Minutes of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 6th December 2008 at Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee at 8:30 p.m.
Cathaoirleach sa Cathair
I Láthair
- Cllr. Tom Nolan
- Cllr. Lily Marrinan Sullivan
- Cllr. P.J Lardner
- Cllr. Brian Keane
- Cllr. Michael McGrath
- Cllr. Carmel Deloughery
- Cllr. Claire Haugh
- Cllr. Michael Martin.
I Láthair
- Nora Kaye, A/Director of Service and Town Manager
- Derek Troy, Executive Engineer and Town Engineer
- John Corry, A/Town Clerk
Minutes of the November monthly meeting of Kilkee Town Council held on Monday 3rd November 2008 at the Sweeney Memorial Library, Kilkee.
The Minutes of the November meeting were proposed for adoption by Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan and seconded by Cllr. Martin.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Haugh
"That Clare County Council provide a ramp at the West End for people to access the Pollock Holes"
Response submitted by Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
The provision of an accessible ramp at this location will be considered under the Disability Services Funding 2009.
Response Ends.
Cllr. Haugh confirmed that she knew of someone who couldn’t access the Pollock Holes and that she called for a ramp to be provided there, as it was a very popular scenic area that everyone should be able to access.
Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan supported the motion. She added that it had been raised at Tidy Towns that access be provided to bathing areas.
Cllr. Martin also agreed. He said that it was not just people in wheelchairs but also that the elderly needed to gain access.
Derek Troy confirmed that he would look and see what could be done but that his reservation would be that if the ramp provided access to the rocky area he would have concerns if someone got into difficulty down there.
Cllr. Nolan added that for someone in the best of health that the Pollock Holes could be a hazardous area and that he wouldn’t be encouraging people in wheelchairs to go down there. He suggested that if money was there to be spent on ramps that there would be more suitable locations.
Derek Troy suggested that he would look at it and that possibly a railing would be a possibility there.
It was agreed that Derek would look at the possibilities and report back to the members in due course.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Haugh
"Calling on Clare Co. Council and Shannon Development to try and source some industry for the vacant factory bays at Carrigaholt Road"
Cllr. Haugh suggested that possibly Kilkee Town Council in conjunction with Shannon Development and Clare County Council could source some small industry to occupy these bays and provide some local jobs. She said they had a history of providing employment locally.
Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan supported the motion. She doubted however how interested Shannon Development were. She wanted to ensure that these two bays were not knocked or sold. She suggested that the Town Clerk would arrange for someone from Shannon Development to meet with the Council at a future date.
Cllr. Linnane suggested that the Chamber of Commerce be contacted first because he said that as far as he was aware that there was a proposal in from Shannon Development for the purchase by them of the land at the back of these two units to put in small bays for craft and small enterprise.
Cllr Nolan questioned as to whether or not these bays still had a big open internal space. He was told that they had.
Nora Kaye suggested that it would be a good idea to invite John Quinlivan, Shannon Development and that if he came back with facts and figures re employment in Kilkee that this would be helpful.
The Town Clerk agreed that he would invite John Quinlivan to a future meeting of Kilkee Town Council at his earliest convenience.
Cllr. PJ Lardner confirmed that this matter had been discussed at the West Clare Area Task Force last year. He suggested that the Chairman of Kilkee Town Council would be meeting all the interested parties at the Task Force meeting the following day.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Haugh
"That the carpark at the Well Rd be retained and the necessary works to upgrade it be carried out by Clare Co Council"
Response submitted by Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
The future use of the car park at the Well Road is currently under review as its current usage rate as a car park is very low and is prone to retaining water during heavy rainfall. Any works that may be undertaken will be dependant on availability of funding.
Consideration will have to be given to both the overall car parking availability within the town, and to the overall surface water drainage of the area in light of the increased incidences of flash flooding.
Response Ends.
Cllr Haugh called for the car park to be upgraded with proper signage so that people could use it. She said that it was lying idle for so many years with nothing being done with it and that it was time that something was done as especially during summer months car parking is required in Kilkee and that parking was an issue of concern in Kilkee.
Cllr Marrinan Sullivan agreed however she questioned as to why the Well Road wasn’t identified as an area that is prone to flooding in the Draft West Clare Development Plan. She confirmed that it was unnerving that areas, which were prone to flooding, were not mentioned in the Draft Plan.
Derek Troy confirmed that he submitted a report to the Minister for Environment that mentioned all the areas in Kilkee that were prone to flooding but that he didn’t know why these areas were not mentioned in the Draft Development Plan.
