YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING JUNE 2010
Report: Christy Parker

Matter arising from the town clerk’s report:
On foot of the council’s stated intention to pursue rate defaulters, Cllr Barbara Murray asked that legal action be deemed last resort. Mr Ryan said there are many alternatives available, pending negotiation with the council. However, failure to “step up to the mark” and meet confer with the council would herald no other option but legal proceedings. Town manager Patricia Power added there would henceforth be a weekly review of ratepayers because no money coming in meant “very serious cuts to services.”

It was decided to await the September meeting to consider the Draft Traffic Management and Parking Plan. JuIy was an alternative but September allows more time for the traffic engineer and the gardai to consider the details There are no council meetings in August..

Congratulations:

Cllr Mary Linehan Foley congratulated Youghal United on setting a new world record (pending ratification by the Guinness Book of Records) of 3½ hours for a continuous five-a-side football match. “It was brilliant weekend and those fit men were pleasing to the eye,” she commented. The councillor also congratulated “everybody that was involved in the Procession.” Cllr Sammy Revins said the FCA’s absence from that occasion was due to a lack of numbers.

Cllr Michael Beecher also congratulated Youghal United and similarly Aaron Tobin who won two All-Ireland snooker titles in under-14 and under-15 grades in Carlow. He also acknowledged the “fantastic” show performed by the Youghal Musical Society.

Cllr Eoin Coyne paid tribute to the Casey family on the success of the Emer Casey 10k. “There was great community involvement,” he observed.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Michelle Hennessy said the road was crumbling at the Raheen Road turn-off for Raheen Park, that the Raheen Road car park “needs to be sprayed,” the grass at the top of Blackwater Heights requires cutting, the yellow box at the bottom of Cork Hill wants paint and a log needs removing from the Mall -where grass and weeds are also rampant. With a heavy sigh, she described the Jail Steps as “shocking” with weeds, overgrown hedges, a missing door, an open shore and illegal dumping prevailing. Similar destitution persisted at the upper end of the steps.

Cllr Murray reiterated the Jail Steps woes and also agreed that the Mall needed tidying. The councillor inquired asked as to a machine she had seen creating mounds of gravel at the promenade end of Claycastle. Town engineer Paul Murray promised to investigate.

Cllr Beecher echoed the Jail Steps concerns. He was also concerned that “a tunnel” had been dug to gain access to the Mill Road playground and wanted a camera installed. The Lighthouse Hill, Church Street and Priory Court needed cleaning, he concluded.

Staff, not grass, cuts.

The town clerk interceded that, regarding grass cutting, cleaning etc, council staff cuts rendered it impossible to maintain the level of previous service. He said two full-time workers were unable to cope with the problem. Council staff levels were now lower than in 1984, while the town ‘s size had increased by 40%. The recruitment embargo on part-time workers meant the issue would recur continuously and it was “strangling local authorities.” He suggested councillors inform their political parties. It was agreed to complain also, in writing, to the Minister for the Environment via a motion at July’s meeting.

Cllr Sammy Revins warned that the Lighthouse Hill railings were “seriously corroded” and feared that, given the current health ‘n’ safety culture, “we’ll be closed off from the Walter Raleigh!” He also asked when the Millennium Garden’s main entrance would be open, as elderly people were afraid to access the garden through the playground. Mr. Ryan said it was currently closed due to two CCTV poles being erected, while town foremen Ger Lupton said the gates would be re-open in the coming days but may close intermittently.

Flower pots

Cllr Linehan Foley said residents in Quain’s Terrace would voluntarily maintain an overgrown bank area if it was cut and seeds planted. She asked whither three flowerpots for Dr. Kennedy’s Place that had been ordered and was told they were imminent. The area has been the subject of dangerous kerb driving and she said the pots would help prevent “something bad happening.”

Cllr Coyne complained that a large mound of rock was in danger of collapsing from a vandalised wall near Quain’s Terrace. Mayor Sandra McLellan indicated that rubbish was being dumped near new council houses behind Seafield and residents were concerned. She also asked if two blackout blinds and a rain sensor for air vents could be installed in the Mall Arts Centre. It was also joyfully noted that the centre made a €4,000 profit over the past year.

