De Valera street to stay two-way as Youghal council finally adopts a traffic management proposal. – By Christy Parker

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL will hope to have ended four years of uncertainty and discontent having adopted a resolution to the traffic management issues surrounding the Ashe Street-De Valera Street-Emmet Place-Church Street routes at a special meeting last Tuesday morning (November 29th).

The meeting, which was held ‘in committee’ (private) was attended by all nine councillors –Mayor Eoin Coyne (FF) and Cllrs Barbara Murray (FG), Michael Beecher (FG), Michelle Hennessy (SF), Eoin Flanagan (SF), Liam Burke (Greens), Sammy Revins (FF),Tara O’Connell (Lab) and Mary Linehan-Foley (FF) and lasted about 90 minutes.

The meeting considered two proposals according to Mayor Coyne. “The first proposal, by Liam Burke was to leave matters as they are, i.e. De Valera Street two-way, Ashe Street and Emmet Place two-way, Church Street downwards only but closed through the tourist season of June, July and August to facilitate the Heritage Trail and increased tourism,” he says.

A counter proposal, from Cllr Linehan-Foley, also argued for the status quo to be retained but with Church Street open throughout the year. “She felt the three-month closure would cause too much hassle and confusion” says he mayor.

The first vote saw Cllr Linehan-Foley’s proposal also supported by Cllrs Hennessy, Flanagan and Mayor Coyne. The proposal was defeated 5-4 with Cllrs Beecher, Murray, Burke, O’Connell and Revins opposing. Cllr Burke’s proposal was then adopted 5-4 with the councillors retaining their stance.

Lines and signs

The mayor explains that both proposals carried an amendment that double yellow lines will apply to both sides of De Valera Street and the residents consequently obliged to avail of the lane’s car park, where resident permit parking is in place. However, a set-down area is to be provided for the veterinary surgeon’s practice. The mayor adds that “elongated rumble strips in the less populated parts of Ashe Street and Emmet Place will also be installed to calm traffic.”

Furthermore, access to Ashe Street via Hayman’s Hill is to be limited to local traffic, with appropriate signage to this effect erected at the entrance to Hayman’s Hill and the junction of Windmill Hill/Ashe Street. Again Mayor Coyne hopes and believes that people will observe this restriction, while deciding it is up to drivers to obey the law traffic warden and gardaí to enforce it. He expects the signage to be erected within six weeks.

Self-calming

Meanwhile it was decided that traffic calming –whether rumble strips or chicanes- on De Valera was unnecessary.  Instead the council opted to lace faith in Cork County Council traffic engineer Eileen Coleman’s opinion that traffic would ‘be self-calming’ on the basis that drivers approaching each other in opposite direction would slow down. How drivers will react on a clear stretch of laneway when there is no approaching vehicle nearby will soon become evident! “People aren’t stupid. They know it’s a built up area,” trusts the mayor, with abounding faith in that portion of humanity that has been sitting behind wheels and causing regular carnage since the horse became expendable!

The agreed measures will see traffic flow on DeValera Street relived for most of the year but possibly increase dramatically during the peak summer season, unless the ‘locals only’ stipulation is observed, in which case the main street will bear the extra volume.

In the coming weeks residents of the affected areas will be formally notified of the council’s ruling. Undoubtedly some will be happy and some will be quite the opposite. To be fair, it’s easy to find weaknesses in any proposal, given Youghal’s infrastructure and the dearth of car parking space at the southern entrance to town.

Any new system cannot hope to please everyone and only time will tell if there is sufficient support and effect to see this adopted proposal and its various accessories survive to permanency. The mayor accepts that time will provide the test but adds that everything “is open to review and people can always make representations.” He assures, finally, that the council will be flexible and considerate wherever and whenever it is deemed necessary to be so. It took a long time to get there. Hopefully the journey is over.

