Report from the february meeting of the Youghal Town Council -Report Christy Parker

Mayor Olly Casey congratulated Youghal Athletic Club’s Nikita Savage on her recent achievements. The PobailScoil na Trionoide student was the youngest medallist at the National Senior Indoor Championships in the Odyssey Arena Belfast over the previous weekend. The athlete took bronze in the pole vault, equalling her personal best of three minutes in an event that saw gold medallist Zoe Brown set a new national record. Cllr Sammy Revins congratulated author John Stack of Summerfield for his debut novel Ships of Rome.
Cork County Council Items:
Cllr Sandra McLellan asked that signs be erected at the entrance to St. Mary’s College gardens, outlawing the consumption of alcohol. She said young girls with buggies were amongst those drinking there.
Illegal dumping…
Cllr McLellan condemned illegal dumping, citing Parklands, Seafield Fabrics and the New Line as afflicted areas. She asked that ongoing activities at No1 Emmet Place be investigated under the Derelict Sites Act. ‘The house has been a hive of activity in recent weeks and neighbours are terrified,’ she said. The councillor requested an update on the parking layout at Raheen Park. She described the situation as ‘chaotic,” and added a disabled bay is badly needed at No.38.
Cllr Michelle Hennessy condemned the rampant illegal dumping, alluding to furniture, mattresses, etc being burned at the back of Woodview Court and Blackwater Heights. She asked that free parking between 1 and 2 pm be properly advertised around town and that a disabled parking bay be installed outside the League of the Cross. The councillor asked when would work commence at Seaview Estate, where car parking is deteriorating, stating that the emergency services had difficulty accessing a chimney fire there recently. Cllr Barbara Murray asked why the sally port gates are closed at the Town Walls. She was told it was due to the collapsed wall in the vicinity.
Disabled spaces, more illegal dumping…
Cllr Mary Linehan Foley sought information on an impending disabled space near the Credit Union. She condemned illegal dumping, near Bru na Si, saying that certain people are arriving in the evening with rubbish and burning it. ‘Residents know them and have names and numbers which she pass on to the council,’ she revealed. The councillor warned of anti-social behaviour in the toilets at the Fair Field, whereby more than one person is accessing the facility simultaneously. ‘Its a dark area and residents are nervous,’ she added. She said the paving at Mall Lane is sinking and a threat to residents’ wellbeing. Cllr Sammy Revins concurred with colleagues and added that he would be supplying the council with photographs relating to dumping near Blackwater Heights.
Cllr Dave Savage again criticised dumping on the New Line, which he believed was particularly prevalent at weekends. Cllr Liam Burke sought an update on lighting at Woodview Court, brought attention to overgrown vegetation at the rear of McCurtainstown, an unfinished section of footpath at Windmill Hill and the location of a footpath outside a house in Sweetfield Estate. He sought an update on a clubhouse for Claycastle Pitch and Putt club and similarly on renovations to the Court House, He concluded with an inquiry as to what annual revenue is being received for the allocation of hackney spaces in South Main Street. Town engineer Paul Murray said the road liners will be in town “in a couple of months,” at which time the disabled parking bays issues would be addressed.
Manager’s Orders:
Cllr Burke criticised the condition of the road leading to the landfill. Town Manager Patricia Power said the ESB, after a year’s wait, are putting in cables. The road would be repaired afterwards. Cllr Burke asked if a missing ‘concealed entrance sign’ at Summerdale Lawn has been located. He drew attention to broken footpaths at Tallow Street, South Main Street, Mall Lane and South Abbey.
He sought a report on the library situation. The Town Clerk said he is awaiting news from the library authorities. Cllr Burke asked also for an update on the blue flag situation in Redbarn.
Outfall, ponding, potholes, and recycling fees…
Cllr Savage asked for an update on the outfall project at the Front Strand. The town engineer said the work would be included in the Main Drainage Scheme for which no date was set. Cllr savage said ‘its not good enough,’ given that the Council were co-funding it by €30,000. He said McCurtainstown residents were waiting for over two years amidst regular flooding. He wanted to know when Cork County Council were going to co-fund it. The Town Engineer said further information would be sought. The councillor asked about ponding at Quarry Road and was told the matter is in hand and on the Town Manager’s list. He requested information for the next meeting as to whether any development contributions amassed over the years were available to address the chronic state of footpaths in the town.
