All councillors attended February’s meeting, with the exception of Cllr Liam Burke who was absent on a serious family related matter.

The meeting was preceded by a presentation on the Youghal Community Drug Based programme, by), Gordon Kingsley and Eric Trihy, Development Worker for the Southern Regional Drugs Task Force (SRDTF) Youghal Community Drugs worker, respectively. See elsewhere in this issue for report. By Christy Parker

The meeting proper commenced with the Town Clerk’s Report, following which Cllr Donie Daly asked whether the reduction in council staff from 20 to 13 could be reversed should finances be rejuvenated. The town clerk said this was not possible under the current government-enforced embargo. He added that Youghal now has less council staff now than it had in 1984, when the town was 60% smaller.

Protest meetings

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley said she was “appalled” by the sad state of the council’s finances. She referred to the rejection of the Indian Point (the Galvin Developments/‘Dunne’s Stores’ enterprise) development on appeal to An Bord Pleanala and said this brought a rates loss of €150,000 p.a. A similar process (appeal by other retailers) had seen the Bord refuse a proposed development at Artesyn. “Now we see from the town clerk’s report that our rents are subsidising the rates,” she observed tersely.

The councillor said and her colleagues were “trying our best for Youghal and always have done”  and noted the town clerk’s view that both developments would have contributed significantly towards deterring consumers from shopping elsewhere. She did not begrudge recent protests against proposed parking charges –which she opposed- “but where were the public meetings and protesters when Galvin’s were turned down?!| she asked. “There is something radically wrong with our town,” she proceeded, “when two to three hundred people will protest about parking charges but not one single person asked for a public meeting when Dunne’s was refused entry to our town!”

By now in full verbal flight, the councillor said people were shopping outside Youghal “because there is nothing to entice them to stay here!” It “has nothing to do with car park charges,” she insisted angrily, nor was it the fault of the council’s, the town clerk or the town manager, all of whom were, being “blamed for businesses hitting rock bottom.” She said Youghal’s businesses had improved from neither the boom years nor the re-opening of the Mall Lane, “so we can’t be blamed if it shuts.” Repeating that rents were now subsidising rates, she concluded that, ”we do help the retailers.”

Petitions and vested interests

Cllr Donie Daly agreed with Cllr Linehan Foley’s “impassioned” comments. He then criticised anti-paid parking petitions in the town. He said people were being “accosted” without being properly informed. He had met two people “who didn’t know what they were being asked to sign for.”  The councillor also noted that, “there was no petition when the developments were stopped or when 50c was put on prescriptions.” He said the council was “operating from other people’s agendas” and had “lost the PR battle that vested interests are putting forward for whatever reason.”

In deference to his absence at the Chamber of Commerce-arranged meeting in the Walter Raleigh he said he was given two days notice and within 15 minutes had replied he couldn’t make it. He believed the apologies of he and his fellow councillors were deemed “a big joke” by the attendance, in a situation where the only councillor to attend was Cllr Barbara Murray.

Joan of Arc

Cllr Daly then launched a vociferous attack on Cllr Murray’s for “doing her Joan of Arc act, inciting the masses to rise up against their oppressors” at the said meeting! Unsurprisingly, Cllr Murray robustly refuted the allegation (if not perhaps the comparison), insisting she went to the Walter Raleigh in good faith. She asked that he withdraw the remark.

Instead, Cllr Daily reached for the stake and matches as it were, informing Cllr Murray that from what he “had heard” and from what he had “read in the Youghal News (or interpreted perhaps), she had been practically inciting the people to riot.” (This came as no less a surprise to the report’s writer, it has to be said!)

Amidst a dearth of support for Cllr Daly’s view, Cllr Murray vehemently insisted that she had been totally unaware as to what councillors- if any- would attend, other than she knew Cllrs McLellan and Hennessy would be absent. She said she was “bloody well scared” as to how matters might transpire when she realised she was the sole council representative. “I certainly didn’t want to incite anyone and I stated quite clearly that it was just a draft document,” she stated.

