Area Council Meetings : Replies to Notices of Motion September 20th 2005

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 5 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That this Council would ensure that set back parking is provided in the Cronan Lawn, Cronan Grove area, to facilitate safe access to the proposed development by Jim Woods.

I wish to reply as follows:

Mr. Jim Woods lodged a planning application Ref: 1724/05 with the Planning Authority on 12/09/05, for the construction of 50 houses and 25 apartments in the townland of Tullyvarraga, Shannon. As of yet, I have not seen the application but from previous discussions I have had with the Area Planner, it is my understanding that the developer will be proposing to access the development via the road in front of Cronan Grove and Cronan Lawn, until such time as the proposed Shannon Southern Primary Road is built, which will provide for a permanent access via a roundabout to the proposed site.

I will review the planning application and make a report in relation to the Road Design issues.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy,
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 6 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

To ask Clare County Council as a matter of urgency to make provision for a footpath between the entrance to Bunratty Folk Park and the Guesthouses on the Low Road, Bunratty, due to the safety concerns of people walking on this road.

I wish to reply as follows:

My estimate for providing a footpath, with associated road widening, public lighting and drainage works between Bunratty Folk Park and the guesthouses on the Low Road, Bunratty, is approximately €220,000. This estimate does not include land acquisition costs. Clare County Council is not in a position to finance the construction of this footpath from its own resources and relies on securing development contributions to build up a fund to finance the construction of such footpaths. The current levy for road improvements under the development contribution scheme adopted by Clare County Council is €100 per house, which does not generate much revenue for works of this nature.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.7 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That progress on the implementation of the Shannon Traffic Management Plan be detailed.

I wish to reply as follows:

Clare County Council has made certain progress in the implementation of the Shannon Town Traffic Management Plan. This progress is detailed in the attached table:-

In addition development contributions are being sought through the planning process for the provision of footpaths and pedestrian crossings. The construction of a mini-roundabout at Tola Park will also lead to improved traffic management within the town.

The provision of off road cycle tracks will be extremely expensive in Shannon and no funding has been provided for such work to be undertaken. It would be considerably cheaper to provide for on road cycle tracks, however this would result in the elimination of right turning lanes along Bóthar na Rinne, and Bóthar na Luachra, and the loss of car parking spaces along Bealach Brí.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.8 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That Clare County Council replace all broken or defaced Warning or Directional road signs in the Shannon Electoral Area.

I wish to reply as follows:

Clare County Council will be undertaking a regional Road Sign Posting Programme of works in the Shannon Electoral Area in 2006. This will involve erecting new directional and route confirmation signs at every junction and in advance of every junction of the regional road network. This programme of works is being funded by the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government and will greatly improve the quality and clarity of signage for local areas. In the meantime, I will endeavour to maintain existing warning and directional signs and repair or replace any broken or defaced signs as necessary.

Yours sincerely,

_______________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.9 submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

To ask the Area Engineer to resurface the road in Beechwood Grove as it is in a very bad state.

I wish to reply as follows:

The estate road in Beechwood Grove, Sixmilebridge, is scheduled for resurfacing as part of the 2005 Roadworks Programme. I expect that these resurfacing works will take place within the next few weeks.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.10 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That all new developments have Speed Tables put in place at the entrances to them, and that a Planned Programme be put in place to put Speed Tables in all existing Housing Estates, in agreement with the residents of same.

I wish to reply as follows:

I will write to the Planning Section requesting that for all future housing developments the following traffic-calming measures be incorporated in the layout of the estates:-

1 That the layout of the roads will incorporate sharp bends, minimum road widths, off road car parking, and avoid long straight sections of road
2 That speed reducing measures such as speed tables and chicanes shall be incorporated in the design of the development

It is acknowledged that traffic-calming measures need to be considered for some existing housing estates. It is considered prudent to carry out an assessment of the scale of the problem by speed measurements. In this regard traffic calming is considered necessary where more than 15% of vehicles are exceeding the 40kph speed limit.

There is also a case for using traffic-calming measures to discourage the use of roads in residential areas as rat-runs.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.11 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

To request that Clare County Council take measures to alleviate the flooding that occurs near John Kelly’s residence in Clonmoney, as it can be a major traffic hazard.

