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Sun 4 May

Passage West/Monkstown News, 4th May 2008


Sincere apologies for the long overdue update of the Passage West/Monkstown News.
This has been due to a new baby and four weeks of an oral hearing. We hope to bring you a fresh update by the end of next week. In the meantime, many thanks to Southern Star reporter, Leo McMahon, who has kindly continued to send copies of reports on Passage West carried by the Southern Star over the past couple of weeks. While you await the latest News update, here are a selection of these ...


THE SOUTHERN STAR, is a local weekly newspaper covering Cork and County and with a large readership among 'exiles' abroad, many from the Lower Harbour area. Founded in 1889 in Skibbereen, it provides regular coverage of meetings of Passage West Town Council and other local happenings. On sale
locally, it also has a website www.southernstar.ie . News items are always most welcome and your contacts are:

PASSAGE WEST-MONKSTOWN NOTES - Therese Flannery 087-2508566
PHOTOS - Howard Crowdy 087-6790800 hcrowdy@indigo.ie
AREA REPORTER - Leo McMahon 021-4293514 leomcmahon@eircom.net
ADVERTISING/PRINTING - 028-21200 advertising@southernstar.ie


A brighter Passage
BY LEO McMAHON
PASSAGE WEST Town Councillors have been quick off the mark drawing up proposals to improve public lighting in various black spots in the locality ahead of a deadline in September for the next Cork County Council public lighting programme.

Among the suggestions at their recent meeting were:
  • Lights at the top of Church Hill from Maulbaun Cross to the Old Church Road (Mr. Michael Murphy).
  • Two lights in the middle of the road and on the opposite side of the terrace at Lee View Place, Carrigmahon (Messrs. Jim Murphy and Seamus McGrath MCC).
  • On the railway walk beyond Monkstown from Hayes’ Lane to Murph’s Pub (Messrs. M. Murphy, J. Murphy and Mayor Dominick Daly).
  • The one way alley on the Horsehead side of Rockenham near the old shop (Mr. Neil O’Sullivan)

There was also a request at a more recent meeting by Mr. M. Murphy for improved lighting at Dock Cottages while Mr. McGrath complimented local ESB worker Willy O’Callaghan on his quick response to a local lighting problem at Carrigmahon.

At a recent meeting of the county council’s Carrigaline Area Committee, members approved spending in the locality on Glenbrook ferry terminal to Monkstown (¤80,000) which the town council has been pressing for over many years. There was also support for a call by Mr. McGrath for ducting for future lighting under the footpath between Rochestown Inn and Passage West following the laying of a watermain and resurfacing.

Passage West TC supported a motion from Edenderry TC, Co. Offaly, calling on the Minister for Local Government to amend the planning laws to ensure that developers, prior to leaving a housing scheme, have the street lights which forms part of the planning application, lit up in the interest of the safety of those living there. Mr. McGrath this was a real issue in a number of estates in the Carrigaline area.

There was also support for a motion from Thurles TC calling on the Government to provide defibrillators to all schools and provide same in shopping centres, night clubs, sports clubs, leisure centres and swimming pools.

On a proposal by Mr. M. Murphy, seconded by Mr. McGrath, the council adopted a motion from Clonmel Borough Council calling on the Minister for Justice and Law Reform to oppose any move by bookmaker chains to have gaming machines in betting shops. Ms. Jo. Kelleher also voiced her support for a motion from the same council opposing water charges on schools.

Landscaping work at entrance to Passage West is welcomed
BY LEO McMAHON
A call on Cork County Council to landscape the grass bank at Rockenham on the main entrance to the town similar to that done on the other side of the roundabout was made by Mr. John Daly and supported by Mr. Neil O’Sullivan and other members of Passage West Town Council at the monthly meeting.

The grass banks were steep and difficult to maintain but the council did a lovely job by planting shrubs on one of these, added Mr. Daly, who complimented the area engineer.

Mr. Jerry Cronin voiced concern about the proliferation of litter along the roadside in the area even after a clean up using a council truck on a recent Saturday. He added that there were many bags of refuse along the R610 between Raffeen and Douglas and at Ballyorban.

In agreement, Mr. Daly said it was terrible to see the county council collecting black bags deposited on to the island of the ‘centre block’ by people who didn’t pay any refuse charge. There was also a renewed call by members for removal of material at the end of Steampacket Quay and it was agreed to refer the matter to the Health Service Executive in case it was a health hazard.

Mr. O’Sullivan said he was normally reluctant to recommend these but he believed CCTV cameras were needed in litter black spots and asked that enquiries be made by the area engineer. Mayor Dominick Donnelly said there was need for prosecutions and hefty fines as done effectively in Youghal to tackle dog fouling on footpaths and litter.

Ms. Jo. Kelleher called for removal of overgrowth and a clean up of the car park at Glenbrook cross river ferry terminal and in the parking area across the road. At present, it looked very shabby in an area used by many tourists, she added.

DERELICTION
A report on three buildings which the town council believes to be in a derelict state was furnished. The three sites are the building next to the old credit union in Passage West, the site behind the Ferry Arms in Canning Place, Glenbrook and sheds at Castle Road, Monkstown.

Members were told that a hoarding was placed in front of the building by Cork County Council to project the public in 2003.Planning permission was granted to develop the building next to the old credit union in Strand Street (previously known as the Old Pine Stores) in 2005. There were no records with the water services section in County Hall dealing with derelict sites regarding the site behind the Ferry Arms. A number of buildings at Castle Road were inspected in January 2004 and at the time reported were not described as derelict.

A request had been made to the area engineer in Carrigaline to furnish a report on each of the properties and Passage West TC agreed to consider this at its next meeting.


Beach at Ringaskiddy needs more upkeep, says councillor
BY LEO McMAHON
“We should make it more of an amenity”, said Ms. Deirdre Forde at the monthly meeting of Cork County Council’s Carrigaline Electoral Area Committee when calling for better upkeep of the beach at Ringaskiddy known as ‘The Gobby’ near the road leading to Rocky and Haulbowline Islands.

