By Sean Moriarty

The much awaited €600,000 outdoor dining project for the town finally began construction this week - but not everyone is happy about its timing due to the start of the tourism season.

CHAOS: One Jarvey said that the construction work will cause traffic chaos during the summer months.

DANGER: Coach passengers were forced to join their tour in live traffic.

The Bord Fáilte funded scheme, part of the town’s response to COVID-19, will include a 620 square-metre outdoor dining area consisting of paving, landscaping, and lighting, of which 210 square-metres will be a covered dining area, was given the green light in September last year. It was hoped to have been fully completed last month at the very latest.

After months of planning, funding applications and a tender process, construction work finally began this week.

A new protective hoarding has been erected on Kenmare Place to prevent members of the public accidently walking into the construction site and to prevent construction material spilling on to public walkways.

As a result the roadway has become much narrower. The bus setdown area in Kenmare Place is no longer available and the number of Jarvey stands at the adjacent HaHa have been reduced.

While Jarveys are not opposed to the overall plan, they believe the timing of the project is wrong as the town prepares to enter its peak tourism season. However, one of the funding conditions for the public outdoor dining area is that construction must be completed by a certain date.

ACCIDENTS

Jarveys say that there is a health and safety issue as they have witnessed buses picking up and dropping off passengers from nearby hotels in live traffic. They have also seen a number of accidents – including a collision between two buses in the street since the hoarding went up earlier this week.

Apart from the reduced number of Jarvey stands, as a result of the narrower road, the jaunting car operators say they are losing business as potential customers cannot see the Jarvey stand at the other side of the black construction hoarding.

“We are not against this, the timing is wrong, anything that helps Killarney we are for it,” Jarvey Michael O’Grady told the Killarney Advertiser. “But they seem to have forgotten the céad míle fáilte in this case.”

The Jarveys also raised concerns about traffic and said that the noise of the construction works will frighten horses.

“There will be chaos here in the summer time,” added Jarvey Mike Griffin. “And if a horse shies we are in trouble again.”

His colleague Patrick O’Sullivan added that “buses are now loading in the Jarvey stand”.

Kenmare Place was selected for the scheme due its proximity to Killarney House and National Park, the recently developed ANAM Arts and Cultural building, Killarney Jarvey stand, Christ the King Monument and St Mary’s Church.

Kerry County Council said at the time of the grant application Kenmare Place was the most suitable location based on Fáilte Ireland criteria.

“This outdoor infrastructure area currently being constructed at Kenmare Place has been the subject of a statutory public consultation process which was widely publicised. Council staff have met with, and will continue to meet with, any groups, businesses or residents who have issues of concern while the works are taking place. The project commenced construction this week and the Council looks forward to its completion at the earliest opportunity,” a Council spokesperson told the Killarney Advertiser.