NAAS HOUSING PROGRAMME. OLD GOAL TO BE DEMOLISHED?

Leinster Leader 6 January 1951

NAAS HOUSING PROGRAMME
OLD GOAL TO BE DEMOLISHED?

The new scheme of 130 houses proposed to be built between the Caragh Road and the Canal Basin, was again discussed at the meeting of the Naas Urban Council on Tuesday night.
A lengthy debate took place as regards the Old Gaol and a resolution was passed eventually, that it be acquired and demolished.

Mr. M. J. O’Donoghue inquired that now that the Town Planner was back from America when would the proposed 130 houses scheme commence.
The Chairman (Mr. M. Fitzsimons) said that apparently more land was acquired.
Town Clerk (Mr. Whyte)-Negotiations are going on. I understand that the Town Planner has been with the Department and that the Department has approved in principle of the lay-out and that now it is only a matter of completing the documents.
Mr. O’Donoghue-Any chance of starting development work in the near future?
Chairman- We must get the loan sanctioned.
Town Clerk-The big job is the preparation of the bills of quantities. Until that is done we can not advertise.
Mr. Tom Dowling said that it was apparently intended to acquire the field at the rear of Mr. Noel Dowling’s house and also the small piece of road behind Mr. Frank Dowling’s new grocery store. “I was under the impression,” added Mr. Dowling, “that the gaol site would also be developed.”
Town Clerk-No.
Mr. S. Curran-I thought that a ball alley was to be built there.
Mr. O’Donoghue said that the acquisition of Messrs. Dowlings’ lands was a new one to him. He thought that they had acquired all the land they required eighteen months or two years ago.

OUTLET TO ROAD
The Town Clerk said that the land was necessary to provide an outlet to the main road.
Mr. Jack Lawler-I was under the impression that the old Gaol was to be taken down. Surely it isn’t intended to build 130 houses up against that? They should be ten miles away from a structure like that.
Mr. Dowling-I think that it is a great eyesore there.
Mr. O’Donoghue-It should be taken away.
Mr. Dowling-It would make a marvellous building site.
Mr. Daly-Would there be any chance of a contractor demolishing it for stone?
Chairman-They would be no good for building purposes.
Mr. O’Donoghue-Send one of the stones to Britain instead of the Lia Fail (laughter).
Mr. Jack Lawler said that they should draw the attention of the Town Planner to this anomaly-that they did not approve of the new scheme unless the Old Gaol was taken down.
Mr. O’Donoghue-Put that in the form of a resolution and the Council will back it.
Town Clerk-The Council have already approved of going on with the 130 houses scheme.
Mr. O’Donoghue-We approved of the scheme, but we didn’t know that we would have to acquire further land.
Town Clerk-That doesn’t effect the 130 houses as the acquisition of the property is to improve the lay-out and provide an outlet road.
Mr. O’Donoghue- We will improve the lay-out by developing the gaol buildings.
Mrs. Higgins-Why not let the Department know our views?
The Town Clerk said that the Old Gaol could be dealt with independently.
Mrs. Higgins said that they should adhere to their resolution.
Mr. Dowling-We will not interfere with the 130 houses.
Town Clerk-In that case pass a resolution approving of the acquisition of the Old Gaol and its subsequent development.
Mr. O’Donoghue-Mr. Lawler’s objection is to building the new houses in close proximity to the Old Gaol, and that this site should be developed in conjunction with our new housing scheme.
Mr. Dowling-There is plenty of room for playing grounds, etc.
Chairman-Wouldn’t it be a good idea if the County Council took it over and used it for offices?
After further discussion a resolution was passed requesting that the Old Gaol be acquired and demolished in conjunction with the new housing scheme.

HOUSING SITES
In Answer to Mrs. Higgins the Town Clerk said that the Acting Town Surveyor had inspected the proposed housing sites in Mrs. Gaul’s land and the sheep fair field on the Kilcullen Road but that at present he was ill.

The the Old Gaol in Naas was be acquired and demolished to make way for new scheme of 130 houses proposed to be built between the Caragh Road and the Canal Basin