She said it was a lovely inlet looking out to Spike Island and Cork Harbour and acknowledged there was public seating and a small grassed area but there was need for much more regular upkeep of this and the beach itself. Area engineer Mr. John Forde replied that it was a question of funding and resources. It was agreed to write to the County Manager seeking specific funding for the upkeep of beach areas.

Ms. Forde said litter wasn’t collected and there were overhanging trees on the Rochestown Road making it difficult for walkers. Overall there was need for better upkeep of open spaces in the Douglas area. The engineer said overgrowth could only be dealt with at the end of the nesting season. It was a question of lack of resources for street cleaning.

While welcoming improvements at Maryborough Hill, Douglas, speeding was a problem and there was need for all sections of footpath to be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. She asked that this be done as part of the proposed ‘Green Route’ bus priority work and the engineer undertook to contact the team in charge of this.

Overall, said Ms. Forde, with the Carrigaline area accounting for around 16% of around 10,000 planning applications in the county per annum, there was a strong case for additional engineers and staff in Carrigaline and Ballincollig to deal with these and thereby free up roads engineers to concentrate on their specific areas of work. Other members concurred.

The committee moved for a report a motion from Ms. Forde that the footpath on the right entrance to Montpellier Road, Donnybrook, Douglas be upgraded. She also called for the road surface of Montperllier Road to be upgraded. It was agreed that her request for public toilets in Douglas be referred to the Southern Committee.

Senior staff officer Ms. Trish O’Riordan said no submissions had been received following an advertisement for the proposed extinguishment of a right of way and postman’s walk between Stockton’s Close and Grange Heights, Douglas. It was agreed to seek more specific information and a report from the engineer to a request to close a right of way at Rochestown Road.

With regard to a proposal to extinguish the right of way between Hollyville and Newton Court, Grange, Ms. Forde argued that more planting and lighting could possibly resolve the situation instead of closing the path. Cathaoirleach Mr. Mark O’Keeffe concurred.

In updates, Ms. O’Riordan said a petition was received in the summer to close the right of way at Inchvale Close, Douglas and the view of Gardai being sought. The council was examining another request following a petition to close the right of way at The Fairways, Maryborough Hill. Ms. Forde said there was a petition from residents seeking closure of a walkway at Grange Erin, Douglas.


Action demanded on new school for Passage West
BY LEO McMAHON
“PASSAGE WEST is being treated as a Third World town and it has to end”. So stated teacher Ray Dowling at a packed hall in Star of the Sea Primary School on Monday night as part of the long running campaign for a new school for the rapidly expanding harbour town. In attendance among angry parents and staff, were public representatives including Cabinet Minister Micheal Martin TD who said he seeking in writing from the Department of Education, now that a design team had been appointed, a definitive timeline to progress the project to tender, construction and completion but along with other speakers, fully accepted that current conditions were totally unacceptable.

Principal Brendan McCormack outlined the history of the campaign, pointing out that in 1999, the same year as the St. Mary’s Convent NS and Scoil Cholmchille Boys NS amalgamated to become Star of the Sea, sanction for a new co-ed school was sanctioned by then Minister for Education Micheal Martin. Difficulties were encountered in acquiring a site but it was purchased in February 2005 and put on the Department’s building list in 2006. In the meantime, the population of Passage West had exploded and a school built for 140 boys now had 311 (200 of them in pre-fabs) and would reach around 450 in the next three years.

Outlining the many defects regarding room sizes for pupils and staff, collapsed floors in pre-fabs, limited access to toilets, drinking water, fire safety, the loss of a playing field and part of the car park and traffic hazards, Mr. McCormack said that when two more pre-fabs arrived in September, there would be room for no more and concluded “we need a new school now”.

Chairperson of the Joint Action Committee comprising the board, teachers and parents and mother of two pupils, Fiona O’Reilly, said it was formed in February when it became obvious that no amount of letter writing, e mails or telephone calls were going working and what was needed was action rather than words. “Parents, children, staff and the local community took to the streets outside the school on March 10 and April 7 in terrible weather to show disapproval and frustration at the way the Government was treating the children of Passage West”

Children, Fiona stressed, were the victims of “this ongoing farce”. She referred to the smell of ammonia and mould in the air of one classroom and a disused drain covered by a piece of board, part of what were originally toilets now used as a classroom. “I had an irritation in my throat and nose after only 20 minutes. I can only imagine what it is like to spend six hours here. Despite the terrible conditions however, the children are happy and for this great credit is due to the staff.

Speaking against the backdrop of TV coverage of the protests and slides showing the defects, she said: “It is so enraging how the children of this so called prosperous and progressive country are treated like second class citizens. They should be enjoying their education and their days at school, not out on the streets fighting for a modern and safe environment in which to be educated. This is an extremely serious issue yet no one will highlight it or call the Government to task and make them accountable for all their false promises” said Fiona.
 
She was highly critical of Minister for Education Mary Hanafin for not regarding Passage West as a rapidly developing area yet being able to do so in the case of Rochestown which was approved for a school after just two years. She probably never visited the area and took her information from an outdated census.

“Howard Holdings are building a new development in the town centre which will comprise 405 residential units. As part of the planning application they have to carry out an environmental impact study which should incorporate an assessment of the demand for school places likely to be generated. If there are no places available here or at Scoil Barra Naofa, Monkstown, can either Minister Martin or Mr. McGrath tell me does this mean the development will not go ahead and that the people of Passage West will lose out once again ?”

Fiona O’Reilly repeated the call for action by public representatives adding: “We will continue this campaign until we know that funding for the entire project is securely in place, we have a date for construction to begin and the completion day. This campaign is for our children and as their parents we are their voice”.

Raymond Dowling reiterated the shortcoming resulting from overcrowding including the hall being a classroom and severely limiting PE and drama, holes in the floor of pre-fabs from dry rot, lack of storage and proper access to water and toilets in a school which still managed to excel as for example in Cor Fheile.

Minister Martin said he was not happy at the lack of progress last year after the Dept. of Education in 2006 announced that a design team was being appointed. On being contacted about the matter in early 2008, he was informed that the appointment would be at the end of March and it happened earlier this month. There had been changes in key personnel in the building section but he agreed the situation was totally unacceptable and he was and would continue to workwith the school board, principal, parents and others on a regular basis to get the project, a new 16 classroom building, over the line. However, he was not prepared to give a timeframe on a start and completion until he himself got in writing, a definitive time line from the Dept. of Education but pledged his total commitment to achieve the required funding.

Michael McGrath TD, (Fianna Fail) a past pupil, said the appointment of a design team was a very important step as it was a commitment to delivery with projects managers now in place to see it through to completion. The Dept. of Education, he said, had been made acutely aware of its importance and he would continue to do all he could to progress it.

Simon Coveney TD (Fine Gael) said it was embarrassing to again have to address angry parents and staff because the project should have been given a kickstart to progress rapidly after such a long delay over the site. He also argued that as happened with Frankfield NS, it could be fast tracked. Ciaran Lynch TD (Labour) said what had been achieved so far was the result of the campaign by parents and staff and it must be continued. Deirdre Clune TD (FG) also voiced her support and stressed the need for a time frame from the government.

Senator Dan Boyle (Green) said appointing a design team amounted to just “a flicker of hope” shared by many other schools and agreed there had to be a time line and a better system put in place to let people know where they stood. Senator Jerry Buttimer (FG) repeated the slogan recited at the protests outside the school ‘What do we want ? A new school. When do we want it ? Now !’.

Mayor of Passage West Dominick Donnelly (Green) reiterated the continued support of the town council which was demanding a meeting with Minister Hannafin. Other public representatives present were town councillors Seamus McGrath MCC John Daly, Jerry Cronin and Jim Murphy and county councillors Deirdre Forde and Paula Desmond, Chairman of the public meeting, Jim Murphy then took comments from the overflow attendance. John O’Reilly said if the building was a club or business premises, it would be shut down for health and safety reasons. Gemma Thomas said she feared for her daughter’s safety if she was in an upstairs classroom due to lack of a fire alarm. Teacher Celine Hyde said there was anger over Passage, which agreed in 1998 to the amalgamation on the promise that a new school would be delivered, being overlooked when Rochestown was approved so quickly in a parish (Douglas) with three other schools not as overcrowded. Ed Roycroft said people wanted to know how quickly a new school could be delivered while board chairperson Marian Mullins said she had spent hours and hours on the phone and by others means trying to get answers but was effectively fobbed off by the department.

Passage town councillor and former board member John Daly (FG) said the same empty promises had come from the same Fianna Fail led government on the issue since 1997 while county councillor Paula Desmond (Lab) said the critical issue would be a commitment on funding. Eight years old pupil Aisling Dermody spoke about seeing a squashed rat in the playground, a point referred to by Angela Sweeney who added that classrooms in the 1908 Passage school were actually bigger.

Lilian Kilana, mother of a girl in junior infants, said the classroom she was in 15 years ago in her native Nigeria was much better than those in a developed country, a point echoed by Noleen Roussel about her cousin’s school in France and Ray Dowling from his visit to a school near the Kalahari Desert. Other speakers included Karen Allen, Sean Murphy, Peter Farrell, Damien Quirke and Mary Wilkie, all of whom paid tribute to Fiona and the action committee and staff and urged public representatives to get a definite time frame from the principal officer and Minister for Education so that their children can benefit from the delivery of the long awaited new school for Passage West at Maulbaun.

Passage biker got his kicks crossing USA on Route 66
BY Niall O'Sullivan
Last September, Passage West town councillor and biker, Neil ‘Brocky’ O’Sullivan and his wife Liz crossed the United States of America along the famous Route 66. A motor cyclist for many years and the owner of a Honda Blackbird, Neil hired a 1500cc Harley Davidson America from Chicago to Los Angeles and recalls for South County what was a memorable journey.

What is Route 66 ? Americans call it the mother road or main street America. In truth it is America's ring of Kerry, but it's 2300 miles long and the ends don't meet. It meanders through eight states Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California, from the Great Lakes to the Pacific. It crosses three time zones and the continental divide, dense forests, rolling plains, high mountains and dry deserts are all split by this winding two lane concrete road. The weather and scenery change by the mile, never mind by the day. It makes you wonder why Americans travel, when they have all this on their doorstep.

Travelling Route 66 is a journey through the last 80 years of American social, economic and cultural history. An era when the biggest advancements in technology, transport and culture occurred. All these soon made their way across the Atlantic to Ireland and Europe. Music, fashion and food were taken on board by us. Some reversals too, but hey, they're the breaks!

Route 66 was laid down at the start of the Great Depression in middle America the early 1930’s in an effort to escape poverty and tough mundane lives headed west. Along the way they formed new communities, cultures clashed and bonded and brought a whole new way of life, not just to America but to the world. Along the route you get the feel for this change in the old diners and motels and little gift shops at the side of the road, its like travelling through a bygone era. The changing music, from Woodie Guthrie to the Mamas and Papas, the food ranges from thick fried bread in New Mexico to 72oz. steaks in Texas. You can visit the old and dignified beauty of Sante Fe and the see the garishness of Las Vegas, the vastness of the Grand Canyon, the confines of the Great Lakes, the emptiness of the Mojave desert and the sheer scale of the Hoover Dam, a monument to native and immigrant workers. All of them dwarfed by the vastness of the Pacific ocean. Each has its own story, its own history tied together with Route 66.

Along Route 66, you will meet the real people of America, the people of the heartland. This is where America finds its true meaning. Also it is where it finds its troops, the men and women who give their lives to their country, spill their blood around the world, not for oil but because their country asks them to. You may not agree with the wars, but you have to admire the patriotism of these young men and women. If they ever realise their true potential, then we will all have a better world. You will also meet the "native" Americans, the tribal people like the Pueblo, Navajo and Cherokee. Proud and dignified people who struggle daily to keep up with an advancing world which is not theirs, a people who are afraid a camera will steal their soul, and who's to say they are wrong, they were civilised when the rest of us were drawing pictures in caves.

The differing social scales and values are shocking and colourful along the way. Dilapidated trailers with brand new S.U.V's outside the door. The wealth of Las Vegas and Armarillo to the poverty of Navajo county and small towns like Hackberry and Seligman clinging to existence on a mixture of agriculture and tourism. Route 66 is in a way reviving some of these communities and giving them back something they had maybe lost when the road was de-commissioned and their way of life was bypassed. Pride is being restored and another way of life is being born, so in a fashion, Route 66 is alive and well and still changing the face of America.

Fellow travellers along the way all have a story to tell, everyone has his or her own reason to be there, for some it’s a pilgrimage, for others its a journey of nostalgia or discovery. We travelled with an English couple who were doing it for fun, but it had a deeper meaning as they were also remembering a lost friend, who had ridden with them in the past. A Portuguese couple who were following the road in memory of a grandfather who had worked on its construction, and an American veteran who remembered hauling munitions from west to east during the war .All of them were special and their dreams and memories will stay with them forever, and at the end of their journey they will be proud to call themselves 66'ers.Ourselves, we did it because somewhere out there, there had to be a real America, not the drivel we get fed on T.V. There is and we were not disappointed.

We rode 3,255 miles on and along Route 66 in September, and the memories will last forever, of people we met and places we seen. What was the best part ? The first 3254 miles. Was it worth doing ? Absolutely Chicago to Los Angeles with a few detours along the way, good company and good bikes. The destination means nothing, its all about the journey, do it if you can before it gets McDonaldised and someone packages the whole experience in a theme park .Travel the Will Rogers highway and have a few laughs, stay ahead even when you're losing, get your kicks on Route 66 but be careful, it can kick back !


Oral hearing underway on Port of Cork's plans for Ringaskiddy
BY LEO McMAHON
The oral hearing conducted by An Bord Pleanala at Cork International Airport Hotel regarding the application by the Port of Cork Company for a container terminal and multi-purpose roll on-roll off berth at Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy has just entered its second week.

The applicant has 12 expert witnesses and there are 54 third parties (including Ringaskiddy Residents Association and Passage West Town Council), who are mainly objectors to the development. There are also submissions from Cork Harbour Environmental Protection Association (CHEPA), Cork County Council, the Port of Waterford, Failte Ireland and Green Party Senator Dan Boyle. An Bord Pleanala inspector Paul Caprani presiding, said at the outset that it would be “a lengthy and complex process”.

Mr. David Holland SC (Instructed by Eugene Glendon solicitor), in the opening statement on behalf of the Port of Cork, said the applicant welcomed the oral hearing and pointed out that the three main component of the infrastructural application were 1) a 480 metres long container terminal with handling cranes and equipment and access from an upgraded N28 road; 2)a 269m quay for a multi-purpose ro-ro berth and 3) a new 75m slipway and a 90m pier at Paddy’s Point, west of Haulbowline Bridge to replace the existing ones. The development would take place on 37.4 hectares of land of which 18 would be reclaimed from the sea.

“The Port of Cork does not in this application propose either the closure of the Cork city docks, though that is envisaged in the city council’s docklands regeneration project. Neither does it propose the replacement of those docks by a development at the old ADM pier at Ringaskiddy. Such proposals may be made in due course but are by no means inevitable. Other locations than the ADM pier may be considered. Much remains uncertain as to what facilities may be needed”.

In his eight page opening address, Mr. Holland pointed out that the existing container terminal upstream at Tivoli would shortly exceed capacity, having already done so in 2006 after which there was a temporary expansion. As ship sizes and volume of trade continued to increase, business was already being turned away. “The economy of Cork and Munster cannot afford to do without a port container terminal big enough to handle the trade available and close enough to make it economic to travel to and from it…The economic case for a new container terminal is compelling”, said the senior counsel, who was highly critical of the objection from the Port of Waterford describing it as blatantly anti-competitive and made in breach of government policy.

He went on to point out that
  • The development would not become operational until an upgraded N28 was operational but because the National Roads Authority was committed to this, the application was not premature.
  • While accepting there would be unavoidable but limited interference with sailing, no club would be unable to sail because of the Oyster Bank development and when ships stopped going to Tivoli there would be enhancement of amenities upstream.
  • The nature reserves at Monkstown Creek would suffer no significant detriment and expert advisors were strongly of the view there would not be any unacceptable environmental damage.

“This is a development of national importance and will constitute a signal contribution to the well-being of Cork, the south and mid west. If the project does not proceed, it will damage its future economic development”, said Mr. Holland who also quoted from the submission from Cork County Council: “If the built facilities provided by the port cannot keep pace with global changes in shipping operations, then the efficiency of the port and the price competitiveness of the region will be placed under threat by other locations offering more modern or effective shipping facilities”.

CHEPA view
At the time of writing, submissions from CHEPA represented by Mr. Joe Noonan solicitor and the other 50 plus third parties who mainly object to the development had yet to be heard but chairman of CHEPA in Monkstown and Mayor of Passage West Dominick Donnelly expressed confidence that their arguments would ultimately win out and the harbour would be saved from destruction.

“You just cannot put a container terminal of this size so close to so many houses. That would be a recipe for disaster and serious discomfort and hardship for thousands of people living within sight and earshot of the facility. The Port of Cork needs to go back to the drawing board and rethink its future plans,” said Mr. Donnelly who claimed it showed no real concern for residents and harbour users. He also accused the applicant of using exaggerated figures to inflate projected growth in container traffic in a desperate attempt to justify the project.

Expressing astonishment at the non attendance of the NRA and Health Safety Authority, the CHEPA chairman said there was still no indication as to when substantial funding would be allocated for the N28 nor how it envisaged an already busy Jack Lynch Tunnel and South Ring Road would deal with the significantly increased level of heavy traffic generated by such a development.

Cobh CHEPA chairman John Fitzpatrick predicted that if the development went ahead, it would spell the end of any potential for the towns in the harbour to develop into the tourism hotspots they should be. An eyesore with containers stacked five high, plus air and noise pollution, coming so soon after the eyesore at Irish Steel, Haulbowline had been removed, would make living alongside the harbour intolerable, with only pain not gain for nearby residents.

The first speakers at the oral hearing was Mary Stack, environmental officer with Failte Ireland who pointed out that this body didn’t object but felt the environmental impact study was inadequate and more information was required. She referred to the tourism potential of Spike Island, Haulbowline and the forts and referred to concerns about visual and navigability impacts. East Cork harbour resident Natasha Harty questioned the scale of the development and the problems of erosion and flooding in low lying tidal areas if there was further reclamation and narrowing of the channel.
The oral hearing is continuing.

Passage West wants facilities for cycles in new developments
BY LEO McMAHON
That all new developments, particularly apartments, be provided with an adequate secure space for all residents to store bicycles was a motion from Mayor Dominick Donnelly which was unanimously adopted at the monthly meeting of Passage West Town Council.

Mr. Donnelly said the matter was referred to him by the resident of a duplex at the new Harbour Heights scheme. While there was provision for car parking, there was no lock-up shed or place to store a bicycle on the large estate currently under construction. It would be particularly suitable at the estate in question being in close proximity to the railway line amenity walk to Cork which was ideal for pedal cycles and it would reduce the number of cars on the road.

In support, Mr. Michael Murphy said bicycle storage should be in addition to car parking and it was agreed to raise the matter at an upcoming meeting with the senior planner for the area. Mr. Neil O’Sullivan said there should also be provision for a secure area for the storage of wheelie bins. Ms. Jo. Kelleher concurred.

The council supported a motion from Nenagh TC calling on the Department of Social and Family Affairs to set up a national waiver system for refuse collection paid for by central government and administered by local government for the benefit of the elderly and unemployed. It also called on Minister for the Elderly, Ms. Marie Hoctor to support the motion which was also the subject of a request from the Combat Poverty Agency. Mr. Seamus McGrath MCC said local government finances should not be hit through the operation of a waiver scheme.

There was also support for a motion from Ballyshannon TC calling on the Minister for Local Government to provide an annual housing allocation to town councils which were former town commissioners (e.g. Bandon, Bantry and Passage West).

Mr. McGrath said that while the decision on appointing housing tenants should always remain with the manager, there should be some input for elected members on social housing. In agreement, Mr. Michael Murphy said the list of applicants should be run over with elected members before a manager made a decision because there had been instances of people allocated council homes who shouldn’t have got these and vice versa.

The council unanimously supported a motion from Mullingar TC, Co. Westmeath urging the Health Service Executive and St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin to provide proper isolation wards for cystic fibrosis patients in advance of 2010 as originally planned.

On a proposal by Mr. Neil O’Sullivan, seconded by Mr. M. Murphy, the council supported a motion from Macroom TC calling on the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to ensure in upcoming legislation, equal treatment and entitlements for agency workers, most of whom come from overseas.
Sympathy was extended by the council to Martin Coughlan, Leeview, Passage West on the death of Paddy Coughlan and to Geraldine O’Sullivan, Maryville, Church Hill, Passage West on the death of Dave McCarthy.


Abuse of parking in Passage
BY LEO McMAHON
Parking restrictions in Passage West were being blatantly disregarded, complained Mr. Seamus McGrath MCC at the monthly meeting of the town council which unanimously agreed to seek a discussion with local Gardai in advance of their next meeting.

Parking in front of the ‘centre block’ seriously impeded vision of Church Hill and the junction, he added and in agreement Mr. John Daly there was a similar problem caused by vehicles being parked in front of ‘The Shamrock’ shop and along the centre block. There was need for bollards for prevent this because road markings were being ignored.

Mr. Jim Murphy said he had seen Gardai issuing tickets for illegal parking including a person who parked over the pedestrian crossing.

In addition to parking, it was also agreed to discuss the problems of anti-social behaviour and street drinking in the meeting with Gardai.

Mr. Daly said there was serious concern about children as young as nine playing on the roof of the Town Hall and PACE Centre. It was also agreed to raise this matter with the guards.

SACHA MURPHY
On a proposal by Mr. Jim Murphy, it was unanimously agreed to arrange for the presentation of the first Community Award to Sacha Murphy, Ardmore Estate, who was a finalist in the RTE series ‘Your’e a Star’. The award scheme was proposed in a motion by former town councillor Michael McGrath TD.

Mr. J. Murphy said Sacha brought the town to national attention on TV for all the right reasons. Other members agreed.


Major works outlined for Rochestown - Passage road
BY LEO McMAHON
A tentative programme of road, sanitary and traffic calming works on the Rochestown to Passage West road totalling €3.48 million was outlined by senior engineer Mr. Tom Coughlan and approved by members of Cork County Council’s Carrigaline Area Committee at their recent meeting.

Under way, said Mr. Coughlan, was the first phase of the laying of a watermain from Passage West to the Rochestown Inn, sourced out of the Water Services Investment Programme and undertaken by contractor Ward and Burke over 20 weeks at an estimated cost of €800,000. This would be followed in the second half of this year by resurfacing of the road and a footpath at a cost of €500,000.

Phase two of the watermain was from Rochestown Inn to the entrance to Wainsfort Estate, Rochestown Road at a cost of €600,000 and was due to be carried out in the last quarter of this and the first quarter of next year. Resurfacing of the road and renewal of footpaths on this section was estimated at €480,000.

Mr. Coughlan said the council was currently carrying out interim repairs to Rochestown Road at a cost of €50,000 which had turned out well and consideration was also being given to improving the public lighting at a cost of €50,000.

Rochestown Road traffic calming scheme from the Fingerpost, Douglas to the roundabout under Sli Carrigdhoun (N28) would be next on the list at a cost of just over €1m with a substantial element of this being met from development contributions. Some new traffic lights would be installed later this year but the main works would be in the last quarter of 2009 and the first half of 2010. The design was substantially complete. The total cost of all projects was €3,480,000.

The engineer said there was no point in going to the expense of a major overlay if the road was going to dug up again shortly afterwards for traffic calming works.

The programme was welcomed by Ms. Deirdre Forde who thanked Mr. Coughlan. While not overly excited that traffic calming would have to wait until late 2009, she welcomed the fact extra traffic signals would be installed in the meantime because this would help safety on a road where residents found it impossible to exit estates. Mr. Tim Lombard concurred as did Mayor of Passage West, Mr. Dominick Donnelly who added that a new or replacement footpath from Rochestown Inn to Passage West was very much needed.

TRAFFIC CALMING
At the previous meeting draft plans for a traffic calming scheme on Rochestown Road were outlined by senior engineer for road design, Mr. John Lapthorne who said that features of the scheme from the back entrance to Douglas Court Shopping Centre and the South Link road roundabout would include:

  • Designated bus lay-bys and relocation of some bus stops.
  • Uncontrolled pedestrian crossings with central refuge islands
  • Cycle-ways
  • Right turn lanes for Newlyn Vale, Rochestown Park Hotel and possibly other junctions.
  • One entrance/exit only for Rochestown Park Hotel.
  • Traffic lights at Newenham Drive junction.
  • Closure of both ends of the green and one entrance/exit road.

Mr. Lapthorne said an application would be made under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act for the scheme which would involve a four week public display and consultation process.

Ms. Forde said that it was a brilliant scheme which residents, pedestrians and cyclists would very much welcome and paid tribute to officials on the success of the Maryborough Hill upgrading project. She particularly approved of cycle-ways for safety and fitness and right hand turning lanes. She urged that the scheme proceed as quickly as possible because there were huge traffic volumes and safety concerns along Rochestown Road.

Money was the key, said senior engineer Mr. Tom Coughlan but Mr. O ‘Keeffe argued that the commercial sector in the Douglas and Rochestown area had been a major “cash cow’ over the past 25 years and in more recent times generated a huge amount in development contributions. They should fight for a share of the county at large contributions for this. Ms. Forde concurred and it was agreed that enquiries on funding be pursued.

BOW WOW BRIDGE
Ms. Forde also had a motion that appropriate barriers be installed at the Bow-Wow Bridge, Douglas. She said that when oncoming vehicles met under it, pedestrians had to put their backs up against the wall.

Senior engineer Mr. John Forde replied that he wasn’t convinced barriers were appropriate due to lack of space under the bridge. He undertook to re-examine the matter and report to the committee.
Mr. O’Keeffe asked that footpaths be put in place as a matter of urgency at Coach Hill, Rochestown. He was told it was on the 2009 programme of works.

Mr. Tim Lombard called for the installation of traffic lights at Maryborough Woods junction, Carr’s Hill and Messrs. Seamus McGrath and John Collins spoke in support. It was agreed to refer the matter to the council’s enforcement section as it was a planning condition.

A full report on the proposed road widening and upgrading of Clarke’s Hill, Rochestown was requested by Ms. Forde who urged that the project be expedited. Mr. McGrath in support, said the road and footpaths were not sufficient in an area where there was a lot of new housing while Mr. Lombard said the project was first mooted over 18 months ago. It was agreed to have a report at the next meeting.

With regard to the proposed ‘green routes’ on Maryborough Hill and Donnybrook Hill, Douglas, Ms. Forde was told it was going through the ‘Part 8’ planning application process. It involved a lot of consultation and detailed examination and there had been a hiccup in the design but matters were being finalised ahead of a report to councillors. Once approved, the ‘green routes’ could proceed to construction.

Mr. Lombard enquired about slight subsidence along a section of the South Link road on the southern side above Douglas village and was told this was being attended to. The city council was responsible for maintenance in conjunction with the National Roads Authority. Members were also told that a new bridge was planned on the old Kinsale road over the Tramore River near Harvey Norman’s at the city boundary, a location which was prone to flooding. To Ms. Forde, senior staff officer Ms. Trish O’Riordan said a reply was awaited from the NRA regarding a proposed new exit and entrance on the South Link Road.

Minister replies to Passage on driving tests
BY LEO McMAHON
Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey TD has replied to a motion from Passage West about the driving test as it affects provisional licence holders.

The motion from Passage West TC, submitted by Mr. Jim Murphy, welcomed measures outlined in the new Road Safety Strategy but called on the Minister to postpone implementation of the new rules concerning provisional licence holders until the waiting period for a driving test had been reduced to the eight weeks target set by the Government. The motion was circulated to and supported by several local authorities in Ireland.

In a letter read at the monthly meeting of Passage West TC, Mr. Dempsey wrote: “The new road safety rules concerning provisional licence holders become operational at the end of June. At that time, driving tests will be available on demand, i.e. within ten weeks of application.

“This is regarded as the best practice in all countries. I have no plans to change the decision already taken because I believe lives are at stake,” the Minister added.

On a proposal by Ms. Jo. Kelleher, seconded by Mr. Jerry Cronin, the council adopted a motion from Portlaoise TC calling on the Minister for Local Government to remove water service charges from schools.


Multi-use games area needed for teenagers in Passage West
BY LEO McMAHON
Wanted ! A location for a multi-use games area for teenagers in Passage West.