Cork County Council Items:

Cllr Linehan Foley said the “brutal” smell had returned at Foxhole and was even discernible by the Strand. She said the “stench” would compromise tourism. She also complained that the €3 entrance fee to the landfill unfairly discriminates against those with minimal rubbish or indeed minimal money and was not encouraging recycling. The councillor asked if a sanctioned, disabled space at Raheen Park was to be installed and also whither the ones for Cork Hill. She wondered also if the Lighthouse Hill viewing stands could be rendered safe and re-opened for the summer.

Bags by bins banned

Cllr Hennessy complained that residents had been issued with litter fines after private refuse company County Clean had wrongly informed them that it was ok to leave transparent waste bags beside their bins. The town clerk said the company had informed him that they were ceasing the provision of such bags. He said all waste, including recyclables, “must be presented in a bin for collection.”

Cllr Murray asked if such issued fines could be annulled. Mr. Ryan replied that Cork County Council operated waste management byelaws. Photographic evidence inevitably coincided with fines and the level of the evidence would determine the outcome of appeals. Cllr Hennessy suggested County Clean should be fined, while Cllr Murray asked what was the best course for someone with a rubbish surplus after a big clean-out had filled their bins. The town manager advised they would best “stand in the hallway” with the bags prior to collection.

Relevant to litter, Mr. Ryan said 20 fines were about to be issued to individuals caught illegally littering by the council’s mobile CCTV. He anticipated “no representations” being made on their behalf either!

Meanwhile Cllr Revins recommended Cork County Council abandon their pay-by-weight system and return to the old flat rate method, to counteract illegal dumping. He also accused the county council of failing to compete adequately with private contractors. The town manager was unimpressed on either score and responded that Cork County council had to operate waiver schemes as well as provide a budget for street cleaning. “It is not on a level playing field with private operators,” she summarised. Cllr Murray said the county council offer options for either system and alleged that private operators were “laughing at” the county council. “The town council did a better job when we had the responsibility for waste and I’m proud of that,” concluded Cllr Revins.

Fumes for thought, bins and dogs

Cllr Coyne asked for a completion date for the footpath at the bottom of the Spa hill and a starting date for road surfacing on Golf Links Road. He was told the former was detailed in the Manager’s Orders and the latter would commenced next day in the school vicinity, with funding assessment thereafter. The councillor repeated concerns over the ‘dump odours’ and suggested Cork County Council conduct a safety audit on the odours (a veiled reference to the diving rocks controversy). He accepted the town engineer’s suggestion that he send an e-mail to Cork County Council’s Head of Environment section. ‘Might as well send one to the EP as well,” contributed Cllr Beecher, “for what it’s worth.” The town manager said she too would write, to the Director of Services for Waste Management.

Cllr Beecher labelled the CIE grounds the front strand as “atrocious,” adding, “they think they can get away with it because they’re a government body.”

Cllr Linehan Foley then questioned whether the council could be certain that the smell emanated from the dump at all. She pondered whether the pong might be from the adjacent (SWS) sludge drying facility. She argued that new smells did not resemble the old, open odours she and her colleagues would recall from childhood. Her point was well accepted.

Cllr Murray insisted that Cork County Council workers should empty the Claycastle bins “every Friday and Monday” and not just immediately following “a hoo-hah” over it in the council chamber. “The town council workers can be seen seven days a week,” she proceeded, but as for their county council equivalents, “we seek them here we seek them there!” The town engineer tersely observed that domestic waste was being stuffed in the bins and wondered whether they should be deployed at all! Cllr Murray accepted his point but said they should be emptied at either side of the weekend anyway. She also suggested that mobile CCTV be utilised in county council areas, “especially Claycastle.”

Cllr Murray asked that the Claycastle beach guard cabin be replaced s the windows are facing the car park meaning life guards “have to huddle in the doorway” to see the beach! (Turn it round and the door is facing the wrong way!) She also queried whether the lifeguards might, at interview stage, be urged to empty nearby bins on very quiet days as a matter of ‘civic pride.’ The town manager said she would inquire but the feeling was that the proposal would sink. The councillor concluded by querying why the work on the footpath at Foxhole had stopped.

Mayor McLellan inquired as the bye-laws for dogs on the beach during summer. Cllr Murray said new bye-laws prohibited dogs being unleashed on the beach between 11 am to 7pm during from May to August inclusive. During other times they had merely to be “under control.”