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL has adopted a draft plan to half its development contributions from €5,000 to €2,500 (per car parking space). A further amendment to the legislation to make special provision for developments in certain areas of the town was also discussed and will form the core of a motion to be tabled by Cllr Barbara Murray at October’s town council meeting.

The decision to adopt the draft plan was taken at a special sitting of the council on Tuesday September 20th to review the current development scheme plan. Town Clerk Liam Ryan told the meeting that that plan had undergone the public consultation process with no submissions. Meantime it allowed for any development that commences in 2011, having been granted planning permission and where it was visibly obvious that no development had yet taken place, would be able to avail of reduced charges.

The town clerk added that a number of small developments that have such planning permission are now in position to avail of the reduced charges. “This should to generate economic activity in the town,” he observed.

Specific Areas

Cllr Barbara Murray welcomed the adoption, saying Youghal had been “off the Richter scale”  with €5,000 charges at a time when Midleton was charging €1,800 and Cobh €2,900. The councillor then argued for a more discriminatory scheme to boost economic development. She proposed that the town council should endeavour to reduce further, or even eliminate, car space charges in certain areas, most probably within the ‘tourist trail’ (town centre) region. “The town clerk and town architect could look at areas to create incentives and select such areas where we want to see development happening,” she suggested

The councillor based much of her argument on the premise that even at €2,500, a premises changing use to increase its car parking facilities by four spaces, would incur a €10,000 fee “before a shovel was lifted.” She proceeded, “Our hands are tied regarding rates but can development contributions are reserved functions and if we do it now, people waiting to commence developments can benefit immediately.”

However Mr. Ryan said it would presently not be legally possible to incorporate this facet into the plan. He told the meeting, “If you do that without adopting the current draft scheme first, then the old development contribution scheme will still apply and you’d have to go through another public consultation process to change it. Nobody could then start a new development under the lower rate scheme.” He further explained that if the council merely adopted the reduced rate section, developers could benefit immediately. The members could then look at specifying certain areas for further amendments later on.

Cllr Murray accepted this and said she would table a motion of October’s full council seeking consideration of special rates for specific areas. Cllr Sammy Revins, in advance, asked that the Strand be included due to depreciating economic fortunes.

YOUGHAL TOWN COUNCIL’S efforts to progress the Traffic Management Plan for Ashe Street, Church Street and DeValera Street will remain gridlocked for another month at least following some deliberations at June’s council meeting. It had been hoped to adopt an amended plan prior to putting it forwards to public consultation.

However, matters got off to a lethargic start when the members discovered that amendments they had proposed (following consultations with residents) to the original plan had all but been ignored by Cork County Council’s traffic engineer Eileen Coleman. Furthermore, with once councillor absent through illness and another in America with Team Youghal in the Race Across America, forming a democratic consensus would be compromised anyway.

The engineer had been asked to consider the following amendments to the Traffic Management Plan, including pedestrianising Church Street as per the Public Realm Plan and designing chicanes for operation of two-way traffic on DeValera Street (This would necessitate a vehicle travelling in one direction pulling in to facilitate another vehicle coming against it.). Every car would be removed from DeValera Street, with double yellow lines on both sides and, possibly, bollards installed. The amendments would also limit traffic by closing Hayman’s Hill to upward traffic and restricting delivery vehicles on Church Street, DeValera Street and Ashe Street to cars only.

 

Quiet day/busy day

Matters weren’t improved when the engineer revealed that her recent survey accessing traffic accessing Ashe Street via Hayman’s Hill and Windmill Hill, had transpired to be “one of the quietest days in Youghal.” in which a mere 16 cars had been counted (and so rendering that entire exercise practically pointless.) Therefore it remained difficult to subscribe to closing Hayman’s Hill to upward traffic. She did deduct however that the intersection of Hayman’s Hill/Ashe Street and Windmill Hill was “quite dangerous.”

