Area Council Meetings : Replies to Notices
of Motion November 15th 2005
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 5 submitted by Cllr. T. Mulcahy,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“To ask Clare County Council to provide us with an update on the
Southern Service road at the rear of St. Caimins, and confirm when this
development will start as we are running out of development land.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
A report has been issued by the Planning Department on the 26th October
2005 in accordance with Article 180 of PartVIII of the Local Government
(Planning & Development) Regulations 2001. This report is included
in the agenda for the next County Council meeting as item 13 for adoption.
Subject to the report being adopted by the elected members, the detailed
design will then be required, followed by the tender process, award and
construction of the scheme. Subject to the availability of funds, it is
estimated that this will take approximately 12 months.
Andy Price
Senior Executive Engineer
Road Design Office
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 6 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“That, in view of the number of accidents, appropriate road markings
be provided as a matter of urgency on the Ballycally Road in the interest
of Road Safety.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
Clare County Council have provided “SLOW” road markings
on the L7184 local road where the road narrows and will erect warning
signs as soon as possible to alert motorists that the road narrows.
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 7 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
To recommend that Ballygirren Group Water Scheme in Newmarket on Fergus
be taken over by Clare County Council.
I wish to reply as follows:-
The Water Services Section has no objection in principle in taking the
Ballygirreen Group Water Scheme in charge subject the following:
(a) That the Group Scheme Section confirm that the Group Scheme is in
compliance with regard to the "taking in charge" procedures.
(b) Water Services Section accept the standard of the existing network.
Liam Murphy
Executive Engineer
Water Services Section
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 8 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
That Clare County Council give a report to the Area County Councillors
outlining the current progress on replacement lighting in Shannon and
future plans.
I wish to reply as follows:-
170 new lights have been installed on the principal traffic routes in
the town as replacement for mercury lights, which were very old and outdated.
In this context Clare County Council replaced all their stock of mercury
lights throughout the County some years ago. Approximately 340 new lights
have been installed in residential areas where the existing lighting lanterns
were old mercury type. This element of the upgrading is almost completed
as there are only approximately 30 old mercury lanterns still to be replaced.
Upgrading of the public lighting network is currently in progress in
the Cronan Estate, the road from St. Connaire’s School towards Inis
Ealga, and the area near Tullyvarraga Hall. New lights have also been
provided at the new mini roundabout near Tola Park. Time Clocks have been
replaced by photo-cells at two locations.
Further proposed upgrading will include:-
- Replacement of the 30 remaining mercury lights
- Provision of new poles at one-off locations where poles are missing
for one reason or another.
- Replacement of lanterns in Corrib Drive which are very old and corroding.
- Provision of poles and lanterns in Killian Park.
- Provision of photocells as replacement for time clocks in four remaining
areas.
- Provision of new poles at individual locations where there are gaps
in the system due to poles being knocked down etc., over the years.
Work is ongoing at present and will be progressed until all the outstanding
upgrading is completed.
Donal Hogan
Senior Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 9 submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“Moygalla water treatment plant, Moygalla, is currently supplying
the complete Shannon area with water, the facilities are in need of upgrading
and before there are any other areas added on to this I want a complete
upgrade of the plant.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
The water treatment plant at Moygala has been included in the Newmarket
on Fergus Water Supply Scheme Contract 3 and 4. A partial upgrade of the
water treatment plant is provided under Contract 4. The upgrade currently
proposed together with Water Conservation measures in the wider area will
ensure that the plant is capable of serving additional areas.
Walter Walsh
Senior Engineer
Water Services
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 10 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
That the seat outside the Crossroads Tavern, Drumgeely be repaired as
a
matter of urgency.
I wish to reply as follows:-
Clare County Council will repair the seat outside the Crossroads Tavern
as soon as possible.
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 11 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“To ask Clare County Council to purchase land at the Low Road,
Bunratty, from the two landowners in order to put in place Phase 1 of
the construction of a footpath.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
Clare County Council will approach the landowners along the Low Road,
Bunratty, to ascertain if they are agreeable to selling land and to determine
what the land acquisition costs are likely to be for widening the road
and providing a footpath.
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 12 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“That Clare County Council Environment Section advise the Area
Councillors
(a) Can the current sewerage system in Shannon cater for the expanding
building requirements?
(b) What stage is the sewerage improvement scheme at in Shannon?”
I wish to reply as follows:-
Improvements to the Shannon Town Sewerage System are included in the
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Governments Water Services
Investment Programme 2004-2006. Inclusion in this programme is a recognition
that there are deficiencies in the sewerage system in Shannon in terms
of the medium/longterm planning requirements of the town.
Regarding the sewerage scheme improvement proposed and included in the
Water Services Programme, the Council has undertaken a procurement process
to appoint a consulting engineer to prepare a Preliminary Report on the
Shannon Sewerage System. The fee proposal submitted by the consultant
has been forwarded to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government for approval and as soon as the fee proposal is approved,
the appointment to prepare the Preliminary Report will be made and work
on the report can commence.
