With all seven contesting members having been re-elected, there was an air of relief, triumph and confidence about the final sitting of the 2004-9 Town Council. Business was strictly and enthusiastically observed, as emphasised by the main issue of the night: Report Christy Parker

Motion by Cllr Burke, supported by Mayor Casey: “that this Council develops a Retail Strategy for Youghal to be incorporated into the Youghal Town Development Plan 2009-15. A major component of this strategy should be the inclusion of a major retail shopping complex on the Mill Road site identified for same in the Development Plan by Youghal Town Council and (ii) actively encourage developers to construct a major retail complex on the Mill Road site identified and zoned by the Council in the Youghal Town Development Plan 2009-15.”

The Motion sparked a lively debate on An Bord Pleanala’s recent rejection of planning permission given to Galvin Developments Ltd. for construction of a retail complex at Indian Point, Mill Road. Referring to the “shock waves” unleashed by the decision, Cllr Burke said Youghal ‘had been looking forward to a modern shopping complex with a nationally known anchor tenant, that would have vastly improved its competitive position in relation to neighbouring towns.’ Hundreds of jobs would have been created in its wake but instead, ‘Youghal money is ’supporting the Dungarvan economy particularly, including Dunne’s Stores,’ he said.

The councillor launched a scathing attack on those who had “again prevented the advent of new business and enterprise” in Youghal. He said the “the objections were basically all about keeping competition out of town and preserving existing vested interests.” He claimed that ‘for so many years local business had jealously guarded its own little patch and objected to any development which would have enhanced the town’s economic profile.”

Cllr Burke called on the Council to “retrieve the situation” by drawing up a Retail Strategy for Youghal, with terms of reference to include a major retail complex at the Mill Road site, “which was unanimously rezoned by the council members’ for such purpose. This strategy should be included in the Town Development Plan 2009-15. He believed every effort should be made to encourage developers to utilise the Mill Road site and hoped that Galvin Developments would make the necessary amendments and submit a revised planning application.

“Poor planning application”

Amidst unanimous support for the motion, Cllr Murray said there was an identified need for a Retail Strategy in both the Public Realm and Town Development Plans and that it would encompass all areas, including Youghal’s periphery. She then expressed disappointment that the developers had submitted “such a poor planning application” and felt it “unfortunate that Dunnes Stores, which “was a carrot to sway support,” had become synonymous with the application without having made any commitment to it. She hoped that Galvin Developments, now that they owned the expensively bought site would return with “a better plan” such as Youghal deserved. She added that, “Dungarvan kept big developments out of its town until it got the best plan.”

Mayor Casey sparked a furious response from Cllr Murray when he suggested that if she hadn’t liked the plan, she should have voted against it. Vociferously supported by Cllr Beecher, Cllr Murray stood up to remind him that she had voted for the rezoning but that -as he knew- councillors had no input into the planning process thereafter. Town Manager Patricia Power concurred, saying the councillors had rezoned the land but the council executive had issued the planning permission. “There is nothing we could have done to prevent the Bord Pleanala decision,” she concluded.

Cllr Burke would later correct Cllr Murray that part of Galvin Developments’s presentation to the council on seeking rezoning was “a legally binding letter of intent from Dunne’s,” subject to the development going ahead.

Cllr Linehan Foley was ‘disgusted” with An Bord Pleanala’s decision. Like many Youghal people, she said, she shopped in Dungarvan and Mahon Point, “because I have to” and she claimed Youghal had continuously rejected large retail development for 40 years.

Cllr Savage said it would be very difficult for any developer to invest in Indian Point given An Bord Pleanala’s views, especially its emphasis on town centre retailing. He agreed strongly that a Retail Strategy implemented into the Town Development would prove “very useful.” Cllr Burke then observed that An Bord Pleanala had “used the Cork Retail Strategy, which was never incorporated into Youghal’s Development Plan.”

“Flawed report”

Town Clerk Liam Ryan added further fuel to the fires of ire when he asserted that “the inspector’s report was flawed in its description of the site because it classed it as “‘out of town.’” Yet when appeals had been made against the Tesco and Lidl (which is 50 yards further removed than Indian Point), An Bord Pleanala had classed them as ‘edge of centre.’ Mr. Ryan said, “It’s completely irrational and smacks of the inspector having his mind made up in advance. He also believed that Youghal had been wrongly “used by vested national interests as a test case for other towns.”

The Town Clerk provided further insight when he rubbished the Bord’s consideration of intrusion on the graveyard wall as a telling factor, saying no relevant heritage organisations had appealed the development. .

With the motion unanimously agreed, there was support for Cllr Murray’s insistence that only consultants who specify in retail strategy be employed for the purpose. Mayor Casey said this was particularly important given the unique, elongated nature of the town.