By contrast, Mayor Linehan Foley observed that in recent days traffic had been tailing back to Bun Scoil, inducing many drivers to bypass the main street and cut across Ashe Street via Hayman’s Hill and Windmill Hill before exiting by DeValera Street or the currently re-opened Church Street..

Two-way restraint

Ms Coleman had also decided that installing chicanes on a two-way DeValera Street was unnecessary, believing that traffic would automatically self-regulate to slow speeds in order to avoid collisions. (This presumably works on the premise that there will always be at least one vehicle approaching another on the lane!) Chicanes would be necessary were De Valera Street one-way, she said. Meanwhile two-way traffic would necessitate removing parked cars from the lane.

Church Street

The focus then turned to Church Street, with Ms Coleman declaring that, long-term, it was envisaged that that route, with its heritage-style paving, etc., would be closed. Cllr Liam Burke sought clarification as to why the pedestrianisation of Church Street remained absent from the engineer’s proposals. She said it was perceived that it would accommodate local access only. “We need to define what we mean by ‘pedestrianisation’ and by ‘local access only,’” continued Cllr Burke. “Previously this meant a bollard at the bottom of the street, which was unsatisfactory. So we asked you to consider installing a bollard at the top of the street instead.” Ms Coleman said she had felt that residents of Church Street might park in the DeValera Street car park and walk to their own addresses. However, she would now consider Cllr Burke’s proposal as a further option. The bollard would be remotely controlled by those with off-street parking only, i.e. largely residents.

Pandemonium

Mayor Linehan-Foley however referred to a concert in the area a few days previous and said were it not for Church Street being open, “pandemonium” would have occurred. Cllr Burke said it was vital that a public consultation process be undertaken so that all relevant views and information could be accommodated prior to a final plan being adopted.  It was agreed that the engineer return in July with a clear, simplified set of proposals to be subsequently submitted for such public consultation.

The meeting was attended by Assistant Town Clerk Helen Mulcahy, Town Manager Patricia Power, Mayor Mary Linehan-Foley, Town Foreman Ger Lupton, Town Engineer Paul Murray and Cllrs Barbara Murray (FG), Michael Beecher (FG), Michelle Hennessy (SF) Liam Burke (Green Party) , Eoin Coyne (FF) and Sammy Revins (FF).

Congratulations:

Cllr Murray congratulated the management and staff of both Cork County and Youghal Town Councils successfully working towards ensuring that Youghal has a blue flag on each of its three beaches. She asked the town manager to indicate to An Taisce that all three beaches are designated as Youghal locations, although technically Claycastle and Redbarn come under Cork County Council’s jurisdiction.) She further noted that the blue flags were accompanied by Green Coast awards, for wider environmental excellence. Cllr Burke observed that “Youghal is the only town in Ireland with three blue flags.”

Cllr Beecher praised the town’s artistic, musical and sporting talent in general. By example, he cited the Youghal Soccer Club’s “world class” presentation recently when they entertained Bray Wanderers. He elaborated with reference to Ireland’s renowned culture of welcome with reference to the visits of Queen Elizabeth and President Obama’s (although they avoided Youghal this time, possibly because the visits preceded the arrival of the third blue flag.) “It was fantastic to see the great Irish welcome,” he said before concluding the kudos with a tribute to CRY and its recent cancer charity promotion.

Votes of Sympathy:

Cllr Coyne called for a minute’s silence for Dr, Garret Fitzgerald and Brian Lenihan, “two wonderful men and fantastic servants to our nation who will be greatly missed.” This was duly observed.

Town Foreman’s Report:

Cllr Burke said a pothole at the bottom of Windmill Hill “keeps reappearing.” He then claimed that there were 11 errors in the Irish wording of the parking bye-law sign in Nealon’s Quay (probably replicated in similar signs in other car parks). He said the worse mistake was “the Irish for Monday,” being spelt “’Luna’ instead of ‘Luan’”, meaning the law was effective “from the moon to Saturday!”