Cllr. Nolan said that this area was always a swamp and that he wouldn’t be supporting this motion as he recently had a motion suggesting that the car park be retained as a swamp. Cllr Nolan added that Clare County Council needed to identify what areas in Kilkee where prone to flooding and what could be done to prevent this flooding.
Derek Troy confirmed that it was being suggested that the Well Road car park would be used as an attenuation tank. He confirmed that he was aware of the areas in Kilkee that were prone to flooding and that he was dealing with these as best he could. He added that the area in front of Marine Estate would be tarmaced the following day.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan
"A full update on the work being done on the new storm water pipe being added to the Victoria stream and what pressure this might bring to bear on the Victoria stream itself".
Response submitted by Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
The diversion of the outfall point of the storm water pipe as agreed earlier this year, is currently under construction and will be complete within the next two weeks. The works are being funded from planning contributions. The diversion will include the provision of a petrol interceptor and a non-return flap valve at the new outfall point within Victoria Stream. It is expected that the addition of the flow from this pipe to the Victoria Stream will not have any major adverse affect, as there is capacity available at the connection point. The provision of the pipe will help to reduce storm water problems on Circular road and Carrigaholt Road.
Response Ends.
Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan said that it was nice when the Town Council was listened to and she thanked Derek and the Town Manager at the time for the new storm water pipe being moved and she questioning as to what pressure this would bring to the stream itself and as to whether or not this would cause a problem.
D. Troy confirmed that this would not be a problem. He confirmed that the pipe originated at Circular Road and that it didn’t go directly on to the beach but rather it went out the Carrigaholt Road so that eventually it ended up in the Victoria Stream. He added that there was a petrol interceptor provided also so that if ever there was a petrol or oil spillage in Circular Road it was prevented from going on to the beach.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan
"Will the pump that is in operation at this time need to be upgraded, to allow for the increase in the capacity of this additional water?"
Response submitted by Derek Troy, Executive Engineer
The main foul sewer and storm water pumping station will not need to be upgraded due to the diversion works on the new storm water pipe. Operation and maintenance costs may increase however, as the pumps may be running for longer periods.
Response Ends.
Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan questioned whether or not the pump had failed or was it turned off during the winter.
Derek Troy confirmed that during winter the storm water pump is not on, only the sewerage pump is on. He clarified that there were two separate pumps there a sewerage pump and a storm pump. When the Victoria Stream is dammed during the bathing season the storm water pump is on and the storm water is pumped. In very heavy rainfall the storm water overflows the dam and on to the beach and this happened a number of times during the past summer.
Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan questioned as to who makes the call as to when the storm water pump is to be turned on?
Derek Troy confirmed that the pump operated on a flow switch, during the summer but that in winter it is switched off as it would make no difference to the flow of water. He further added that the pump did not need to be upgraded for the summer months.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan
"An update on the status of the proposed new sewerage plant for Kilkee."
Response submitted by Hugh McGrath, Senior Executive Engineer, Water Services, Clare Co. Council
Clare County Council is currently finalising additional information requested by the Department before approval of the Preliminary Report.
Response Ends.
Cllr. Marrnian Sullivan said that she put in this motion, as she was unnerved that 40% of the cost of providing infrastructure would have to come form Clare County Council. She said that she had been promised that this facility would be put in place for a long long time.
John Corry confirmed that Hugh McGrath Senior Executive Engineer was finalizing further information requested by the Department of the Environment and Local Government
Cllr Marrinan Sullivan said she was not happy with this and she said she was led to believe that the application was at the latter stages with the Department. She said that they were still operating from the same plant that existed before any extra houses were built in Kilkee. She added that over 1000 holiday homes had been built in Kilkee since 1996.
Nora Kaye suggested that she would provide information to members as to where exactly this application was presently at with the Department of the Environment.
John Corry confirmed that he would get clarification for the members as to exactly where the scheme was at.
Notice of Motion submitted by Cllr. Nolan
"That planning for a public toilet at the West End, where existing [last] housing development ends, be inserted into West Clare Area development plan."
Cllr. Nolan confirmed that this facility was badly needed.
Cllr Linnane agreed and said that this had been identified by John Bradley, Senior Executive Planner, Clare Co. Council at the meeting re the Draft West Clare Area Development Plan and that a submission should be made re same.
Correspondence
Cllr. Marrinan Sullivan said she supported both motions coming from Kilrush Town Council. These were also supported by the other members.
Cllr Martin agreed with the motion from Clones Town Council re relaxing conditions for Irish citizens returning from the USA and other countries.
A.O.B.
Cllr Carmel Deloughery wished every success to the Youth Café in the Community Centre in Kilkee. This was echoed by the other members.
As there was no further business the meeting concluded |
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