Cllr Burke summarised the Retail Strategy as possibly looking at Youghal’s capacity to accommodate extra shopping, considering the competitive positions of Tesco/Lidl area versus the town centre, making recommendations as to the type of town centre retailing to compliment a Mill Road development, looking at the issue of vacant town centre shops and rents and analysing the suitability of ‘town centre’ and ‘edge of town centre’ sites.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Burke requested ramps at the Green, road markings at Dun Chorain, “in consultation with the residents,” public lighting at the Fair Field and a seat to be provided in the foyer of the post office, particularly necessitated for elderly people. He asked that the council write to the HSE regarding visits by the school dentist who now visits only twice weekly for emergency treatment, with “the days of check-ups or prevention being better than cure seemingly gone.” He also wondered if the builders bond could be invoked to get the Green Area at Oak Hill trimmed. A handrail on steps at Raheen Park needs repairing, road markings in the area need improving and the grass on the bank form nos.15 to 20 need cutting. Nearby, the holes in the town walls are inadequately protected and pose a serious danger of collapsing on children who might decide to access the vicinity. He voiced the need to clean the Gaol Steps, repair the water channels on Golf Links Road behind the Marine bar, repair footpaths at 29 Sweetfield Estate and complete paths at Windmill Hill.

Cllr McLellan asked if ramps could be provided at McCurtainstown and at Parklands. Cllr Beecher asked that the footpath from Aura to the Front Strand be completed. He said the entrance to Green Hole is very dangerous, with washed out sand causing a 10ft drop. The litterbin at the tourist office needs to be better secured and a nearby tree stump requires uprooting. He called for ball playing at Barry’s Lane to be stopped as it intimidates locals and pedestrians, while a tree hanging into Moonraker, Cork Hill, should be trimmed back.

Cllr Barbara Murray asked that the De Valera Street car park be completed and broken footpaths on various areas of North Main Street be repaired. Cllr Linehan Foley said an abandoned car on Kilcoran Road had smashed windows, stored rubbish and, being adjacent to the ESB power station, posed a serious fire hazard.
Cllr Revins said every estate is looking for speed ramps and said a Town Council by-law was needed to address ball playing at Barry’s Lane. Mayor Casey asked that “a mighty pole” used for drying hoses in the distant past be removed from the vicinity of the fire station.

Cork County Council Items:

Cllr Linehan Foley asked if Town Engineer Paul Murray for updates on the Greencloyne footpath and kerb problems and the landscaping to discourage the parking that obstructs emerging traffic opposite Crowley’s garage. She reminded that a footpath at Dominic Collins’s Place needed extending and said more bins are needed at Claycastle, along with signs denoting their presence.

Cllr Revins asked that cutting at top of Kilcoran Park be undertaken and large potholes at Knockaverry Estate be treated. He informed of an e-mail from the Quality Hotel complaining of the littered Redbarn beach and asked whether the County Council planned to put bins there. Town engineer Paul Murray said Redbarn is being piloted as a Blue Flag beach, with no plans to install bins. Instead, a ‘pack it in, pack it out’ program was being operated, whereby signs had been erected to encourage visitors to bring their waste home. “I don’t think anyone understands that,” interceded Cllrs Murray supported by Cllr McLellan. “The Council should put up a simple sign such as, ‘Take your litter home.’

Cllr Savage, at his final council sitting, asked that grass margins at the town entrances be trimmed. Cllr Burke asked if any sort of patching could be done in lieu of complaints about potholes, etc on the back street, which are damaging cars. He wanted signs denoting Youghal as a Fair Trade town erected at town boundaries. “Lets tell the world,” he advised. He continued with “the usual list of broken footpaths” -Tallow Street, South Main Street, junction South Abbey/Strand Street before concluding with unfinished road surfaces at the entrance to Summerdale Lawn. Cllr McLellan referred to an abandoned car at Kilcoran Road and said residents at Glean Tuarigh had complained of rats being attracted by rubbish dumped within.

Cllr Beecher complained that it wasn’t acceptable that lifeguards are only deployed at weekends during June and said a strong swimmer had had so swim to the rescue of someone in a canoe recently. Town Clerk Liam Ryan Clerk explained that current finances only allowed for the present rota. “Funding comes 50% each from the Town and County councils,” he said. “The level is exactly the same as previous years, with daily lifeguards only in July and August, but if money was allotted at December’s budget meeting, it would change.” Cllr Beecher further asked that ponding (flooding) both at Store Street and the second last house in Kilcoran Park be resolved (although he didn’t request a lifeguard!)

