Area Council Meetings: Replies to Notices of Motion October 19^th 2005

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 5 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

To ask Clare County Council for a final date on having the Fly-over Footbridge repaired in Drumgeely. Due to the onset of Winter the bridge is becoming unpassable and is causing people to cross the Dual Carriageway.

I wish to reply as follows:

I have been endeavouring to have this matter resolved for some time. The repairs which were carried out a couple of months ago were very unsatisfactory and will have to be done again.

The Consulting Engineers are actively engaged with the contractor for the roadworks in a process to bring this matter to a conclusion within the next few weeks. The work involved will be carried out by the roadworks contractor with the assistance of a local specialist contractor involved in special surfacings. I am confident that the necessary repairs will commence in a couple of weeks and will be completed quickly after that.

Yours sincerely,
______________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 6 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

To ask Clare County Council to provide some form of traffic calming measures for Avondale Estate, Newmarket on Fergus, as there is great need for same.

I wish to reply as follows:

Clare County Council will carry out a vehicle count and speed survey within the Avondale Estate to determine the volume and speed of traffic on the road. The result of the survey will assist the Council in establishing if there is a speeding problem within the estate and whether traffic calming measures are necessary. If 85% of the recorded vehicle speeds are below 40km/h within this estate, the installation of traffic calming measures would be unwarranted. Appropriate signage alerting motorists to the danger of children crossing the roads within this estate is already in place.

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 18^th October, 2005,

That the road between the Town Centre Roundabout and The Tola Park Roundabout be resurfaced and a safety barrier erected at the footbridge as a matter of urgency.

I wish to reply as follows:

This road will be resurfaced as soon as possible. I will also look at the safety issues relating to the footbridge access as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
_________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 8 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

That Clare County Council would put in place a footpath on the Smithstown road to facilitate pedestrians who use this road to access their place of employment.

I wish to reply as follows:

The provision of 150 metres of footpath from the Smithstown link road to the entrance to the Industrial Estate beside F.H.B. is desirable and would connect with existing footpaths at both ends. While all desirable projects have to be prioritised, I feel this footpath should be constructed. I hope to have this work carried out next year.

Yours sincerely,
_______________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 9 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

That Clare County Council would immediately make land available at Illaunmanagh Cemetery, as it appears that the graveyard is now full.

I wish to reply as follows:

“The extension to Illaunmanagh Cemetery was approved at the September meeting of Clare County Council. The works to be undertaken include:

1. Provision of new footpaths
2. Provision of concrete plinths
3. Areas to be landscaped
4. Timber post and rail fencing to be provided and re-located

Tenders are due for submission by Friday, 28 October 2005 and we hope to be in a position to secure a contract by the end of the second week in November. It is envisaged that the contract period will be for between 4 - 6 weeks and in that regard the work should be completed by the end of the year or early next year.The policy of Clare County Council is to sell grave spaces only as the need arises. Clare County Council has put arrangements in place to accommodate requests for grave spaces in advance of completion of the works.

Yours sincerely,
________________
Monica Meehan,
Senior Executive Officer,
Transportation & Infrastructure.

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 10 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

To ask Clare County Council to provide some form of Traffic calming measures in Goodwood Estate, Newmarket on Fergus due to the high amount of young children living in said estate.

I wish to reply as follows:

Clare County Council will carry out a vehicle count and speed survey within the Goodwood Estate to determine the volume and speed of traffic on the road. The result of the survey will assist the Council in establishing if there is a speeding problem within the estate and whether traffic calming measures are necessary. If 85% of the recorded vehicle speeds are below 40km/h within this estate, the installation of traffic calming measures would be unwarranted. Clare County Council will undertake to erect appropriate signage alerting motorists to the danger of children crossing the roads within the estate.

Yours sincerely,
_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 11 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

That an update be provided on progress in making Casey's Corner, Sixmilebridge, safer for pedestrians.

I wish to reply as follows:

The footpath at Casey’s Corner adjacent to the 2-storey house is 1metre wide for approximately 40 metres and narrows to 0.7 metres over a distance of 2 metres at the lean to shed beside the house. It would be necessary to purchase land, set back the wall over a length of 40 metres and demolish the shed beside the house in order to provide for a 2 metre wide footpath. The cost of widening the footpath at this location could be up to €30,000 depending on land acquisition costs. It is considered that better value for money would be achieved by providing a footpath on the opposite side of the road from the Rossmanagher road junction to the proposed site for Council housing where no land acquisition costs will be involved. I am also hopeful that the Council will be in a position to continue this footpath as far as the Ashview estate in due course. In the interim period I will endeavour to secure development contributions for the upgrading of footpaths in Sixmilebridge and should the field adjacent to Casey’s Corner be developed where the footpath narrows I will condition the developer to widen the footpath at this location.

Yours sincerely,
_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 12 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

That following the successful opening of Bóthar Mór, near Tola Park, that Clare County Council put in their budget for Roads, the remaining section from the roundabout to be resurfaced.

I wish to reply as follows:

This road will be resurfaced as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,
________________________
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 13 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy & Cllr. G. Flynn, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

Following complaints from some residents in relation to ball playing near their houses, that Clare County Council would discuss what measures can be taken to designate specific areas in Shannon for this and other forms of recreation for young people.

I wish to reply as follows:

The Council has checked with other local authority areas and this matter is the subject of complaint in some urban areas. It is difficult to readily identify a solution which is practical and enforceable to the problems being experienced.

It has been pointed out to us, that one particular authority is considering inserting an objective in its Development Plan that all developers (public or private) who build an estate must provide a playing pitch and playing area near or in the estate.

Another possible course of action is the adoption of a bye law regulating the activity and indicating that it the activity is not permitted at particular locations. Again the issue of enforcement arises here.

Erection of signage at particular locations indicating "no ball playing" may also be of assistance.

Yours sincerely,

Gerard Dollard
Director of Service and
Shannon Town Manager

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 14 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

Due to the amount of accidents at “The Wells” Cross, (i.e. road leading to School, Church, Co-Op, etc,) that Clare County Council put some measures in place to reduce the number of incidents at this location.

I wish to reply as follows:

Clare County Council will arrange for a STOP sign with appropriate road markings to be put in place at the junction between the road accessing the Wells church and the L-3177 local road. The visibility of existing signs will be improved and new road markings will also be put in place advising motorists to slow down on the approaches to the T-junction along the L-3177 local road.

Yours sincerely,
___________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure

With reference to Notice of Motion No. 15 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy, for the Shannon Electoral Area Meeting on 18^th October, 2005,

That in the interest of safety and traffic management a safe area for the bus stop in the Square, Sixmilebridge be designated.

I wish to reply as follows:

At present buses travelling to Shannon from the Square in Sixmilebridge are forced to stop on the main carriageway, with passengers having to make their way through the parked vehicles. This is a major problem for the mobility impaired and causes access problems for people with wheelchairs, pushchairs, etc. Clare County Council will examine various options for providing a bus stop at locations, that will have a minimal effect on parking spaces and assist in making access to buses more user friendly. Various options will be presented for discussion at the next electoral area meeting and once a preferred location has been established the Council will seek the views of Bus Eireann in this matter.

Yours sincerely,
_________________________
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure