Town Clerk Liam Ryan informed the members that the P1World Power Boat Championships, would not be coming to Youghal in 2009. Report Christy Parker/Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

Mr Ryan read an email from Aidan Foley of Medaza, the company holding Northern European rights of the World Championship from 2009-13, which stated that Failte Ireland could not meet the funding requirements, in the present economic climate. He added that he remained committed to promoting Youghal as a major centre for maritime activities and was working on alternatives to this end. Mr. Ryan said a number of options for festival based on water activities are under consideration.
Congratulations:
Cllr Mary Linehan Foley congratulated Mayor Olly Casey’s wife Anne, on her
retirement as cleaner at the council’s offices and proposed that Mrs Casey be afforded a civic reception. Mayor Casey expressed his gratitude for the sentiments. The Mayor said “the Casey dynasty’s association with the council is coming to an end”, following his mother’s link for 33 years, his wife’s 27 and his own 43 year tenure, which will terminate on his retirement in June.

Cllr Linehan Foley also congratulated brothers Cillian and Cian McCarthy from Blackwater Heights on being the first two brothers to win a Youghal snooker tournament ‘They have won loads of tournaments and it shows there are worthwhile youth activities in Youghal,” she added.

The councillor also wished “all the Youghal lads in Chad a happy New Year” on behalf of the council and concluded with best wishes to Pa Murphy on his retirement from the ambulance service. She said Mr. Murphy had declined the honour of a civic reception, citing his love of the job as having been reward enough.

Town Foreman’s Report:
Illegal dumping, bollards, disabled bay, no sleep and slime

2  Cllr Liam Burke sought an update on the public lighting situation at Parklands,  of which a petition from residents had been received. He also complained that the Mall House (gates) “appear to be locked more often than open” and he sought solution to a blocked gully outside Seafield House.

Cllr Sandra McLellan said nearby residents are complaining of rat infestation at the derelict Spinning Wheel site, despite temporary respite from the problem following a visit from Rentokill last summer. She had contacted Environmental Health, who were expected to investigate the problem.

Cllr Michelle Hennessy said the rockery at the entrance to Dermot Hurley Estate is severely impeding the view of motorists exiting onto the Spa hill. “It’s a built up area now and has a lot of traffic,” she added. A missing public light at The
Green, Upper Cork and two signs facing the wrong way at Summerfield Cross also needed resolving.

Cllr Michael Beecher stressed that illegal dumping is widespread and cited the New Line and the Quarry Road as examples of a major problem.  He sought an update on Chapel Lane, as residents are fearful for their safety and property and advised it would be better closed. An abandoned, vandalised car in Dolphin’s Square needed removing, he concluded.

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said residents at Raheen Park wanted a bin in the area removed as it is attracting illegal dumping. She said it was particularly bad over Christmas. It was agreed that it was people from outside the area were largely responsible. Cllr McLellan said she had brought photos to the town clerk and the bin is to be removed. She had also received similar complaints about Sweetfield and other areas.

Cllr Linehan Foley said a disabled space is needed for 38 Raheen Park and that recently neither an ambulance nor a doctor could adequately access an ill woman there. She said she had advised the resident to put a no parking sign on her gate.

Cllr Linehan Foley said bollards are urgently needed to prevent cars further destroying the footpath at Dr. Kennedy’s Place. Two holes with protruding concrete pose a danger at Chapel Lane and greenery on the Spa needs pruning, she added. The councillor said the new footpath installed at a house in Dominic Collins Place needs extending as it has created a drop that endangers people in the dark.

Cllr Barbara Murray advised that a loose Eircom cover at the intersection of Ashe Street and Windmill Hill is noisy and causing sleep deprivation. She said a longer lasting chemical is need to treat slime on the slip at Nealon’s Quay, Cllr Murray repeated Cllr Burke’s call for an update on lighting at Parklands and said overhanging trees on Cork Hill need cutting back.