Cllr Murray sought repairs to the footpath outside Con Keogh’s would be done, having first raised the matter last April. She wondered when road markings, a stop sign and a crash barrier would be installed at Ardan na Mara and asked that sand be cleared from all wheelchair ramps at the beaches. She suggested some flexibility in the County Council’s work schedules for litter to be picked from the beach on weekends. “Perhaps a shift switch by some workers from midweek to weekends?” she suggested.

Mayor Casey asked that ponding outside Nagle House be resolved, especially as the premises was just painted. He asked that a ‘No Overtaking’ sign be erected at the Mall, as cars often have to stray a little to the left before turning right to park perpendicular to the path. “Unfortunately, drivers tend to overtake at that moment and someone is going to get killed,” he warned.

Having listened to the list of concerns, Town Engineer Paul Murray added that litterbins at Redbarn would attract vermin. He said he is waiting for a price to be submitted from the contractor before authorising completion of the path from Aura. He agreed the back street is in bad shape but argued that in the coming years it will be dug up for the new main drainage scheme -though he failed to impress his listeners! He also said his outdoor staff are dealing with a series of water leaks in town, which once resolved, would allow attention to be turned to road, including the dip outside the court house.

Cllr Beecher again complained about obnoxious odours emanating at weekends from Foxhole. Mayor Casey said the EPA is monitoring the area and a report would be forthcoming.

Manager’s Orders (and Mayor’s tributes!):

Mayor Casey took the opportunity to convey how honoured he had felt to serve the community over the past 15 years. “It was -and still is – in my blood,” he said, “but having stared work at 15 1/2 and now being 67, there comes a time to stand down and take a break.” Amidst much good wishes, Cllr Linehan Foley recalled the mayor affording her guidance and respect when she was first elected in 1999. “It was an honour to work with you and I’ll miss you,” she proclaimed. She then asked that the media clarify a previous, seemingly disparaging incident in which she had alluded, caustically, to ‘the face on the Mayor’ during a strongly heated debate. “We both know it was nothing personal” she said, “but I got some stick for it on doorsteps.” Done.

Cllr Burke thanked the Mayor for a “wonderful 15 years.” He said he had given “half a century to Youghal” from a teenager in Youghal Gasworks to 40 years as water curator, 21 as fire brigade station officer and then councillor, with three terms as mayor. “You are a person of principle, integrity, honour, honesty, dedication and commitment,” he said to his retiring friend, followed by spontaneous applause.

Mall Arts Centre:

The council unanimously agreed to transfer running of the Mall Arts Centre to Hatherton Ltd., which trades as Youghal Enterprise Centre. The agreement followed a brief appraisal from the Town Clerk in which he referred to “enormous difficulties” imposed by the present financial climate, in running the centre from the Town Council offices. He referred to such aspects as staffing and funding being difficult and believed the transfer could bring a financial viewpoint to bear, with a more imaginative, less restrained approach. The initiative would be executed “immediately,” he added.

Correspondence:

Cllr Revins expressed reservations in providing East Cork Tourism with a requested €7,000 fee. “We don’t even get invited to their annual showcase and get very little information from them,” he said. The Town Clerk’s suggestion that East Cork Tourism be invited to make a presentation as to their strategy for Youghal prior to being given any money, was accepted.

Congratulations:

Cllr Sammy Revins congratulated Youghal United for winning the Beamish Stout Senior Cup recently. He said they are only the third team outside Cork city to win it since 1938 and he “would be asking for a civic reception.” He also congratulated Youghal Pipe Band for their victory in the South of Ireland Championships in Cobh on may 31st and snooker players Brendan Cooney and Aaron Tobin for their triumphs in the All Ireland Masters and Under-14 Championships respectively.

Cllr Sandra McLellan sparked a round of applause when she congratulated her Sinn Fein colleague and sister-in-law Cllr Michelle Hennessy on the birth of a baby girl. Cllr Mary Linehan Foley also paid tribute to the Youghal Pipe Band before inquiring as the civic receptions agreed for the Mayor’s wife Anne and also for retired HSE ambulance medic Paddy Neville. Mayor Casey said it would be appropriate for the incoming Mayor to set the date and details.

Any Other Business:

Cllr Linehan Foley was informed that business or homeowners can still apply for inclusion in the street painting scheme.

Cllr David Savage said a fond farewell to his colleagues after five years as a councillor. He said it had been a privilege to serve and while he had “thoroughly enjoyed” his five years as a councillor, he had particularly enjoyed his term as mayor from 2007-8.  He paid tribute to the Town Clerk, the present and previous Town Managers their staff. He recognised they had a hard job but believed that future generations would recognise that good things had been delivered to Youghal under their stewardship. Mr Ryan said working together was the key to success and had been in particular over the past two councils. He thanked Cllr Savage for his contribution. Town Manager Patricia Power concurred with Mr. Ryan’s sentiments.