I wish to reply as follows:

I inspected this location and met with Mr. Kelly. I found the open drain between Mr. Kelly’s property and the adjoining farmland to be partly blocked due to a branch of a tree and building material in the drain. Also a section of banking between the drain and Mr. Kelly’s property needs to be topped up to its previous level. Mr. Kelly is to arrange to have the above items attended to and this should ensure that the drain does not overflow onto his property and from there to the road.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.12 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That tree stumps remaining following on from the felling of trees be removed.

I wish to reply as follows:

The Tree Surgeon has removed the majority of tree stumps by stump grinding, however there are still a small number remaining. I have requested him to carry out stump grinding on these as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.13 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That Clare County Council remove all trees in the Corrib Drive area of Drumgeely, that are no longer of benefit to the area.

I wish to reply as follows:

An appreciable amount of work has been carried out to trees in the Corrib Drive area over the past 12 months. This work included pruning or felling as considered appropriate. The trees on the median in Corrib Drive are hardwood trees and pruning was carried out to these trees where they were interfering with public lighting. Generally over the past 12 months we have addressed the concerns of Councillors and householders where trees were dangerous, too close to houses etc. The tree surgeon has carried out an extensive survey of the trees in the residential areas of Shannon and identified a number of dangerous trees which have been felled or pruned as appropriate. I will arrange for an inspection to be carried out to any trees which Councillors or residents feel should be looked at.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.14 submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

I request the replacement / re-fixing of kerbs in Cappa Lodge Estate.

I wish to reply as follows:

I will arrange for the replacement of any damaged kerbs in the Cappa Lodge Estate as soon as the Roadworks Programme is completed.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy,
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.15 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That this Council shall get an update on the proposal to develop the Library site as a theatre arts centre etc.

I wish to reply as follows:

We have already had discussions on this matter and have decided to bring the elected representatives and town officials to view the new facility in Thurles as soon as that project is further advanced. Siobhan Mulcahy, Arts Officer, will be in touch with everyone at the appropriate time within the next two months or so. In the meantime it would be appropriate for the Town Council to undertake a study to determine the type and size of facility that they feel would be appropriate and sustainable.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Noel Crowley
County Librarian

With reference to Notice of Motion No.16 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

To ask Clare County Council’s Housing Department to build Local Authority and Affordable Housing in Newmarket on Fergus, as there is a growing need for housing stock in this area.

I wish to reply as follows:

The Council’s Action Plan for Social & Affordable Housing 2004-2008 aims to provide a total of 1,517 social and affordable housing units i.e. 1,146 new social housing units and 371 affordable units over the period 2004-2008. However, approximately 15.78 hectares of land need to be acquired to achieve the projected number of social and affordable housing starts. In this regard locations for the acquisition of land for social and affordable housing have been prioritised including Newmarket-on-Fergus.

It is anticipated that new social and affordable housing starts in Newmarket-on-Fergus will be achieved in 2007.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Josephine Cotter Coughlan
Senior Executive Officer
Housing & Social Services

With reference to Notice of Motion No.17 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That The Council as a matter of urgency take whatever measures are necessary to improve safety at Gleann Rua Estate Ballycasey.

I wish to reply as follows:

The Gleann Rua estate of 10 houses and the adjoining Cluain Donn Estate of 39 houses are both the responsibility of the respective developers. Clare County Council is dealing with the take over of the Gleann Rua estate following an application from the developer and it is expected that the estate will be taken over shortly. We will review this matter when the Gleann Rua estate is taken over.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.18 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

That Clare County Council put in place a road marking programme in Ballycasey Manor Estate, as there are no visible road markings in this estate and quite a number of minor incidents have occurred there.

I wish to reply as follows:

I will arrange for appropriate signage with associated road markings to be put in place to regulate traffic flow within the Ballycasey Manor Estate as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No.19 submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 20th September, 2005,

The main Sixmilebridge / Cratloe road has subsided in front of John McMahon’s and Jim Enright’s houses, causing major flooding during heavy rain. I request same to be rectified.

I wish to reply as follows:

I have inspected the road in front of John McMahon’s and Jim Enright’s houses, and acknowledge that subsidence has occurred which is causing flooding during heavy rain. I will arrange to have this problem rectified as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure