Wall collapse 'vindicates decision to close lane’

A dangerous wall on a laneway at the rear of Fr McCullen Park in Kells fell during high winds last Thursday night, more than a year after the lane was closed for safety reasons. The wall collapsed onto the laneway, which had been sealed off by the town council in September 2009, because of safety concerns over the state of the structure. This week, the council indicated that they were intensively engaged with interested parties with a view to resolving a number of issues and making the area safe. Cllr Oliver Sweeney said that Thursday night's frightening incident had vindicated the council's action in closing off the lane. “It was a wise decision. It doesn't bear thhniking about what would have happened if somebody had been in the lane,†he said. He said the fact that the wall had fallen had now brought the issue to a head and he said he was anxious that work would go ahead as soon as possible because of the inconvenience to local residents. “The work needs doing sooner rather than later,†he said. Last September, residents of the area protested outside a meeting of the town council, pointing out that the lane had been closed for over a year and warning that their back gardens were also in danger from trees overhanging both the lane and their gardens. They pointed out that they were facing a winter without home heating oil as oil delivery lorries could not access their oil tanks. They were angry that the town council closed off the lane 12 months previously, but nothing had been done in the meantime and people were afraid to go into their gardens in case trees fall down into their gardens. The residents also highlighted the problems in accessing their oil tanks, which are at the back of their houses, as trucks cannot get round to them. The council closed the lane last year and residents were told the road would have to remain closed for health and safety reasons until the problem was resolved. A consultant employed by the council had recommended the removal of the existing structure and the building of a new wall.