Cork County Council Items:
Ponding, paths and post office…
Mayor Olly Casey said the ponding (i.e. flooding) in the vicinity of Nagle House was “an absolute disgrace.” He described it as dangerous for cars and a recurring nightmare for pedestrians who risked getting soaked and also projects a poor image of the town. It would make one “ashamed” to be associated with it, proceeded the former water curator before adding that it would not take a work of genius to resolve the problem by digging access to a gulley or creating a new gulley. A similar situation persisted at Gallagher’s Terrace he added. The Mayor concluded that the green walls on Nagle House are turning further green through algae generated by splashing. Town engineer Paul Murray said the issue will be resolved “in a month or so” along with the Quarry Road and Gallagher’s Terrace.

Cllr Murray described ponding and water-filled potholes at Seafield and especially the entrance to DR Developments back to Seafield/Kilcoran Place.  She said a huge amount of what appeared to be surface water was apparent at the bus stop by Farrell’s pub and there is yet more ponding at Millfield Abbey. She asked if the public lighting contract had yet been awarded. She proceeded that the walk from the entrance to Sarsfields terrace to Cork Hill via Raheen Road is “dangerous” given the sporadic pavement and speeding traffic. The Chestnut Drive/Millfield areas needed footpaths, while the one at Summerdale lawn is totally overgrown.
flooding, dangerous for cars, water-filled potholes

Cllr Liam Burke asked for a manager’s report on the library situation in Youghal regarding a new one. He asked for an update on the unfinished road surface outside new houses near Summerdale Lawn as well as missing concealed entrance sign that the developer removed. He referred “once again” to footpaths “like jigsaws” in the vicinity of South Abbey, Strand Street, Tallow Street, Mall lane and Water Street.

Cllr Linehan Foley once more sought an update on the request for bollards at the ‘accident waiting to happen’ site in Greencloyne, whereby vehicles parked across from Crowley’s shop are obstructing motorists’ views as they exit the nearby estates. She again dismissed a previous Co. Council argument the expense was an issue. She appealed for bollards at Dr. Kennedy’s Place against footpath parking. The councillor said the forthcoming €3 entrance to the landfill would lead to further illegal dumping, regardless of the €1 reduction per bag. ‘The town is littered with rubbish with no entrance charge and the €3 will make people even less inclined to recycle,’ she predicted. She said she understood the essence of recycling facilities was to encourage the practice, not charge them money for it.

Cllr Linehan Foley described the bus stop at the post office is “a total disaster” due to illegal parking pre-empting buses stopping in the middle of the road and holding up traffic. “It was crazy to put a stop there in the first place. The post office is the most used place in town. Nowhere else in the world has a bus stop outside a post office!” she argued

The councillor said she had personally monitored the situation over Christmas and observed that even elderly drivers were illegally parking. This, along with drivers dropping people off and awaiting their return, was leading to buses unable to pull in. People parking illegally in the adjacent disabled spot further exacerbated the problem. “So the bus has to stop in the middle of the road and the whole town is held up,” she stated, adding, “We complain to taxis and Wizer Bins for the same thing.” She wondered what could be done about it. Town engineer Paul Murray said the location had been agreed following consultation with Bus Eireann and the Garda.

Mayor Casey said only “very selfish people” were abusing the provision of both the bus and disabled bays. “They are inconveniencing elderly people who rely on the bus service to get to the post office and banks,” he added. “In Cork city they’d have to walk miles from a car park,” he noted. He did not however, perceive a problem with people being dropped off “for a few seconds.” Cllr Hennessy suggested moving the stop a few feet forward but Cllr Beecher said the bus could not properly park there. He advocated clamping miscreant vehicles instead.

Cllr Sammy Revins said the traffic warden had recently issued tickets at the post office and those people won’t park there again.” It was agreed that increased enforcement might go a long way to resolving the issue.

Cllr Beecher asked if the ‘cutting’ in the road at Market Square could be eliminated and was told ‘the developer’ was responsible. He warned that the yellow box needed extending at the Lighthouse Hill entrance to Carlton Place as parked cars would hinder emergency service access. Cllr. Murray added that a planter box on the adjacent footpath is a further problem as it obstructs vision when exiting onto the road. Cllr Beecher also asked that the footpath between Meadow Valley and Summerdale Lawn be trimmed back.