Mayor’s Business:

Mayor McLellan said Youghal Boat Club hoped to hold their festival in August at Nealon’s Quay and wanted to cordon off he car park. “They need to make a formal application so we can consider the issues,” replied the town clerk. The mayor then reminded that a delegation from Youghal’s French ‘twin’ Larmor Plage was arriving that week, with a welcoming reception and dinner dance earmarked.

Flags

When the mayor mentioned that a blue flag award ceremony was occurring on Thursday 17th, Cllr Linehan Foley complained that Youghal had received more media publicity for losing the flag at the front strand than for receiving two at Redbarn and Claycastle. Cllr Revins asked if the lost flag could be appealed and argued, “it’s the same body of water” that serves all three beaches. Using somewhat unfortunate terminology, the town manager explained that “the flush of water and what it brings down” can differ. Cllr Murray felt that increasing the testing from 10 to 20 would vindicate Youghal, which had only failed on one count. Cllr Beecher observed that the national media seldom referred to Redbarn or Claycastle as Youghal beaches and it was decided to precede references to either with town’s name in future.

Mayor McLellan said she had received complaints that the tricolour was not flown over the town hall during the Procession. She was told that it was not a statutory requirement.

Minor Flood Relief –Coastal Protection Programme 2010:

Youghal received €18,000 towards flood relief, a fact greeted with scorn and disdain by the chamber. “It’s a joke,” said Cllr Murray adding that €1m was needed to fix the crack-ridden wall at the beach alone.

Commission for Taxi Regulation Strategy Statement 2010-14:

Cllr Beecher asked when Youghal would get its taxi rank. “It must be raised at Cork County Council level,” said Mr Ryan, with the number of taxi licence applications a determining factor.” Currently there is just one applicationn. Cllr Linehan Foley said there would be more if the rank was first installed, while Cllr Beecher felt the competition was needed against what he “had heard” were “over the top prices” charged by the current services.

Youghal Eco Boardwalk Project: Application for funding to Failte Ireland:

The town clerk said he had applied to Failte Ireland, through its Atlantic Walkways Fund, for Phase1 funding. The three-Phase project aims to provide a wooden walkway from Claycastle to Redbarn, with Phase 1 covering the length of Claycastle. Eventually the project would link with the town centre via the designated tourist walk already in place. Failte Ireland can provide up to 75% funding for Phase1 and a decision on the application is expected shortly.

Tidy Towns Task Force Report by Cllr Linehan Foley:

Cllr Linehan Foley said there is a big decline in hanging baskets and hoped people would supply their own this year. She revealed that, “regrettably, Ned Brennan is resigning from the Tidy Towns altogether.” The council agreed to send Mr. Brennan a letter of gratitude for his efforts.

Report on Unresolved Motions:

Cllr Revins called on Cork County Council either to erect a gateway controlling access to the Claycastle car park or install ramps, to combat the prevalence of ‘boy racers.’ He said he was “sick of it” with families being endangered by speeding cars. Angrily, he compared Claycastle car park to “a runway” adjacent to a caravan park amidst efforts to promote tourism. “The gardai need to increase their enforcement,” he added. Cllr Beecher concurred that it was “crazy” what was going on” and advocated erecting a barrier at night.

Cllr Murray drew attention to parking on the Lighthouse Hill and suggested CIE should park their buses at their derelict site in the strand rather than the council accommodating them. She also asked when the signs denoting free main street parking from 1-2pm would emerge. Mr. Ryan said to await the passing of the new parking bye-laws. Regarding the Lighthouse Hill, he advised that it was a Cork County Council issue and that there were several factors involved, including redesigning and “proper bays”. He noted to that private bus and truck operators also currently parked there.

Cllr Beecher inquired as to a new footpath on the Quarry Road, a handrail between Knockaverry and Kilcoran Road and “continuing the road” from Blackwater Heights to Woodview Court. He was told the only impediment was the lack of funds.

Motion in the name of Cllr. Murray seconded by Cllr. Beecher:

“That Youghal Town Council commission an independent study that will encompass all aspects of the Irish Water Safety Report.  This report should also evaluate how best this Council can proceed in ensuring that the Diving Rocks will be reopened to the public as soon as possible.”

The councillor’s were at pains to clarify that they had nothing to do with either the safety assessment or the subsequent closure of the diving rocks. In actuality, they had not even been informed of either in advance and were quite angry about that. There were in unanimous disagreement with the closure. .

