the 'lack of progress' with the 41 homes, and said he understood from the previous meeting that the allocation of the houses was ready to go as soon as the Building Control Management System issues were addressed.
Irish Independent
28-04-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Commuters hit out after Wicklow rail fare hikes – ‘Lost cause, total shambles...we're being taken for a ride'
The changes mean a single ticket to Dublin will rise from €3.90 to €5.10, while a return ticket will jump from €7.20 to €9.20. Having lost their only direct bus service to the airport, following the departure of Aircoach this year, and facing into yet another bank holiday with no train service, Greystones residents were quick to take to local forums to air their grievances. "Lost cause,' one wrote. 'We lost Aircoach (nothing done), shoddy ineffective bus service. Next weekend trains are not operating, no contingencies in place so a total shambles. Now train fair (sic) has gone up.' "Pushing more cars on the road,' another commented on the Facebook community forum. "Also increasing child fares and adult fares. More people will just drive to the Luas in Carrickmines. Greystones is a part of the line, it should be zone 1,' they added, referring to the decision to place Greystones and Kilcoole into zone 2, meaning commuters in Wicklow town get better value for their money travelling to zone 3. Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady added his voice to the local forum, and, with the wind behind him following his new appointment to head up the Public Accounts Committee, said he has written to the National Transport Authority, Transport for Ireland and the Transport Minister highlighting people's concerns. "At a time when the Government should be encouraging people to use public transport to reduce emissions and combat traffic congestion, increasing fares will only act as a disincentive. To increase charges when there have been so many issues with reliability, particularly of bus services, is completely unacceptable,' he told the forum. Greystones Councillor Stephen Stokes said Greystones and Kilcoole commuters 'are being taken for a ride' and called the hikes 'unjustifiable and another blow to hardworking commuters'. He pointed to the lack of significant improvements in service quality, frequency, or capacity to justify the price increases. 'Where's the return for the extra money being paid? Trains are still packed at peak hours, and many commuters are standing for most of their journey. It's not good enough.' He also criticised the lack of transparency and consultation around the fare changes and said there was 'no real engagement with the people who are most affected'. "Decisions like this should not be made behind closed doors. Commuters deserve a voice,' he said. Cllr Stokes has promised to raise the issue at the next council meeting. Meanwhile, the plight of Greystones' commuters hit the national airwaves, when Wicklow Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore spoke to RTE's Claire Byrne and branded the new fare system "a mixed bag' for commuters, 'especially those in my constituency.' 'Fares have come down across the Dublin Commuter Zone (DZC), for example for Rathdrum and Wicklow town commuters, and I welcome this change. But for commuters in Greystones and Kilcoole, fares have gone up by up to 30pc today for adult commuters and for school children and that is completely counterintuitive,' she said. Looking at the bigger picture, Deputy Whitmore added that as the country struggles to meet climate action targets, 'disincentivising people from using public transport will only push them back into their cars". 'It is worth noting that transport accounted for 21.4pc of the country's greenhouse gasses in 2023 and is the one sector where emissions are increasing,' Deputy Whitmore argued. 'Greystones is a town that relies heavily on the Dart service into town, and it is in fact the only Dart station outside of Zone 1. I have had constituents email me telling me that they have no choice now but to get back into the car for their commute to work and for the school run, and these are people who have been trying to reduce their carbon emissions by adapting their lifestyles to public transport. This fare hike undermines those efforts,' Deputy Whitmore concluded.
