Area Council Meetings: Replies to Notices of Motion 20th May, 2008

With reference to Notice of Motion no 5, submitted by Cllr. P McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

To ask Clare County Council to bring the laneway in Kilnasoolagh Park near Gerry Ryans house up to an acceptable standard as it has fallen into disrepair.

I wish to reply as follows:-

The laneway at this location is only suitable for pedestrian use due to its restricted width.  It appears that the width was reduced a number of years ago due to the extending of their rear gardens by local house owners.  I will see if some remedial work can be carried out on this laneway.

Inspection of the rear laneways in Kilnasoolagh Estate confirms that the more intensely used laneways have been surfaced by the Council.  There are a number of potholes on these laneways, which I have arranged to be repaired as soon as possible.  The Council has given priority to the roads to the front of the houses in Kilnasoolagh and these are in very good condition.

Yours sincerely,

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 6, submitted by Cllr. P McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

That a report be presented on the reasons for the on-going failure of pump stations resulting in blocked drains and foul smells in various areas of Shannon, that this report contain details of the number of times pumps have failed, why reserve pumps also failed, and if there are any problems with main sewers in the Tullyvarraga and Ballycasey areas.

I wish to reply as follows:-

It is true to say that historically the Shannon wastewater network is more prone to blockages than networks in other catchments.  The topography of Shannon results in flat gradients to sewer pipe runs although they are still within the parameters allowed. There is a designated crew responding to all reports of blocked sewers and unusual smells in the Shannon area and they are also proactive by inspecting troublesome areas before and after weekends and following dry spells.

The numerous pump houses (13No. in Shannon & 2 No. in Bunratty) are continuously monitored by Response Engineering as part of their Operation & Maintenance Contract to Clare County Council and log books are kept at each pump house.  Blockages may occur at pump houses occasionally, but there are at least 2No. pumps installed at each pump house operating on a duty and standby scenario as a safety valve.  There is a pump house in the vicinity of Cluain Donn (Pumphouse 13) which caused us particular problems towards the end of April.  We engaged a commercial tankard to purge this chamber and we are getting prices to carry out further remedial works.

Yours sincerely,

Liam Murphy,
Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 8, submitted by Cllr. J Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

I request that the road between the Ministers Cross and Ardkyle Cross be drained, strengthened and retarred as there is major flooding on all of this road.

I wish to reply as follows:-

This road is scheduled for strengthening as part of the 2008 Road Works Programme.  Preparatory work involving extensive drainage work has commenced recently.

Yours sincerely,

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 9, submitted by Cllr. P McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

To ask Clare County Council to put in place a safety barrier at the bottom of laneway alongside Pat McCoys residence in Kilnasoolagh Park due to the down hill nature of the lane and its exit onto the public road.

I wish to reply as follows:-

I will arrange to inspect this location with Cllr. McMahon in the near future.

Yours sincerely,

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 10, submitted by Cllr. P McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

That Clare County Council landscape Ascal na gCeard, Ballycasey, in order to improve this approach road.

I wish to reply as follows:-

I have inspected this road and have noted that its appearance needs to be improved.  I have arranged to have grass cutting carried out here on a regular basis throughout the grass-cutting season.  There is a certain amount of dumping occurring on this road.  I will arrange to have ‘No Dumping’ signage erected to counteract this.

Yours sincerely,

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 12, submitted by Cllr. J Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

I am requesting that ramps be put in Avondale Estate in Newmarket-on-Fergus, especially on the way up to Beech Grove as this is a very straight stretch of road and cars travel very fast causing major concerns to the residents.

I wish to reply as follows:-

The alignment of the roads in this estate discourages speeding.  The estate roads here are one of the best examples of proper road layout in the county from this point of view.  There are no long straights, which would tend to encourage speeding.  A 24-hour traffic count and speed measurement was carried out in this estate.  Only 5% of vehicles exceeded the 50kph speed limit.  The average speed was approximately 29 kph.  It is not considered that speed ramps are warranted in this estate.

Yours sincerely,

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 13, submitted by Cllr. P McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

Further to the confirmation in the reply to my Notice of Motion at the Shannon Area Committee meeting of 15th January 2008 that Public Safety Zones at Shannon Airport were adopted as a statutory document by the Council in the South Clare Local Area Plan 2003, I seek an explanation as to;

1. Why a public notice specifically proposing the adoption of such Public Safety Zones was not inserted in local newspapers?
2. Why affected areas landowners were not informed of such proposal and given maps of the proposed Public Safety Zones?
3. How many landowners are affected by such Public Safety Zones?

(d)Why the largest such Public Safety Zones is at the northwestern end of now abandoned Runway 13/31?   

I wish to reply as follows:-  The following facts apply to the above questions:
 

1. Full detailed responses were given to questions (a), (b) and (c) in my reply to identical questions in the notices of motion tabled in April 2007.

1. With regard to item (d) above I can advise that the safety zone requirements included on the Local Area Plan are in accordance with the information provided by the Department of Transport as indicated in my response to a similar notice of motion tabled in August 2007. The safety zones are based on CIAO air safety regulations at the time of the preparation of the Local Area Plan. The future plans for the development of runway 13/31 are unknown, and the Council is currently implementing the policies contained within relevant adopted Local Area Plan for the area.

Yours sincerely,

John Bradley,
Acting Senior Planner (Policy)

With reference to Notice of Motion no 14, submitted by Cllr. P McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

That Clare County Council, in view of the difficulties being experienced re access, move to resolve the issue of the entrance to Chapel Court, Sixmilebridge.

I wish to reply as follows:-

The council has been proactive in relation to the takeover of Woodview heights and Chapel Court estates.  The developer of Chapel Court has not applied to the Council to have this estate taken in charge notwithstanding verbal and written communication from the Council.  The takeover of Chapel Court cannot therefore go ahead at present.  The developer of Woodview Heights has applied to the Council requesting take over of the estate but has stated he will not allow a road through the green area unless the green area is purchased from him.  He quoted a very considerable sum of money in this regard.  Re-routing the Chapel Court traffic through Woodview Heights is a step-by-step process, which would involve take over of both estates, the Council obtaining ownership of the green area and the Council obtaining planning permission for the new section of road through the statutory process.

Yours sincerely,

Donal Hogan,
Senior Executive Engineer,
Shannon Area Offices.

With reference to Notice of Motion no 15, submitted by Cllr. J Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting, on 20th May, 2008,

I am delighted that there has been agreement on the acquisition of the former Railway Station in Sixmilebridge.  I am looking for an up to date on the project - a start up date on works commencing and a date for the re-opening of the station.

I wish to reply as follows:-

The Council has been working in close co-operation with CIE with regard to the reopening of the former Sixmilebridge railway station.  The station lands and railway house has been recently acquired by the Council.  It is planned to provide a park and ride facility in conjunction with the opening of the said railway station.

CIE have advised that funding has been provided in the 2008/ 2009 budgetary cycles for the upgrading of CIE’s infrastructural requirements and it is anticipated that the passenger rail service will open some time during 2009.  No fixed dates are available for the scheduled opening of this facility.

Yours sincerely,

John Bradley,
Acting Senior Planner (Policy)

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