The final town council meeting of 2009 was conducted in the absence of Town Clerk Liam Ryan, who was ill. Assistant Town Clerk Helen Walsh deputised. The meeting commenced with Cllr Mary Linehan Foley thanking her chamber colleagues for the many good wishes, flower bouquets and kind inquiries during her recent hospitalisation. “I felt humbled and I really appreciated it,” she said. The councillor in turn congratulated Youghal Town Council on this year’s Christmas lights, noting that “the town is looking well.”
By Christy Parker

Cllr Sammy Revins congratulated Jane Quirke from Ballyclamsy, a qualified Charters Accountant in the auditors department of Price Waterhouse Corporation. Earlier this month , Jane achieved joint first place in Ireland on taking her Taxation exams , who finished first in Ireland in her Taxation exams. (See additional piece at end of report).

Cllr Donie Daly congratulated Liam O’Laocha on his election as Gaelic and Culture Officer at the recent Cork County Board convention. He also paid tribute to Leigh Desmond on earning the Munster Intermediate Player of the Year 2009. “Best player in the county is honour enough but best player in Munster is a phenomenal achievement,” he said. The councillor also congratulated Youghal under-16 footballers on becoming County champions and the under-21 hurlers on taking the East Cork title.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Liam Burke observed that the Mall House gates are closed more often than open to the public and, secondly, there is a lot of green mossy growth on the footpath leading to Ardan na Mara on which it is extremely dangerous to walk.

Cllr Eoin Coyne asked that the council locate the owner of a camper van that is seemingly abandoned at the entrance to Cherryvale estate, causing an obstruction to motorists departing and arriving. The councillor also asked that Tesco be contacted with a view perhaps to pruning the foliage behind its amenity site. “There are a lot of people illegally dumping stuff there and that might expose them more,” he suggested. He also asked that remedial work be conducted at the front entrance to the CYMS where water is flooding the front hall and “actually warping the front door.”

Graves, fire alarms and potholes

Cllr Linehan Foley said a tree at the “new part” of the cemetery was once again attracting complaints by shedding its winter leaves onto graves. She said people are slipping on them and the graves can’t dry out because of it either. The councillor understood the council needed to get permission form “either Cluid or Respond” but wondered if the tree which, she elaborated, “is more bushes and branches,” could be cut down altogether.

The councillor asked whether supplying fire alarms to council houses was the responsibility of the council or its tenants? Acting Town Clerk Helen Walsh said every council was fitted with a smoke and any extra ones would be at the tenant’s own cost. Cllr Linehan Foley had in mind a constituent whose alarm was broken and she asked whose responsibility it was to replace it? The tenant was going to replace it herself but feared she might then not be covered by insurance in the case of a mishap. It was agreed that the council would investigate and replace the alarm if necessary.

Cllr Barbara Murray sought information o the situation on (council) housing repairs in general. She also asked that the council tend to some hedging on the Killeagh road that is protruding onto the footpath. Town foreman Ger Lupton said it would be the responsibility of the property owner and Cllr Murray said she didn’t know who was the owner but she would make known where the property can be found.

Cllr Michelle Hennessy pointed out that the road at the top of Windmill Hill needs cleaning and rubbish removed from the area. A pothole at the bottom of Cork Hill was causing cars to swerve and there was considerable dumping on Cork Hill on the left hand side near Raheen Road, she added.

Cllr Daly complained that a lady had recently fallen and broken her wrist on the Mall Lane. “It’s a death trap and something needs to be done about it,” he warned. He had received numerous complaints from mass goers about potholes on Chapel Lane and potholes were aplenty too between Mistletoe Grove and the N25, although he realised it was a Cork County Council issue. The councillor was also concerned that tree roots were undermining the wall dividing Indian Point and the graveyard.

Cllr Daly noted that work might be imminent on the treacherous blind spot caused by illegally parked vehicles at the entrance to Quarryvale and asked to arrange a date to visit it with the Paul Murray, the town engineer. Mr. Murray said he would visit as soon as it was arranged with County Council traffic management official Eileen Coleman. Cllr Linehan Foley, who had also raised the issue repeatedly over many meetings asked to be included in the expedition as footpath parking issues at Dr. Kennedy’s Place had also formed part of her campaign. “That hasn’t disappeared,” she reminded. She was welcomed to tag along.

