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Celbridge Area Meeting

Minutes of Meeting

Held at 10.00 a.m. on Friday 17 April 2009

At Áras Chill Dara, Naas

Members Present :  Councillor K. Ridge (Cathaoirleach), Councillors G. Conway and

K. Byrne.

Also Present :  Mr. J. Lahart (Director of Services), Ms S. Kavanagh (S.E.O.)

Mr. C. Talbot (Meetings Administrator), Ms. S. Rice (Secretary).

CE 01/04/09

Minutes and Progress Report

Closure of the right of way in Crodaun Forest Park

It was reported that some progress had been made on this issue and that part of the lands in question may already be in the ownership of the residents. An Cathaoirleach asked that a letter be sent to those residents involved to inform them of this and that the roads department return to the members with an estimated timeframe for completion.

Delivery access at Tesco

This matter is being investigated jointly by planning control and the roads section, and that an update on developments would be provided for the next meeting.

Landscaping at Vanessa Lawns

At the February meeting Councillor Byrne asked if suitable landscaping can be done at the green areas of Vanessa Close, Celbridge that were badly damaged during the recent floods.

It was reported at the meeting that the parks department referred this matter to the roads department and that they should correspond with the Office of Public Works with a view to them reinstating the green areas in question.

Land for allotments

It was reported at the meeting that the members had met with the Office of Public Works to discuss the possibility of lands in Castletown Demesne be used to establish an allotment scheme in the Celbridge area. The members also asked that the council investigate the suitability of the “backlots” between Castletown estate and Castletown Demesne for an allotment scheme.

Damaged bus shelter, Oakleigh estate

At the March meeting the roads department reported that Bus Eireann had been contacted regarding the bus shelter and that they would contact the company who provided the shelter and ask them to review or repair it. The members requested an update on this item for the May meeting.

Community enterprise initiatives for Celbridge

An Cathaoirleach welcomed the report presented to the committee at the March meeting and had asked that representations be made to the Minister with a view to Kildare County Council administrating Community Employment Schemes which are huge benefit for those who are currently unemployed. An Cathaoirleach requested that an update on this item be presented to the May meeting.

Delivery access at Tesco

This matter is being investigated jointly by planning control and the roads section. An update on developments will be provided at the next meeting.

CE 02/04/09

Road repairs from Maxol station to the Salesian College

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Ridge:

Will the roads department attend to the subsidence/pot holes on the stretch of road from the Maxol station to the Salesian College?

The roads department reported that this could only be repaired if funding was made available through the road grants and they were unable to provide that information at present. An Cathaoirleach was unhappy with this report and asked if the members would receive their discretionary funds this year, Ms Kavanagh explained that the circular from The Department of Transport stated that no new contractual works would begin due to a lack funding. An Cathaoirleach queried as to when the works at the school crossing would begin as they were previously scheduled to start during school holidays at Easter.

Resolved: That the roads department report to the next meeting in relation to works on the school crossing.

CE03/04/09

New bus stops at Donaghcomper cemetery, Loughlinstown Road /Dublin Road junction

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Byrne:

To ask if the council would indicate when the new bus stops at Donaghcomper cemetery

and at the Loughlinstown Road /Dublin Road junction will be put in place?

The roads department reported that an application for further funding from the Dublin Transport Office had been made but no decision regarding approval had been made to date. Councillor Byrne reported that the Loughlinstown/Dublin road should be prioritised for a new bus stop.

Resolved: The roads department noted the councilors wishes and would pass the information to Dublin Transport Office.

CE04/04/09

Weight restrictions on Lords Road, Hazelhatch

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Byrne:

To ask the council if it would put in place the necessary measures to prevent the minor road   known as the Lords Road, Hazelhatch, Celbridge being used by heavy goods vehicles or vehicles over 10 tonne other than those needing access to same?

The roads department suggested that a traffic count be done to identify the level of heavy goods vehicles using this route before considering this matter, and that an alternative route would have to be identified if this was to be considered, Councillor Byrne suggested that the Simmonstown road would be a suitable route for heavy goods vehicles and asked that a traffic count be done at both locations.

Resolved: That a traffic count be done on Lords Road and Simmonstown Road.

CE05/04/09

Funding for TPI traffic management report

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Ridge:

That the roads department provides an update on the outcome of the funding application made in respect of some of the proposed works in the TPI traffic management report.

It was reported that the Dublin Transport Office had not, as yet, allocated any grant aiding for this work.  Should funding become available the roads department would notify the members without delay.

Resolved: That the members be informed of any progress on this item.