Cllr Murray said Cllr Liam Burke- who was absent from the meeting- had sent each councillor his detailed views on the issue from his perspective as a regular visitor to the area spanning 50 years.

Cllr Murray said there was risk inherent in many places, whether locally -at the beach’s submerged groynes, the quayside, the Slob, the Ardmore cliffs- or as far distant as Skellig Michael, where two people had died in recent times. Danger in natural environments was part of life. She questioned the validity of an assessment conducted in February on a summer facility and referred to the banality of assuming someone might dive off a board from three feet into an empty pool at low tide! Cllr Murray then warned that closing off the access effectively meant creating danger by denying an exit to those who accessed the area via the beach. “Can we not find a way to keep it open, with some signage and minor repairs, instead of trying to wrap people in cotton wool?” she pleaded. She hoped a consultant “with a little bit of savvy” could indicate likewise.

Cllr Beecher said the area, which had never seen an accident, was “now more dangerous” with the closure. Cllr Linehan Foley noted that the Cliffs of Moher weren’t closed off. Neither were Youghal’s quays; people undertook visits to such places at their own, conscious risk. She urged haste towards a new report and said the long-cordoned viewing stands be included too.

Cllr Revins noted that emergency service access was hardly a valid safety issue when “the services train on those rocks” and would access the site by sea. He criticised the absence of local knowledge from the safety report. Cllr Coyne also questioned the report’s credibility, pointing out that it recommended Green Hole as a more suitable swimming area, despite it displaying a red flag! Cllr Hennessy said the rocks were “part of our heritage and should never have been closed.” She said the area’s natural topography was an educational as well as a recreational attraction for children and adults. She wanted it re-opened “this year!”  Mayor McLellan said it was “health and safety gone mad” and that octogenarians were now compelled to climb a wall to get to their preferred swimming spot.

Complaints? What complaints?…

So where did it all begin? The source of alleged “complaints” remains unclear. Town Manager Patricia Power has not responded to e-mail requests before subsequently stating that she was “not sure whether I received complaints in writing or orally” and has failed to define how many complaints there were or their nature.

However the manager informed June’s council meeting that said had been told of “a number of reports” citing the area as “being unsafe.” On inquiring as to their origin, she recalled that Cork County Council had a few years previous employed health and safety consultants “to try to inbed the issue of health and safety issues within the working day of a local authority.” At that time comments had been made on the diving rocks and last year the council’s health and safety section had represented the area as unsafe, with a report dispatched to the town council. She then consulted with “some of our health and safety people” as to who should conduct a risk assessment and opted for the Irish Water Safety Association. The insinuation of the public voicing concern is thus debunked as a sham, if not officially so.

No apology

Ms Power said she had no apology to make for ordering the closure, given the report’s findings. A subsequent assessment by the county council’s own health and safety personnel, she added, vindicated the original report. She would “not sit over a situation” where she was told somewhere was very unsafe and she would be “horrified to think we could have fatalities there,” regardless of its fine history of safety. She added that Skellig Michael was a different entity as it necessitated a conscious decision, involving a long journey bedecked with warning signage, to visit it. Youghal’s diving rocks offered a more “casual” decision. Also, the 40ft in Dublin was deemed safe but an experienced swimmer was nor a paraplegic after diving there.

As regards a resolution, there was little money for repairs etc, but following Cllr Burke’s report, Ms Power had agreed to have a further assessment conducted across all health and safety (as against engineering) concerns. As requested, this would be conducted in summertime and within weeks.

The chosen firm is Chris Mee, Safety Engineering, Cork, a member IOSH, a highly reputed global health and safety organisation. Chris Mee have conducted work in Youghal before and the town clerk said he was satisfied as to their local knowledge capacity. Cllr Murray said there would remain risk regardless and said signage was crucial. Ms Power replied that “as many measures as possible could be employed against known dangers” following the audit and prior to gauging the remaining risk. Natural risks were unavoidable but encouraging usage through providing a diving board etc., carried responsibility, she explained.

The new safety audit will be prepared prior to July’s meeting. The council voted to foot the €2,500 bill for the survey, the money to come through cutbacks in other, unspecified services. Always a dark cloud to these silver linings…

The council meetings will revert to Monday nights from July following the resolution of the public sector dispute.