That was the request at the monthly meeting of the town council with Ms. Jo. Kelleher stating that Passage West Amenity Association – the group which spearheaded the children’s playground at Fr. O’Flynn Park – was willing to take on the project.

Funding of between €20,000 and €40,000 was possible from the recreation and amenity section of Cork County Council for an approved project and there would also be local fund raising required. She feared Fr. O’Flynn Park might not be large enough to accommodate a multi-use games area for older children and therefore other sites such as the former Marmullane tennis club site off Cork Road should be considered.

Mr. Neil O’Sullivan advised further consideration be given to the question of a site, adding that he would not like to see a facility for teenagers segregated away from those for the elderly and younger kids and Mayor Dominick Donnelly agreed. Mr. John Daly said a community hall for indoor activities would also be desirable, if possible.

Ms. Kelleher said she would speak to senior engineer for recreation and amenity Mr. Liam Singleton and area engineer Mr. John Forde about the matter. It was agreed to further consider the project at the next meeting.

Mr. O’Sullivan said a sign outside the soccer club at Rockenham Park had been vandalised.
Following proposals from Messrs. Daly and Seamus McGrath respectively, Passage West TC agreed to send letters to the Department of Sport supporting their applications for Sports Grants.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
The council unanimously agreed to pursue the drawing up of a proposal and seek financial support locally for the erection of Christmas lights in Passage West for 2008. Town clerk Mr. Niall O’Keeffe said the council could get 50% of a €5,000 allocation from the county council if it could submit a proposal and invoice. The mayor proposed the matter go on the agenda of the next meeting and this was agreed.

Members welcomed the news that the county council had advertised for consultants for the provision of public lighting from Glenbrook ferry terminal to Monkstown for €80,000 this year under the South Cork capital public lighting programme and were told it would get priority once a tender was awarded. It was likely work would commence in September or October, said Mr. McGrath.

“We’re 20 years looking for this”, remarked Mr. Michael Murphy who criticised the consultants who recommended what he described as flimsy fairy lights under the Cut ‘n’ Cover tunnel which was smashed shortly after installation. He called for sturdy bulk head lights to replace these. Ms. Kelleher and Mr. McGrath concurred.

On a proposal by Mr. Seamus McGrath MCC, it was unanimously agreed to lodge an objection to a planning application including a four storey apartment block at the bottom of Church Hill on the basis it was out character with the town centre, could impact in terms of light and shadow and had insufficient parking provision.

It was also agreed on a proposal by Ms. Jo. Kelleher that Passage West TC should meet with the county council’s senior planner for the area, Ms. Elena Suteu on April 2 for a general discussion on planning for the future of the locality which is currently the subject of a major application for a town centre development of residential, hotel and retail units plus a marina and has in recent years, experienced significant new housing growth in excess of county development plan and traffic projections.


N28 road to Ringaskiddy route plan
BY LEO McMAHON
Crucial to the success of the Port of Cork’s proposed relocation of its main operations to Ringaskiddy is the €150 million upgrading of the N28 national primary road to the port from Cork. Details of the preferred route corridor were outlined recently at Carrigaline Court Hotel by the National Roads Authority (NRA).

It is proposed to improve the existing N28 from the Bloomfield Interchange with the N25 South Ring Road to Ringaskiddy giving it greater traffic capacity and the compulsory purchase order and environmental impact statements should be completed by the autumn. Features included upgraded interchanges at Carr’s Hill and Shannon Park, new interchanges at Barnahely and near Shanbally, new roundabouts at Hilltown, Ringaskiddy and Loughbeg and an under-bridge at the Rock Road near Carrigaline. The project, if approved, should take two years to complete and consulting engineers are Halcrow Barry.

Specific objectives of the amended plan first published in December 2004 are: 1) improved national route access for economic development; 2) reduce traffic congestion and by-passes for Shanbally and Ringaskiddy; 3) better environment for communities along the route and 4) a safer road network.

Among the benefits are less impact on the current road network, known archaeology and the Glounatouig Stream (a known salmonoid river); no acquisition of dwellings (instead of four in the previous plan) and overall less disruption. The N28 is the main commuter route to and from Carrigaline, Crosshaven and Tractor, the port and several major industries in Ringaskiddy, the National Maritime College of Ireland and the Naval Service, Haulbowline as well of course as the proposed Port of Cork container terminal at Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy.


Objections at Passage
BY LEO McMAHON
PASSAGE WEST Town Council, at its March meeting, unanimously agreed to object to two residential developments in close proximity to the town centre.

The first application from Michael Sheehan was for a residential development comprising four three storey houses, two two-bed ground floor apartments, two three-bed duplex apartments on the first and second floors, six parking spaces and associated works at Beach Road.

On a proposal by Mr. Michael Murphy, seconded by Mr. Jim Murphy, it was unanimously agreed to ask the planning authority Cork County Council to request proof of ownership. The town council has been pressing for a long time for the site, which runs over the tunnel of the former Cork, Blackrock and Passage Railway, to be acquired by the county council for much needed off-street public car parking.

In lodging the objection, said Mr. Seamus McGrath MCC, it should also be pointed out that six car spaces for eight units was totally inadequate.

The second application was from Niall Skehan and Associates, Charlotte Place, Passage West for the construction of a four storey structure incorporating four apartments, a first floor commercial unit constructed over a ground floor commercial unit and associated site works at the junction of Beach Road and Church Hill.

Mr. McGrath noted that two previous applications in respect of the site were incomplete and the latest was made on February 26. It was agreed to lodge an objection based on the grounds of over density, height, lack of sufficient parking, overshadowing, location off a narrow road in close proximity to a busy town centre junction and that it was out of character.

Concern was expressed by several councillors about the fact that the unfinished development of town houses at Beach Road in the former Duckham’s yard was idle for four years with Mr. Michael Murphy claiming that it was becoming derelict. In support Mr. John Daly said barriers made it impossible to walk on the footpath while Mr. Neil O’Sullivan said it was an eyesore at one of the busiest junctions. Members have also called for the bricked up railway tunnel to be re-opened. It was agreed to refer the matter to Co. Hall.