Tenders:
The Town Clerk read three tenders for the Youghal Historic Trail signs. The applicants were Classicast Ltd, Signiatec Ltd. and Castit Ltd. The quotes ranged from €42,000 to €51,000 approximately and the cost will be covered by Failte Ireland

Economic Impact of Irish Walled Town Day (Medieval festival) in Youghal in August 24th 2008.
The Town Clerk quoted from a detailed survey assessment conducted by KPMG on behalf of the Heritage Council. He said an outlay of €15,000 had reaped an estimated income of €479,000 for the region. The Youghal event is considered the Republic’s biggest Walled Town Day and, said Mr. Ryan “is being used by the Heritage Council of Ireland as a template for the IWT’s promotion for 2009.”

Cllr Burke said such independent confirmation was very gratifying. It had produced attendances of over 5,000 on two consecutive years, with a 3000% return on investment.

Heritage Council Grants Programme:
The Town Clerk said only one application had been received with two more are expected. He explained it was in lieu of forthcoming ‘crown reduction’ and  ‘wind sailing’ on top heavy trees -following removal of rotting trees- at St. Mary’s College Garden, along with tree replanting. An application for 90% grant aid would be made for the approximate €40,000 cost.

Shanavine Cul De Sac:
There had been no submissions and the route will now be designated a public road.

Submission by Rectory Road residents Association:
The council have agreed to assume management of the area.

DeValera Street Car Park:
Mayor Olly Casey said he would be sticking by his guns on this lengthy saga, that the residents be given (17) designated parking spaces. Town Manager Patricia Power repeated that she could not possibly sanction the decision (taken by the council last September) to designate the spaces in lieu of subsequent legal advice that it could be unlawful.

Cllr Murray reiterated her stance that she had to represent the town as a whole and the “fairest” solution would be to give the residents non-designated spaces in line with free parking. Otherwise there would be empty spaces in which nobody could  park. She also believes the issue of emergency access would be facilitated by making the street one-way, upward.

The mayor’s face

As the car park now needs to be re-tendered before it can be completed, Cllr Murray advised this be done, the car park opened and, if necessary, the legalities be contested thereafter. Cllr Linehan Foley however, intruded to say that she had arranged for the residents, who are generally unhappy with the furore, to meet the Town Clerk. “This needs to be discussed openly with the residents involved instead of us running round in circles,” she said. Cllr Murray concurred that the residents “are reasonable people” and believed a resolution could be reached. Mayor Casey’s plea that he also be present was accepted, although Cllr Linehan Foley informed him she was unhappy with ‘the face you have on you,’ by contrast to his usual “passionate” visage. He responded that his face was the one with which he was born and hadn’t been “aimed at” her. He added that the centre of Youghal faced having its “residents driven out like in Dublin” and being unsafe to walk through.

Motion from Cllr Liam Burke, seconded by Cllr Mayor Olly Casey: That the council calls on the Government to consider the purchase of the Kathleen & May as a replacement sail-training vessel’ (for the Asgard)
Cllr Burke said there is a serious question as to whether the Asgard, which sank last year in the Bay of Biscay, will ever be salvaged. Instead, he believed, the wooden, three-masted schooner the Kathleen & May would prove a worthy and suitable replacement. The historic ship is currently for sale and in danger of being lost to this part of the world entirely. He noted the asking price is £3m, while the Asgard was insured for €3.8m and the current sterling rate made its purchase attractive. The motion was passed.

The Town Clerk said a previous request to the government to buy the ship, prior to the Asgard sinking, had not elicited a formal reply. He doubted there is any government money available for such a venture and warned against any local authority involvement in a would-be purchase due to the “gigantic” short and longterm costs. Similar ventures in Tralee and Enniscorthy almost bankrupted their councils, he said. However he would forward the proposal to the appropriate government department.