Cllr Linehan Foley had ‘poor craters’ on her mind, complaining of potholes at the Market Square and the Family Church (particularly ‘holey’ no doubt), whereby motorists had suffered wheel damage. She referred to a South Abbey resident who has been experiencing severe basement flooding. Mr. Murray said the resident’s sewer outlet is feeding into the river and the sanitary curator had visited them.
New recycling charges
Cllr Linehan Foley said the new €3 gate fee at the civic amenity site was unfair and counter productive. She said it would exacerbate illegal dumping, whereas the original concept of free recycling was to educate and encourage responsible waste disposal. The Town Manager said Cork County Council provides both residential and recycling services. She said the costs are extremely high, with the Council providing facilities for the authority’s customers and non-customers. She highlighted glass disposal as one example of this. Recyclable material had the to be taken away, which incurred further cost.
Cllr Hennessy said a flat fee should replace the ‘pay-by-weight’ system. She said an annual €400 or six-monthly €200 charge would encourage people to avail of Cork County Council’s services instead of private firms. Ms Power said the County Council will soon undertake a comprehensive review of waste management policy and meanwhile is offering an introductory of €250 per annum for new customers. When told by Cllr Hennessy that this isn’t very wel advertised, she said leaflets will be published. ‘We are the owners of our own rubbish and we have to pay to dispose of it,’ she concluded.
St. Raphael’s bend, yet illegal dumping
Cllr Murray asked whether ponding at Millfield Abbey had been resolved and was told the matter has been dealt with. She asked if the road near St. Raphael’s could be repaired. Mr. Murray replied that potholes had been filled but the entire section needs to be surfaced and money currently is not available.) She asked if the bend at St. Raphael’s would soon be removed. Mr. Murray said a drawing relevant to traffic calming must go back to the SHB and the delay was down to him still working on it.
The councillor asked that the lights be switched on at Woodview and Parklands and for footpath repairs in Water Street. She wanted potholes at Nealon’s Quay removed prior to the holiday season. She inquired on the state of kerbing at Sweetfield was originally intended as a path? The Town Clerk said it was constructed when the school was being built but at present cannot be completed as a pathway.
Cllr Beecher condemned fly-tipping on the New Line. He asked when the footpath at Aura would be complete and was told it was imminent, after new lighting is installed. He asked about the car park for Sarfield’s Terrace and learned it is going to tender.
Landfill odours again
Cllr Beecher raised the issue of the ongoing odours purportedly coming from the landfill and which had been particularly bad in recent days. The very mention of the landfill unleashed a unanimous inclination to vent anger. Cllr Beecher had the honour of leading the charge. He said  ‘people are getting physically sick’ from the smell and the EPA, he added caustically, were probably sick too -of handling daily complaints form himself and townspeople. He referred to a 96FM caller advising people to ‘wear a mask’ if visiting Youghal. Cllr McLellan the situation could seriously compromise efforts to attract industry to the town at a time when Youghal is looking for tenders for a marina and a hotel.
Cllr Murray concurred saying it is “frightening” that the smell could be so obnoxious when 90% volume of waste previously accepted has been sent to Bottle Hill in Cork since late last year. “We can’t even manage 10%,” rejoined Cllr Beecher. Cllr Murray said ‘brown waste’ (household edibles, etc) is a likely contributor, given that it lies, decomposing, for up to two weeks before being delivered to the site. ‘It should properly not go there at all but be treated through an aerobic digester system’, she said. Cllr McLellan said the odour was
Town Clerk Liam Ryan said the Town Manager had done her best to remedy the problems but perhaps it was time to send a delegation to the County Council. Ms Power believed assistant County Manager Ted Lucey would be the appropriate recipient. It was agreed to set the wheels in motion.
Cllr Hennessy alleged the County Council’s recent road gritting efforts. She said a school bus driver had been told there was no sand left after he’d warned of slippery conditions past Pobailscoil. Mr. Murray said there is ample salt in the Town Council yard, though an overtime ban prohibits them going put before 8.30am. Ms Power said County Council staff monitor conditions through the night and grit roads before dawn but the unprecedented bad spell left them an unenviable task.
The councillor referred to severe flooding in Craigmore, near Gortroe. Cllr Murray added that three routes were being flooded there. Mr. Murray said some draining had been done and further work would be undertaken. Mr Casey inquired about ponding in South Abbey and was told it is “on the list.”
Painting the town:
Mayor Casey said residents in the South Main Street would like to be added to the subsidised, house-painting heritage regeneration project pertaining to the North Main Street. The Town Clerk said the scheme would be reviewed in reviewed in August. In due course, depending on its success or otherwise, even may streets could be included.
Cllr Savage congratulated the Town Clerk on the initiative and was confident of its success. He said a similar project in Westport and ** had been hugely successful with knock-on tourism, tidy towns and economic success. He hoped private and business residences would join the scheme. The Town Manager asked that the councillors and Chamber of Commerce would encourage participation. Cllr Savage asked if local contractors are being employed and Mr. Ryan said that was a matter every householder to decide.
Nellie Fleming commemoration:
Mayor Casey thanked everyone for their attendance and acknowledged the contribution of pipe player Christy McCarthy. He hoped future mayors would continue the annual commemoration.
Applications to the Irish Walled Towns Fund 2009:
The Town Clerk revealed two applications: 1) Phase Two of removal and treatment of cannons from the Town Walls and carriage construction. 2) Proposed works to secure structural integrity of collapsed section of the Town Wall at Raheen Road.
Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL):
Councillors perused a letter from IBAL, which disclosed that Youghal is one of 36 towns classed a “Litter Free’ in a 2008 survey. IBAL maintains there are no ‘litter blackspots’ in Ireland, whereas 60% of Irish were tagged as such seven years ago. Galway is Ireland’s cleanest city, Cork our ‘most littered’ metropolis, while Cobh is considered ’seriously littered.’ IBAL considers discarded chewing gum as an immense scourge and seeks a gum levy to counteract its effects. Its unclear all the dog pollution on the streets escaped mention, but councillors expressed their satisfaction with IBAL’s findings.

Motion by Mayor Casey:
Mayor Olly Casey withdrew a Motion that, “This Council request our legal department to draw up an Agreement Form between Youghal Town Council and the Residents of DeValera St… the purpose of which would be to guarantee the Rights of the Council against any claim by any Resident with regards to property rights and that the designated spaces be vacated on one day per year (Christmas Day).
The Mayor declined to give reason as to the withdrawal. Meanwhile it is understood that negotiations, involving the Town Clerk, are ongoing on the DeValera Street issue.
Correspondence:
Re Indoor film screening of ‘The Sea, The boat & Me: the continuing story of the Kathleen & May.
The members were circulated with a letter from filmmaker Brendan Ahern (Amsterdam) regarding to stage an indoor screening of the above documentary.
Mr. Ahern wishes to offer the film to RTE but would wish to have it screened at the Mall Arts Centre first. However, the estimated screening cost is €10,000, inclusive of technical support and travelling expenses, etc.
Town Clerk Liam Ryan said the Kathelen & May Fund currently holds €2, 500 and the remainder might need to be accumulated through sponsorship and/or donations. Mayor Casey pledged a €200 donation. Cllr Linehan Foley suggested it form part of a festival funding project, before Mr Ryan considered it be past to the Kathleen & May committee, of which he remains secretary. Cllr Murray proposed that, whatever the outcome, the Council acquire a copy of the film for any future heritage projects or such. This was unanimously agreed.
Save our phone boxes:
Cllr Murray asked that the Council make submission to eircom for the retention of some public payphones in the town. She said the company intended to remove its eight phone boxes from the streets by March 16th. The nearest public payphone to Youghal would be in Midleton or Dungarvan, towns where some are being retained.
The councillor added that eircom’s area representative had told her the phones would be removed in the absence of any submissions. She advocated retentions at Dolphin’s Square and South Abbey, explaining that ‘provision of service is as important as profit making’ and a lot of people, tourists included, still depend on public call boxes. There was widespread support for her plea and many councillors said they would make personal submissions also.
(Submissions: S. Culbert, Regional Payphone Manager, Eircom HQ, Waterford City, Co. Waterford. Tele: (051) 873268. E-mail: sculbert@eircom.ie).