Cork County Council Items:

Cllr Hennessy said parking on Cork Hill was now a serious issue, as people often parked too close to other cars. This led to drivers being unable to drive out in the early mornings to go to work and in turn having to disturb neighbours to move their vehicles. Alternatively, they parked in a manner that just about prevented other cars accessing a space at all. She suggested boxes be painted by way of bringing order to the situation. This was roundly deemed a good idea and the town engineer said he would investigate.

Cllr Hennessy inquired of an update on the disability space road markings. Town engineer Paul Murray said some had been painted around the town, such as opposite the Credit Union, while work was started near Roseville. He said he had a small crew who were working on the project between other commitments.

Cllr Michael Beecher said he was delighted a new surface was cleared and a footpath installed between Meadow Valley and Ballyclamsy but it appeared no proper stone was laid underneath it and he could see vehicle tracks already embedded in it. Mr Murray said he’d look at it. The councillor proceeded that, part of the Inch Road also needs repair. The engineer said he would contact the relevant personnel in relation to it.

Shanakeel

Claycastle, Mall Lane and Quarry Road

Cllr Murray asked that the Claycastle area be give a clean up before Christmas, especially in lieu of a Christmas swim. She mentioned four Corona bottles having been there for eight weeks! The councillor also reported that she had that evening been notified that sewerage at Aeon Developments, Greens Quay was spilling into an adjoining property. She also drew attention to ponding at Kilcoran Place and water descending the Atlantic Steps, which would be further hazardous in freezing conditions.

Cllr Linehan Foley repeated the concerns relating to the pothole at the bottom of Cork Hill and also the issue surrounding the Mall Lane, which, in her opinion “should have been left closed.” She said closing the Mall Lane did not contribute to the town’s commercial business, while the traffic was both “highly dangerous” and a disturbing to the lane’s residents. Cllr Murray interceded that the main problem was that a surface was laid that was only suitable for pedestrian traffic and needed replacement by a concrete surface. Cllr Linehan Foley disagreed, saying it should have remained pedestrianised as “a fortune of council money” had initially created a beautiful laneway but now “people have no quality of life up there.” She asked that the issue be raised again in the chamber at some stage.

Cllr Revins referred to more potholes, namely at Moll Goggin’s Corner and “at Sammy’s Butchers in the Strand!”

Cllr Coyne also despaired of the Cork Hill pothole, before pointing out that drivers exiting the T-junction from Copperally onto the Quarry Road were having great difficulty seeing traffic from their right. He believed it was the angle of vision that was the crux of the problem. The town engineer agreed to view it officially. The councillor then cited dissatisfaction with the ponding at Nagle House, to which he had also referred at November’s meeting. Mr. Murray said he had unsuccessfully attempted to resolve the problem with cold tar. The road had fractured and he would attempt to mend it with hot tar next month.

Flood plan?

Cllr Liam Burke said he was extremely concerned about possible tidal flooding and asked if Youghal had a flood emergency plan and, if so, what was it. The town engineer said a flood survey had been conducted some years ago but the only plan as such was the provision of sandbags and the installation of flood barrier on the docks area. “Short of acquiring funding to raise the quay walls, there is nothing mush else we can do,” he said.

In the even of an emergency, Mr. Murray continued, Cork County Council would be responsible for implementing a response. Cllrs Linehan Foley and Murray recalled that the last time -2004- when Youghal had serious flooding- it was left to the town councillors to direct traffic and oversee sand bags deployment. “It was frightening. There wasn’t even a guard around,” said Cllr Linehan Foley.

Town Manager Patricia Power said it was worth examining the situation further although the County Council had an emergency strategy for various events, which included co-ordination between the County Council, An Garda and the HSE.
“Flood defence and response are the two issues involved,” she observed, informing that major damage was caused during the recent Cork flooding by vehicles driving through the water and causing waves. Incredibly, people leaving their vehicles to remove ‘road flooded’ signs also contributed to the disaster, she added.

Cllr Burke repeated that given serious flooding is forecast to occur frequently, “a formal flood emergency plan should be drawn up” for Youghal. Cllr Linehan Foley added that even the provision of an emergency number for elderly people especially, to ring would provide reassurance for them.

Cllr Burke concluded his submissions on County Council matters with a repeat of unresolved issues, namely, the concealed entrance sign for Summerdale lawn and “the usual list of broken footpaths at Tallow Street, South Main Street and the junction of South Abbey and Strand Street.”

