Lane to reopen in time for estate party

The back road at Fr McCullen Park in Kells, which has been closed for nearly two years, will reopen within the month, in time for the estate's 40th anniversary celebrations. Work is almost complete on the wall at the rear of the park, which collapsed onto the laneway during high winds last November. The laneway had been sealed off by the town council in September 2009 because of safety concerns over the state of the wall. The reopening of the laneway will be a huge relief to local residents who have had no access to their rear gardens for almost two years. Residents of the estate endured two winters, during which oil delivery lorries could not access their home heating oil tanks and bin lorries could only collect bins at the front of the houses. Last September, residents had 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. Consultants employed by the council to examine the wall recommended its removal and the building of a new wall. This work began in May. Meanwhile, residents are preparing to celebrate the estate's 40th anniversary on 14th August. Families started moving into the houses in Fr McCullen Park in August 1971 and many of those families are still living there. To celebrate the anniversary, the residents are holding 'a party on the hill' on Sunday 14th August. A lot of people who grew up in the estate, and who are now living abroad, have been contacted and there has been a good deal of interest shown by people living around the world. Cllr Tommy Grimes said the work on the wall was progressing well and residents were delighted they will be able to access their rear gardens again. He said the closure of the lane had been a huge inconvenience to residents and paid tribute to them for their patience over the past 18 months. "They are looking forward to the completion of the work, the reopening of the lane and they are particularly looking forward to the anniversary celebrations," he said.