Mr. McGrath asked that a letter be sent to Howard Holdings to power hose the buildings at Dock Terrace since these were not due for demolition as part of the major dockyard and town centre development and had become an eyesore. Mr. J. Murphy agreed saying chutes could fall due to overgrowth and it would be some time before the proposed major development was likely to commence.

DOCKYARD
On the subject of the dockyard development, members were informed that the county council had sought further information from the applicant. This meant that the applicant had up to six months to respond and there would be four weeks after that for the council to reply. In essence, it would be seven months at the earliest before a decision was made on the planning application and it was likely to be longer if further clarifications were sought.

Arising out of concerns voiced at the previous meeting in a deputation from the rowing club and the councillors, Mayor Dominick Donnelly said he recently spoke to a representative of Howard Holdings who explained that it would be necessary to have a marina the size and extent as requested according to Department of the Marine recommendations. Messrs. McGrath and O’Sullivan said they would like to see this in writing. Members were of the view the marina extended too far towards the rowing club’s base.

Mr. Daly said he was informed by Howard Holdings that it was intended to have enough room for parking one side of the street and two lanes traffic at Lucia Place as part of the dockyard development but Mr. Donnelly added this would only be as far as Dock Terrace.

Members noted in correspondence from Co. Hall, applications from Aidan Coffey and Jeremiah Murphy Partnership for permission to construct passenger ferry landing stations, a pontoon with shelter, access gangway and walk, car parking, a bicycle stall, and digital information and advertising boards at Railway Quay, Passage West and De Vesci Place, Monkstown. Concerns were expressed about the impact on the rowing club of the proposed station at Railway Quay and it was suggested it be located in the dockyard.

The mayor said that a preliminary hearing ahead of the official oral hearing on the planning application from the Port of Cork on April 2 was due to be held at Cork International Airport Hotel and it was agreed by Ms. Marcia D’Alton would make an oral submission based on what was contained in that submitted in writing to An Bord Pleanala by Passage West TC. There were up to 500 objections to the application involving the development of a container terminal at Oyster Bank, Ringaskiddy.

Mr. McGrath said that a public information day on the preferred route of the N28 Cork-Ringaskiddy highway – construction of which is crucial to the go-ahead for the Port of Cork project – was taking place the following Thursday at Carrigaline Court Hotel. It was being organised by the National Roads Authority.


Passage road resurfacing
BY LEO McMAHON
Cork County Council intends spending a special improvement grant of €480,000 from the Department of Transport on resurfacing the R610 road from Passage West to the Rochestown Inn junction following the laying of watermain to facilitate new development.

This was announced at the monthly meeting of Carrigaline Area Committee by senior engineer Mr. Tom Coughlan and welcomed by Mr. Seamus McGrath and Mayor of Passage West Dominick Donnelly, the latter of whom also called for upgrading of the footpath along this section of busy main road.

Mr. Coughlan said that a lot of works were needed on the busy R610 between Douglas and Passage West. The section from roundabout under the N28 the South Link road over-bridge to Rochestown Inn was in “particularly bad nick” and resurfacing would be needed when the second phase of the laying of a water main was completed between Rochestown Inn and Douglas. As members were shown earlier in the meeting, there was also a proposal for traffic calming from Douglas Court Shopping Centre’s back entrance to the overbridge.

The engineer pointed out that improvement works had been carried out on the R610 in recent years including resurfacing and new footpaths in Passage West, Monkstown and on the Raffeen road under the Non National Roads Programme. There were also temporary repairs being carried out on the Rochestown Road. It was likely the special improvement grant funding would be continued in subsequent years.

Mr. Donnelly asked that consideration be given by the county council to using special development contributions to acquire and demolish the ‘centre block’ so as to improve traffic management for the proposed major new town centre development in the dockyard. In support, Mr. McGrath said there was inconsistency between the traffic study for the town council by Arup and that by Faber Maunsell for the developer Howard Holdings but it was clear that structural change was needed at the centre block serving six streets.

In reply to Mr. McGrath, area engineer Mr. John Forde said a controlled pelican crossing for Monkstown village was on the contractor’s list of works.


Restore bridge as amenity call at Passage T.C.
BY LEO McMAHON
A repeated call for Roberts Bridge to be fully restored as a amenity area along the popular railway walk was made by Mr. Neil O’Sullivan and supported at the monthly meeting of Passage West Town Council.

Mr. O’Sullivan pointed out that when a storm drain pipe was laid from the Pembroke Wood development a few years ago, the outlet to the Lee Channel was along the side of the bridge. The fill for this excavation was left in the eye of the bridge which he pointed out was a superb stone feature and a fine example of railway heritage which was well worth preserving. It was put there, he understood, by Cork County Council.

Now it appeared, the same location was being used as a lay-down area for the water main project on the R610 and he for one was not in favour of public property being used for such a purpose unless paid for in the form of rent. A second car park wasn’t required and he warned against any further depositing of material in the eye of the bridge.

Roberts Bridge, named after Captain Richard Roberts, master of the Passage West built ‘Sirius’, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic to New York in 1838, was mentioned in books. Since he raised the issue last May and an article appeared in The Southern Star, the Heritage Council had been contacted and was due to report back. It was wrong that public money had to be spent in an effort to secure the bridge but he hoped the end result would be an attractive water and roadside feature with seating etc.

Mr. McGrath and Mr. Michael Murphy concurred, the latter saying the bit of strand was also a nice feature of the bridge before it was partly filled in. Ms. Jo. Kelleher recommended an amenity project for Roberts Bridge be drawn up and submitted to the recreation and amenity section of Cork County Council.


Passage West Town Council objecting to Ringaskiddy container terminal
BY LEO McMAHON
“The issue is hotting up,” remarked Mayor Dominick