Contrary to fuelling rebellion, Cllr Murray said she had informed one woman accustomed to prolonged parking, that she believed nobody should have free car parking in every car park all day. “I spelt it out as I saw it and nothing else,” she stated. Furthermore, she had “never at any stage considered not going to the meeting. You took third hand information. I was there. You weren’t. That’s it!” she concluded.

Provoked

Following a long silence of about five seconds, Cllr Michael Beecher said he believed the Chamber of Commerce had “provoked people” prior to the “emergency” meeting. He felt the meeting “should never have been held” and that the Chamber “should have approached us” instead.

Cllr Beecher said he and his colleagues had met with the Chamber in the aftermath and he had informed them that the plans are only a draft proposal and that the councillors were always approachable. He had also told them that it was unfair to treat the councillors like that when both sides “are working for the good of the town.” He hoped people would include new proposals as well as criticisms in their submissions, which was the appropriate way forwards.

Cllr Sammy Revins said he had met other business people beyond the Chamber of Commerce subsequently. That said, he didn’t think the council had to consult with anyone in the circumstances. Rather, normal process had produced a draft document for public submissions. Nothing whatsoever had been decided or adopted. He was glad the Walter Raleigh meeting had occurred because “now people realise that they have to write in” as part of the normal procedure. “If people want to meet the council, they can do so through the Mayor,” he advised. Personally, he was available to meet anyone by prior arrangement via his doorstep or telephone and “not through Facebook or anything else.” That concluded –for awhile anyway- the debate on matters arising from the Car Parks and Traffic Draft Bye-laws and its incendiary aftermath.

Congratulations:

Cllr Revins congratulated author John Stack, from Kilcoran Park, on the launch of his second book (of a trilogy), Captains of Rome’ following his initial ‘Ships of Rome.

Cllr Beecher paid tribute to David Callaghan and Youghal rugby club for the player representing Ireland U-21’s. He described it as “a proud moment for Youghal and its rugby club.” He understood there were “more local lads in line for trials with Munster.”

Cllr Murray congratulated Youghal Leisure Centre (Aura) and by association Youghal Town Council on the centre winning a Zurich-Lama award for Best Recreational Facility, for which herself had nominated them. The annual awards showcase the best projects and companies in communities across Ireland and the councillor also congratulated Youghal District Nursing Home for being short-listed for an award in Excellence at the same ceremony.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Michelle Hennessy called for a disabled parking space outside Cumann na Daoine. She said the town’s Disability Group were delighted with the number of spaces in town but wondered the space at Egan’s funeral home could be re-allocated to Cumann na Daoine as the funeral parlour had re-located. The councillor also requested that a pedestrian crossing be installed at the top of Cork Hill, with a traffic survey conducted if necessary. At the other end of Cork Hill, she drew attention to “that pothole” which was “nearly across the road!”

Dumping

Cllr Murray said rubbish was being dumped on the Spa hill and that repairs to potholes on the way to Summerfield had missed a few to the left, near Paul Morrisson’s, (Ballyclamsey) Cllr Revins concurred, adding that “one car had been badly damaged there.”

Cllr Linehan Foley said residents at Bayview were suffering from incessant rubbish dumping. One resident was collecting it “and paying the €3 landfill charge in disposing of it. However he also had names and photographs and they would be passed to the town hall. The councillor described the pothole at the end of Cork Hill as “a crater.” She asked if the road repairs at Magner’s Hill would be extended to Colaiste Eoin. The town clerk said it was stopping at St. Raphael’s gates, with further progress dependant on funds.