Walter Walsh
Senior Engineer
Water Services
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 13 submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“I am requesting an update on the proposed opening of the Sixmilebridge
Railway station.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
The Forward Planning Section of the Economic Development and Planning
Department have been in discussions with Iarnrod Eireann concerning progressing
the identification of a site for the development of a railway station
at Sixmilebridge.
Through the review of the South Clare Local Area Plan a site has been
proposed that corresponds in part to the site of the former railway station
and will be considered for zoning as an amendment to the local area plan.
The station masters house is currently privately occupied and the adjacent
land required for the car parking is undeveloped agricultural land.
Iarnrod Eireann have advised that whilst they will not purchase the site
they will enter into an agreement with the landowners to locate a platform
and ancillary facilities necessary for the picking up and setting down
of passengers. They would not provide car parking for the station but
would leave that to others. Iarnrod Eireann will be carrying out a study
into the costs of providing the stop and platform within the next few
months
A decision has to be reached as to who will be responsible for the acquisition
and management of the car parking associated with the site. Agreement
then has to be reached on the relationship between the landowner and Iarnrod
Eireann. The Council will be considering this matter in the next few months
with a view to bringing a report to a Council meeting in February 2006.
Graham Webb
Acting Senior Planner
Economic Development & Planning
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 14 submitted by Cllr. P. McCarthy,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“That the capping on the wall around the rose bed in front of the
Shop in
Drumgeely be repaired as a matter of urgency.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
Clare County Council will reset the capping on the wall around the rose
bed in front of the shop in Drumgeely as soon as possible.
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 15 submitted by Cllr. P. McMahon,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“To ask Clare County Council to put traffic calming measures in
place at the entrance road to the Family Support Centre, Newmarket on
Fergus, due to the ongoing heavy traffic at certain times of the day.”
I wish to reply as follows:-
The proposal to install traffic calming measures on the road leading
to the Family Support Centre in Newmarket on Fergus was referred to the
Road Design Section of Clare County Council. On the 4th October, 2005,
Ms. Siobhan Burke, Executive Engineer, of the Road Design Section and
myself inspected this estate road and made the following observations.
The road is 5 m, wide and approximately 170m long. The observed speeds
along the cul-de-sac road were low. The road width is effectively reduced
to 3 metres by cars parking in front of houses along the road. The parked
cars have the same effect as horizontal build-outs and reduce the speed
of motorists exiting the cul-de-sac road, as they must yield to incoming
traffic. Ms. Burke’s considered opinion is that the observed speeds
do not warrant the installation of traffic ramps and that ramps would
in fact be undesirable at this location due to the noise associated with
their operation. I concur with this opinion.
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 16 submitted by Cllr. G. Flynn,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
“That Clare County Council property section give a report outlining
the current status of Tullyvarraga Hall, Shannon:-
(a) what is the development potential of this site?
(b) what is the current leasing arrangement?”
I wish to reply as follows:-
Some years ago Shannon Development granted a lease to the local community
on Tullyvarraga Hall. I understand from Shannon Development that prior
to that some works had been carried out to the building by the company.
Responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and management of the Hall
rests with the entity who are leasing the building.
As far as I am aware, the Council has had no contact with the Leasee’s
since the take-over of services in Shannon Town by the Council in September
2004. It is the Council’s understanding that ongoing use is made
of the Hall at present and the Council has no plans other than to continue
the present leasing arrangements.
Any changes to the present arrangements will require the approval of
the Council as the present lessors.
Michael McNamara
Senior Executive Officer
Corporate Services
With reference to Notice of Motion No. 17 submitted by Cllr. J. Crowe,
for the Shannon Electoral Area Committee Meeting on 15th November, 2005,
Major resurfacing of all Roads into Sixmilebridge a few years ago was
a fantastic job. In the last year / 18 months there has been numerous
road openings. The reinstating of a lot of these are not satisfactory
and I am requesting that anyone who opens the roads are made to return
them to the same standard. If this is not done soon we are going to end
up with the roads in a bad state again.
I wish to reply as follows:-
Clare County Council have issued road opening licences to a number of
contractors in Sixmilebridge to excavate the public road under Section
13 (6) of the Roads Act, 1993. Each road opening licence contains conditions,
specifications and drawings detailing temporary and or permanent reinstatement
details, which the contractor must comply with. Responsibility for the
excavation and permanent reinstatement remains with the contractor for
a 24 months maintenance period from the date of approval of the permanent
reinstatement. The contractor must carry out maintenance works during
the maintenance period to Clare County Council’s satisfaction. Failure
to carry out such remedial works will result in Clare County Council arranging
to undertake the works and invoicing the applicant for any remaining balance.
Clare County Council will inspect all road reinstatements, which have
taken place within the past 18 months in Sixmilebridge. If any reinstatement
is found to be unsatisfactory, Clare County Council will write to the
Contractor who is responsible for the reinstatement. The Contractor will
be requested to immediately rectify any damage he has caused to the public
road and carry out the reinstatement works in accordance with the conditions,
specification and drawings contained in his licence.
Michael Healy
Executive Engineer
Transportation & Infrastructure
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