Cllr Beecher wanted a sign at Claycastle indicating nearby toilets to be directed in the appropriate direction, as it was pointing to a private house whose residents were being disturbed by visitors wishing to avail of the facility!

Cllr Coyne wanted a loose manhole at Kenny’s Lane resolved,  he reiterated the misspelling of Irish words on the bye-law signs and sought clarification on the bye-law regarding dogs leashed on the beach during June-August. He was told it was requisite from 11 am to 7 pm seven days a week. He also sought pruning for some bushes on the Golf Links Road.

Mayor Mary Linehan Foley requested that weeds in the Mall be removed. She also asked, on behalf of some residents, that a railing be installed on a piece of ground being traversed by mass goers in Raheen Park. Happily, the railings at the former South Abbey school at South Abbey were an ideal fit and she suggested they be transplanted forthwith.

Cork County Council Items:

Cllr Revins observed that there were 42 pages in the latest Cork County Council Beach Bye Laws (oh Gawddd!) and while many of the stipulations would not be very relevant to Youghal, recommended that the councillors familiarise themselves with the details. Cllr Murray noted that the “very controversial bye-laws” irked many people with horse interests in west Cork, while dog issues mostly pertain to Youghal. Cllr Revins sought clarification on “a drain company offloading into the Slob bank renovation works. He learned that the substance in question was “sand and gravel” from a front strand sluice and not the contents of the town’s sewers as had been feared. (It’s unclear why it wasn’t just deposited on the beach).

Cllr Murray complained of the “absolute eyesore” that is the would-be library premises (the former Collins’s bakery). The town engineer said he would take up the matter with the county council. The councillor suggested that corri board be used an efficient and economic method of constructing signage to identify public toilets at the beach. They would be prominently displayed and visible from a distance. Cllr Murray then asked that highly visible signage be posted advertising the beach bye-laws. She also drew attention to a broken manhole cover in Dysart (near Strand church).

Cllr Beecher advised that a new gully be installed at Hillview, as previous efforts were insufficient. He asked that the road surface between Tesco and the council yard be improved to which the engineer said there was a shortage of manpower but he’d see what could be done. Cllr Beecher asked about the Tallow Road and was told that the road surfacing tenders were now in.

Cllr Burke delivered “the usual list of broken footpaths” aka Tallow Street South Main Street and junction of South Abbey/Strand Street,

Cllr Coyne said a pothole on Hayman’s hill was ever present and worrying and Mr. Murray said he hoped it could be repaired, budget permitting, along with works on Raheen Road. The councillor said the road surface at Knockaverry also needed remedying and the engineers said it was hoped to tend to it in 2012.

 

Mayors Business:

Cllr Linehan-Foley, in her final meeting as mayor, paid further tribute to former the late Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and Brian Lenihan TD. She wished absent Labour Cllr Tommy O’Connell a “full and speedy recovery” from his recent illness, the sentiments being unanimously endorsed. She conveyed best wishes to Team Youghal on their fundraising cycle across America and remarked that it was a great advertisement for the town. On behalf of the Youghal Concerned Citizens Group, she asked if the town hall rear area could be made available for the launch of the Youghal Bay Fish Pie award on July 2nd. The assistant town clerk asked that they contact her office. The mayor noted that here were many events planned for Youghal over the coming months before praising local events she had recently attended, including the “outstanding” First Army Band in the Collegiate Church on behalf of the Keith Phelan fund, a sand sculpture competition in Pilmore and the Munster Matchplay championship at Youghal Pitch and Putt club. The Vintage Vehicles day, Chatterbox, Choral and Musical societies, CRY’s Radiothon, Youghal Soccer Club versus Bray and, again, the Blue Flags were all lauded. The mayor hoped (probably in vain) that the national media would provide as much coverage for the blue flag regained as it did last year when it was lost! Cllr Beecher echoed the mayor’s sentiments that “negativity” was being afforded too much prominence.

 

Youghal Clock Gate Tower Business Plan:

Assistant Town Clerk Helen Mulcahy Sought and was given agreement to lease the Clock Gate to the Youghal Socio-Economic Development Group (YSEDG) for 7-10 years at an allowable rent and so enable that body to seek funding towards developing the structure.

Traffic Management Plan Church Street. DeValera Street, Ashe Street & Emmet Place. (Presentation of Amended Draft Plan by Eileen Coleman, Traffic Engineer):

See elsewhere in this issue for report.

Report on Claycastle Leisure Company by Chairperson (Mayor Linehan-Foley):

Following a recent meeting of the company, the mayor said, all was going well at the centre. However it was hoped that one (unnamed) school in Youghal would avail of the facility rather than travelling to another centre as was its current practice. “We need all the schools using it to keep it open,” she stated, adding that when funding was being sought to construct the centre, all the schools had indicated a need for the facility. A previous letter to the school inquiring as to its apparent aversion to using Aura had not received a response and another is to be dispatched.

Meeting with Youghal Chamber re: Motion:

“In the interests of advancing new retail business within the Town Centre, where an existing outlet has been vacant for a period of two years or more that Youghal Town Council call on the Chamber of Commerce/Youghal Traders Association to initiate guidelines/policy among its members and possibly all landlords within Youghal that such properties as mentioned above would be made available at 50% of the current market rental value for start-up retail businesses for a period of two years”:

It was decided to seek this meeting after the council’s July meeting (July 12th) rather than following the AGM on Tuesday 21st June as proposed.

Any Other Business:

Cllr Murray drew attention to the availability of the town hall/Mall Arts Centre as a location for civil marriages. She believed very few people were unaware of this fact and congratulated the council for its foresight in registering it as such.

The prolonged procedure known as the Traffic Management Plan for Ashe Street, Church Street & De Valera Street moves a step closer when the Town Council discusses issue following the conclusion of the public consultation at a special meeting on November 2nd. Prior to October’s town council meeting Eileen Coleman, Traffic Management Engineer with Cork County Council updated the chamber on the Draft Proposals.

The engineer’s report first reiterated that the plan’s objective is “to improve amenity and safety on Ashe Street, Emmet Place, De Valera Street and Church Street, while maintaining access to services and residences.” Inherent in this, it intendeds to:  a) remove cut-through traffic, allowing access for residents and to services but reducing non-local traffic; b) preserve the road pavement at Church Street; c) enhance pedestrian environment in respect of tourism; d) ensure Church Street closure does no impact negatively on other areas; e) ensure a better quality of life for all local residents.
Since Church Street closed, De Valera Street has experienced extra traffic as drivers access the main street travelling eastwards (towards Waterford).
What is proposed:
The draft proposals are: i) Church Street local access only and no through traffic; ii) Ashe Street two-way;  iii) De Valera Street one-way from Main Street to Ashe Street. It is unclear whether this latter proposal may be a misrepresentation as it would entail traffic exiting De Valera Street car park having to turn left and detour through Windmill Hill to access South Main Street. It perhaps is intended that De Valera Street traffic is two way the 50 metres from the main street to the car park and one-way thereafter. On the other hand, the report does cite a potential disadvantage as being ‘a slight additional journey time for vehicles travelling eastwards.’