Darkness and demolition

Cllr Daly said non-functioning public lights had plunged Kenny’s Lane into darkness for the past two weeks. Drivers in Nealon’s Quay were also in the dark, metaphorically speaking, due to lack of road markings. Rats were rummaging at the bottom of Windmill Hill backing onto the Spinning Wheel. Finally, he sought information on dereliction notices regarding “Clancy’s and all the others.” Such information was not forthcoming at the meeting but the town clerk said he would provide him with an update in a private forum. One can only wonder….

Cllr Beecher drew attention to carrier bags of rubbish being dumped inside the fencing at Dermot Hurley estate. “These people have to be caught!” he insisted. The councillor asked that the paths in the graveyard be repaired and likewise a deep pothole at Allen’s Quay.

Cllr Eoin Coyne said there was a 1½ ft gap between the footpath and roadway at Island View (beyond St.Coran’s Well) and wondered was it an issue for the developer or otherwise.

Cllr Revins said the graveyard was inadvertently left open two weeks ago and a “free for all of underage drinking” and more had ensued.

No heating

Mayor Sandra McLellan complained that a disabled resident in the Alms Houses had had no heating for two weeks and asked that the matter be immediately addressed. It had been reported to the town hall “on at least five occasion,” she said.

Cork County Council Items:

Cllr Murray requested that the dog poop bins and the solitary bin of general (human) rubbish be emptied. Also, rubbish on the embankment had been there since last November and had increased to include “a nappy and an underpants!” She said beach debris was prevalent, including unopened packages of nappies that obviously fell from containers, as well as numerous butter cartons. Cllr Revins said one man had picked up 72 cartons that day. Town engineer Paul Murray agreed to investigate.

Fee or free?

Cllr Linehan Foley asked whether there was any news from County Hall on a Motion she had had adopted requesting the €3 charge to the landfill site be abolished. There wasn’t. “It’s a disgrace, when we were always told recycling would be fee,” she maintained. The councillor asked if anyone had endeavoured to contact the owner of the derelict rifle range, given it was a lovely walk and summer was impending. She learned that nothing had been evolving there either. She repeated her request.

Cllr Daly said he believed “the dump” was to close in January. Town Manager Patricia Power said understood it would do so “sometime this year,” with Bottle Hill to open in the same timeframe. Regarding the €3 fee, she proceeded that “recycling costs an awful lot of money.” Amenity sites are to help people manage their waste but it originates from households and a fee is one way to encourage people to reduce the waste they produce. Cllr Linehan Foley responded a previous manager had once said that waste disposal would be charged to discourage its accumulation but that “recycling would always be free.”

Cllr Linehan Foley then said that contrary to legal conditions, an individual had been charged to dump an electrical appliance. Others were being charged also, she claimed and asked that the rule of free electrical disposable be displayed clearly and prominently at the site. The individual in question had retained the receipt and with the town manager’s compliance the councillor would advise them to seek a refund in writing from the County Council.

No road repair collaboration

Cllr Daly complained that the worse part of his daily travelling was the potholes Youghal between Youghal and Fermoy. It fluctuated between good road/bad road at various intervals and he wondered was there was any collaboration between Cork and Waterford county councils, who maintain it. It emerged that there isn’t.

Cllr Murray meantime said she had travelled the route recently and observed that many potholes seemed to be filled without the added pressure of ‘a whacker’ to make them compact. The town engineer said he would conduct inquiries. The town manager elaborated that the winter weather had caused “unprecedented damage” that merited road reconstruction in some instances, for which funding wasn’t available. Primary roads were being prioritised meantime.

Cllr Revins asked that Strand Street be adequate road marked, “as a matter of urgency,” especially near the school, where the box was “washed away.”

Cllr Hennessy referred back to the €3 landfill fee and asked how it could be removed given that the government had now decided to increase waste charges, and add VAT onto top of it. “That’s an EC directive,” interrupted Cllr Revins (FF).

“Unfortunately I can’t represent the whole country,” informed Cllr Linehan Foley.

Cllr Hennessy expressed approval at the Cork Hill resurfacing and reminded that the car parking spaces be lined on the sides when the re-lining was being done.