CE06/04/09

Celbridge Traffic Management Plan

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Byrne:

That the Celbridge area committee hereby resolves to adopt the Celbridge traffic management plan, and that a copy of same be placed on display in the Celbridge library.

Resolved: That item be discussed at next meeting of Kildare County Council.

CE07/04/09

Litterbins

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Byrne:

That litterbins be provided at the following locations in the Celbridge area:

(a) At the bus stop at Youngs Cross on the Dublin Road.

(b) At the new bridge on the Liffey near the entrance to Hewlett Packard, an area used by many anglers.

If the bins are provided they would be emptied by the local residents group.

The roads department reported that there was no funding for any additional bins.  Furthermore, there was no service available for emptying bins at Young’s Cross as the bin route is at capacity at present. Councillor Byrne requested that unused bins in the area office be installed and that local residents group would empty them.

Resolved: That roads department investigate the councillors’ request.

CE08/04/09

Road repairs at Setanta Hotel

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Byrne:

That urgent repairs be carried out to the road between the entrance to the Setanta Hotel and Kiladoon Park housing estate where the road has subsided and broken up, this is particularly dangerous to cyclists.

The area office reported that they would discuss this matter with the water services department as the contractor who laid the sewer from Straffan to Celbridge (on behalf of water services) reinstated the road. It was also reported that there was no funding available in the roads maintenance budget for these repairs.

Resolved: That report be noted.

CE09/04/09

Stopcocks in Saint Patrick’s Park housing estate

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Byrne:

To ask the council to examine the stopcocks in Saint Patrick’s Park housing estate

Celbridge to ensure that the taps are accessible in case of necessity?

Report: The water services department reported that the area caretaker had carried out an initial survey of houses in St Patrick’s Park and found the stopcocks that were examined were fond to be accessible. Further examinations would be carried out to complete the survey. However, if residents are experiencing particular difficulties then contact should be made directly with the area caretaker identifying the exact location of inaccessible stopcocks, whereupon appropriate action will be taken to deal with the matter. In addition, the waterworks department was working in conjunction with the roads area office to fit new service control units to properties where works are in progress to upgrade existing footpaths.

Resolved: That report be noted.

CE10/04/09

Allocation of vacant house in Ballymakealy

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Ridge:

When will the boarded up house in Ballymakealy be ready for occupation?

The housing department reported that the house was ready for occupation but they were waiting for a Garda clearance check prior to allocation.

Resolved: That report be noted.

CE11/04/09

Social and Affordable Housing units

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Ridge:

That the housing department provide a report on the number of social and affordable units that have been provided in the Celbridge electoral area since September 2004 and that comparative figures be given for the same period for the other electoral areas.

Report: The housing department presented the members with a report outlining the amount of allocations made in both social and affordable housing throughout the county, however It did not include the administrative areas of Athy or Naas Town Councils nor did it include units delivered by voluntary housing agencies through Kildare County Council. An Cathaoirleach commended the local authority on the amount of social and affordable housing provided to people throughout the county.

Resolved: That report be noted.

CE12/04/09

Lands owned by Kildare County Council in Celbridge electoral area

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Ridge:

What lands in the Celbridge electoral area are currently in the ownership of Kildare County Council?

The members were presented with a map from the water services section, which outlined lands under their ownership. An Cathaoirleach asked that a further single map be submitted for the next meeting displaying all lands owned by each department and if possible that each departments lands be a different colour.

Resolved: That the roads, housing and community and enterprise departments work together to produce a single map with all areas defined in different colours.

CE13/04/09

Refuse Collection

The committee considered the following question in the name of Councillor Ridge:

Can the council advise as to whether all paid up/waiver clients of the Kildare County Council refuse collection service have been supplied with a current refuse sticker?

If not, what is causing the delay and what measures will be put in place to ensure that same are issued in advance of 20 April, from which date the collection service will be withdrawn.

The environment department reported that the refuse collection service would be withdrawn from week beginning 20 April 2009 from customers whose bins do not display a 2009 sticker. Customers have been advised of this through warning notices placed on bins since the beginning of April. All waiver customers and all customers who have made a full payment would be issued with a 2009 Sticker prior to the withdrawal of the service. Staffs from outside of the Refuse section had been brought in to assist in the process due to the volume of work involved. An Cathaoirleach stated that the report was incorrect as she was aware of numerous customers who contacted her in relation to this had paid their account in full in recent months but had not yet received their 2009 sticker, she also said that the council should be ensuring that their customers are receiving a more efficient service.

Resolved: That report be noted.

The meeting concluded.