Mayor’s Business:

Mayor Sandra McLellan she had received a letter from Kathleen Keniry thankig the council for the recent civic reception celebrations held to honour her 50 years teaching Irish dancing. The mayor referred to a letter from the Chamber of Commerce requesting free parking on the main street over Christmas. It was deemed that the matter had already been discussed and that free parking would apply on Christmas Eve only. Mayor McLellan concluded by formerly adding retired town councillor Olly Casey’s autobiographical book, That’s Gas to the council library.

RAPID Report

Cllr Revins said there was no report, no co-ordinator until next March and no tenants liaison officer after Dec 21st. “I can’t see any RAPID meeting happening before March which is very disappointing,” he said, adding he would welcome “any meeting with the residents’ network meantime, to keep things going.”

Unresolved Motions Report:

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley referred to a motion that called on the council to widen and improve Kilcoran Road, including provision of a footpath. She said it had been submitted eight years ago and was still unfulfilled. The councillor didn’t have anything against other areas being resurfaced, but she would be seeking her colleagues’ support for a January motion about “about slapping on Compulsory Purchase Orders etc.” in relation to this long-running saga. “These potholes have been there for 20 years and its wasting money to be filling them for three showers of rain, while elderly people are falling over them,” she alluded.  Cllr Liam Burke supported Cllr Linehan Foley, adding that a very dangerous bend on the road added to the danger.

Local Authority 2010 Budget meetings for 2010:

It was decided to hold the meeting prior to January’s Town Council meeting on January 11th.

Revised Road Traffic and Car Park Bye Laws 2010:
This item resolved particularly around the traffic management plan pertaining to the DeValera Street car park. It was perceived that a lot of issues and “serious concerns” were contained within and therefore the matter would be best dealt with over a special meeting. This is scheduled for Monday January 18th , with the draft results being forwarded before a full council meeting thereafter.

Motion by Cllr Murray, seconded by Cllr Beecher: ‘That Youghal Town Council calls on the OPW to provide funding for the provision of flood protection barriers as a matter of urgency.’

Cllr Murray said she believed two reports had been commissioned in times past, one elaborate in its recommendations and the other simply proposing building walls with gaps and erecting moveable barriers, etc. She was unaware which had been sent to the OPW but suggested they be revisited and revised if necessary in lieu of a fresh application.

The councillor felt present strategy focused unwisely on reactive clean-up tactics whereas pro-active, preventative measures were far more advisable. She would accept the work being done, if need be, in stages, with more vulnerable areas addressed first.

Cllr Burke said the sea threat was very real and when it did transpire it would affect back street residents and mains street businesses alike. He recalled boats being rowed on the main street on Ash Wednesday 1962 and forecast it may well be repeated. Cllr Linehan Foley remembered a similar occurrence at Brown Street in 1989.

Cllr Hennessy said householders on the back street were “seriously concerned” to the point that they wished to send a delegation to the council to voice their fears and to seek reassurance. “Their children have left home now and most of these people are elderly and worried,” she stressed. “Salt water can destroy their homes and they can’t get insurance.” The councillor said there needed to be “hundreds of sandbags” ready for immediate deployment on foot of a flood warning.

As Cllr Murray’s motion was approved, Cllr Linehan Foley added that a similar motion from Cllr Revins had been submitted to the OPW some years ago, that received a positive reply. “They said we were on their list and maybe we can look up that reply again, she concluded.

At which point all retired for beverages and sandwiches to mark the Christmas, with the ham salad and white wine particularly complimentary towards each other, one found.

**

Major academic honours for Youghal’s Quirke sisters

The daughter of former poultry shop owners Vincent and Deirdre Quirke, Jane Quirke achieved 570 points in her Leaving Cert at Loreto Convent Youghal. She then attended UCC from where she graduated 2004 with First Class Honours in Law and French. Jane then undertook post-graduate studied in Dublin City University, from where she acquired a Professional Diploma in Accountancy. The 27 year-old joined the Auditing section of chartered accountants PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2006 where, completing further studies in Chartered Accountancy, she became a Certified Accountant in 2008.

Subsequently transferred to the company’s Taxation department, Jane took her
final exams with the Institute of Taxation this year, finishing joint first in Ireland.

Jane’s sister younger sister by four years, Anne Marie, also attended Youghal’s
Loreto school and acquired 590 points in her Leaving Cert. She subsequently
graduated from UCC in 2008 with an Upper Second Class Primary Degree in Civil
& Environmental Engineering. Earlier this year she completed successful studies
for a Master’s Degree in Transportation and sustainable Development in Paris..

Jane will take up work on January 4th next with a Paris-based French company as a
project engineer, which will see her working on international projects on low
energy buildings in South Africa, China and Thailand.

end