Cllr Beecher wondered why plastic material was not being accepted for recycling at the amenity site. The town manager Patricia Power explained that only certain grades of plastics were being recycled. Recycling plastic generally depended on a market being available for the product and at present there were limitations in this sphere. “Even yoghurt cartons and similar light plastics?” asked Cllr Beecher. “Cork County Council has no contract for those kind of plastics,” cut in Cllr Revins. Ms Power said she’d inquire further on the issue.

Cllr Beecher said tar on a resurfaced road at Store Street was causing ‘a slope’ resulting in flooding, with a threat to adjacent property. He again called for “good submissions” from people on the parking be-laws, rather than arguing about it.

Mayor McLellan thanked Youghal Town Council for the recent road resurfacing works. Cllr Revins wished the public recognised that because “they are fast to knock us.” The mayor asked that the long awaited Fair Trade signs be erected at either end of town. As regards the introduction of new VAT charges, she asked if this would go onto the cost of on-street (if not other!) car parking. The town clerk said there was no private car park operator in Youghal so it would not apply.

Cllr Murray spoke of an evolving consensus that paid parking be encouraged in planning applications for edge of town developments in an initiative known as ‘Smarter Travel’ to civil servants. This would have applied, hypothetically to such developments as Indian Point (Dunne’s again!) and was intended to create a ‘level playing field’ with in-town parking programmes. Unfortunately, VAT being applicable on the private car parks would mean pressure to apply it on the council parking spaces also and so she’d advise against adopting it. Mr. Ryan sighed and reflected that, “there is awful tendency in this country to make things as complicated as we can.” He said issues of local government, including funding, had not been addressed since the State was formed, while its administration was amongst the most complicated in the world.

Mayor’s Business:

The mayor said she had received a petition from a delegation against the pedestrianisation of the Mall Lane and that she was bringing it to the manager’s attention. She reflected briefly on the recent Midleton and District Garda Benevolent Fund dinner and that her attendance marked the first time a Youghal mayor had been invited. She hoped the trend would continue.

Taking in Charge Procedure of Meadow Valley, Ballyclamsey, Youghal Harbour Glimpse and Raheen Road:

This was proposed by Cllr Revins and seconded by Cllr Linehan Foley and marks the “start of the public consultation process” as Mr. Ryan observed.

Allocation of Budget Funding to Resident Associations and Sporting Groups:

Cllr Linehan Foley said it was great that Youghal Town Council was still able to execute this service. She asked if a donation could be provided –say €200- for Haven, the Youghal group shortly going to Haiti on relief work. The own clerk said there was a contingency fund of €2,000 available but that an application for funding needed to be made in writing and then considered by the council. Cllr Revins said Chernobyl Youghal, which he and his wife had recently joined, had made a similar application.

Motion in the name of Motion in the name of Cllr. Daly seconded by Cllr. Linehan Foley: “That Youghal Town Council proceed with the pedestrianisation of Mall Lane, once the viability of alternative access onto the Main Street has been reviewed by the County Traffic Management Engineer.

Cllr Daly requested that as Cllr Burke was absent the motion be deferred to the March meeting. Cllr Hennessy said that another councillor could be absent the following night and she believed it should proceed. A vote was taken to defer the motion and was carried by 6-2, with Cllrs Hennessy and Coyne against.

Any Other Business:

Cllr Murray asked that, as the council had unanimously agreed to resurface the Mall Lane (as distinct from deciding whether to re-close it or not), when would it commence? Mr Ryan said that a different substance, suitable for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic- needed to be deployed and the council was seeking a price on “the same surface as used on Church Street and Emmet Place.” The present brickwork would have to be removed, he added. Cllr Linehan Foley asked if Church Street was now permanently closed. “Church Street hasn’t come before the Council, “replied the town clerk. “It is due to arise at the March meeting.” Oh dear.