Gains:
Meanwhile the anticipated gains are: i) less through traffic for locals; ii) improved pedestrian environment due to less traffic; iii) enhanced environment in the historic core and associated preservation of road infrastructure; iv) removal of cut-through traffic.
In regards to funerals, it is being considered that adjustable bollards maybe installed on Church Street to allow corteges to access North Main Street via that route.
Submissions received:
The public consultation process elicited the following submissions: i) An Garda Siochana content, assuming adequate signage erected; ii) Cal Flavin: too much traffic using Windmill Hill and increased dual traffic on Ashe Street, along with increased traffic on North Main Street. Supports closing Chapel Lane and recommends exit from Priory Court be made safe;  iii) De Valera Street Residents Committee: Broadly welcomes but consultation with regard to possible traffic calming measures and a walkway on a trial basis at first; iv) David & Mae Clark, Quarry Road –also on behalf of their parents: believes a u-turn area be provided in the interests of safety. Foresees increased traffic eastwards on Ashe Street. Concerned about traffic conflict after church services. Recommends restricting Ashe Street  to one-way from Cross Lane to Windmill Hill; v) Caroline Newell, Coastguard Station: Object sot proposals. Disfavours removal of cut-through. Says traffic can access Ashe Street through three points but only exit from one. Concerned about Windmill Hill/South Main Street junction. Believes Ashe Street will be no go area at mass time and has concerns about the junction exiting Priory Court car park and accessing the doctor’s office; vi) Oliver JJ Broderick,Ashe Street welcomes the proposals but observes that cars using Church Street will have to turn to access Windmill Hill. Sees increased traffic using narrow sections of Ashe Street and difficulties for cars due to parking on Emmet Street. Proposes making Ashe Street one-way towards Windmill Hill.

Responding to the submissions:
The report proceeds that, 1) Access to the church during ceremonies would be met by limited car parking on Ashe Street and Emmet Place along with Priory Court car park. Also, locals may access the church from De Valera Street; 2) A turning point could be provided on Emmet Place; 3) Signage and road marking are proposed; 4) Windmill Hill has sufficient capacity to accommodate increased traffic  and is more appropriate than narrow Ashe Street. 4) There are proposed changes for accessing Priory Court car park. 5) Traffic calming measures are not presently proposed but the measures would result in reduced traffic which, being local, will not be concerned with getting from A to B as fast as possible. 6) Ashe Street will have three access and one exit points but one of the plan’s objectives is to remove the cut-through traffic, with motorists using the main street primarily.
Finally:
Next month’s special meeting will enable the councillors to discuss the draft proposals and make amendments if they so wish. The proposals will then be brought before the council’s November meeting proper a week later where a vote will be taken whether to adopt them as the finished Plan or otherwise.

By Christy Parker | Photo: Michael Hussey (YoughalOnline.com)

The complex issue of parking allocation for deValera Street residents at the area’s impending new car park brought heated exchanges during a highly-charged debate at November’s Town Council meeting. Mayor Olly Casey traded sharp criticism and invective with several councillors, most especially Cllr Dave Savage as the discussion sent blood pressures towards the stratosphere.

At one stage Mayor Casey accused Cllr Savage of ‘sitting on the fence’ and ‘lacking the guts’ to support his convictions. Cllr Savage in turn described Mayor Casey as ‘peddling nonsense’ and ‘creating a mess on deValera Street’ while failing to heed the concerns of his own council’s executive.

The issue’s roots lie in a motion passed last September by the council voted to allocate 17 designated parking spaces, from a total of 37, to deValera Street resident permit holders (one per house) when the new car park opens on the laneway. A previous proposal simply to supply permits on a non-allocation basis was thus bypassed.

The council executive subsequently sought legal opinion as to whether the Motion could be legally implemented. Legal Counsel advised that implementing the Motion, could indeed prove unconstitutional on several grounds, not least ‘transfer of benefit and/or land’ of a publicly-funded property to Read more

Two Youghal Town Councillors warned the September council meeting that the entrance/exit at Quarryvale Estate to the main road presents a “lethal” road hazard. -Christy Parker Reports

Both councillors had been approached repeatedly by residents of the estate. Drivers travelling towards Youghal Bridge, regularly park on the left roadside -often by way of visiting Crowley’s shop- and thus interfere with motorists’ view of speeding traffic as they negotiate onto the main road.

Cllr. Linehan Foley suggested “a yellow box or bollards” be installed to address “a tragedy “waiting to happen.” Cllr Michelle Hennessy concurred. She reminded Town Engineer Paul Murray that he had visited the area last year, following which Read more