Creggan Area
1.
‘ That this Council discuss the special speed limit guidelines recently released by the Minister with the objective of making our roads safer’.
Reply:
This Council has received guidelines from the Department regarding the preparation of byelaws in this regard. A report in the matter is expected to be placed before the Transportation & Infrastructure Strategic Policy committee at their next meeting on the 8th June 2005.
2 - May 2005:
What is the delay in putting the Loughandunning Inner Relief Road proposal on public display?
Reply:
Arrangements have been made to advertise this proposal next week.
3 - May 2005:
What is the delay in enhancing the N6 roundabout at Kilmartin’s with shrubbery and flowers?
Reply:
These works were planned for March but due to weather conditions and higher priority projects the works have been delayed. It is anticipated that works will commence within the next 4 weeks.
4 - November 2004:
‘ Do the Executive not feel that the Athlone Electoral Area should have it’s own full time procedures and methods in place to carry out verge cutting when required on all our National, Secondary, Regional & Local roads instead of waiting for the Mullingar Area to release their machines?
Reply:
This activity is coordinated by the Director of Transportation & Infrastructure and the matter will be taken up with him to ensure a satisfactory service to the Athlone area in 2005. If necessary the Athlone area will revert to a local contractor.
5 - July 2005:
That this Council discuss the need to have development levies collected in the Athlone Electoral Area ring fenced to be spent on projects in the Athlone Electoral Area.
Reply:
This matter will be considered by the full council at it’s next meeting based on report recently circulated to the members. There is no provision for ring fencing unless they are special levies for specific projects.
6 - July 2005:
Following recent reports of bad odours coming from Ballydonagh Landfill can this Council inform it’s members as to what options are left to alleviate the problem?
Reply:
The Council has installed 30 no gas extraction wells and a second flare to extract and burn off the landfill gas. An additional 600mm deep soil cover layer will be placed over the existing 300mm soil cover layer over the waste to help keep down the odour of methane gas and stale waste. This work is scheduled for 2005. In addition to this a full impermeable airtight cap will be placed over the landfill in 2006/2007 when phase 2 of the landfill is full and phase 3 is constructed and operational. This Engineering cap will fully seal in the gas and waste odours, which will be extracted and burned off in the flare.
7 - September 2005:
When will this Council start the process of putting special speed limits in place at all our schools and also on our local and regional roads?
Reply:
The Roads Section has prepared a procedure for the implementation of special speed limit bye-laws. It is intended that Area Committee would now identify locations where it is considered a special speed limit should apply. All identified locations throughout the County will be referred to Road Design for consideration against the special speed limit implementation policy agreed by the members at the July meeting. This will be followed by a consultative process following which the adoption of the bye-laws is a reserved function of the County Council.
8.
Has this Council a budget to erect proper ‘No Littering’ signage at sites in Annaghorta Bog, Crosswood Bog and along the Tully Road?
Reply:
The Environmental Section in conjunction with the Area Office will examine signage requirements. It is also hoped to work with the community/landowners in combating illegal dumping in the area.
9.
Will this Council present it’s Members with a report on the number of prosecutions made so far this year to those people who choose to dispose of their litter illegally?
Reply:
The statistics in relation to this matter have been requested from Environmental Section and will be forwarded to the members when received.
10.
What is the status of the proposed special speed limits submitted by the Area members last Autumn?
Reply:
The Area Office is completing a survey of the speed limit locations as required by the Speed Limits Implementation Policy adopted by the members. Area Office and Road Design will liaise in advance of finalizing the recommendations for the full Council.
11.
Further to the excellent work carried out by this Council in erecting signage in the Athlone electoral area, can this Council now consider a programme of work erecting directional signs at all junctions on our roads in the area?
Reply:
There is an ongoing programme of replacement of directional signs on our local roads in the Athlone Area.
12.
When will we have a report on the proposed special speed limits for the Athlone Area?
Reply:
The Area Engineers are finalizing the proposals for 2006. Each area has had to validate many proposals as a result of the proposals received from members. This validation involves the assessment of current speeds, review of accident history and inspections of the road environment at each location. As soon as all areas have submitted their validated proposals, Road Design will commence the statutory processes for these locations. This is a countywide exercise and thus delays from any one area may cause some delay to the finalisation of draft by-laws. This is necessary because any special speed limits are affected by such by-laws. During the policy formulation process it was considered that the publication of speed limit by-laws more that once a year would not be efficient. We are expecting that this process will be completed 3 to 4 months ahead of the schedule given in the policy document.
13.
Can this Council arrange to have the grass cut at Kilmartin’s Roundabout and other parts of Athlone on a more frequent basis?
Reply:
Grass is being cut in this location and other locations under the remit of Athlone Area Office on a regular basis.
14 - January 2007:
That this Council provide a roundabout at the junction of Athlone Business Park and the old Dublin Road as soon as possible.
Reply:
Options for the proper management of vehicle and pedestrian traffic at this junction are being considered and it is expected to have a design proposal at this junction for the members within 4 weeks. Cllr. Keena stated this roundabout was necessary and that a levy of 200,000 euro had been conditioned towards it.
3 - January 2007:
When is this Council going to begin the process of preparing a Local Area Plan for the Creggan Area?
Reply:
Forward Planning section of Westmeath County Council is currently preparing a brief for this Local Area Plan and it is expected that Consultants will be appointed within 2 months.
4 - May 2007:
What is the delay in commencing the Local Area Plan for Creggan?
Reply:
Consultants have been appointed to prepare the Creggan Local Area Plan. They have commenced the project and it is expected that a Draft Plan will be presented in September or October 2007.
5 - November 2007:
What is the delay in erecting the special speed limits signs that were adopted by the Council about six months ago?
Reply:
Athlone Area Office received details of the agreed locations from road design and will arrange the erection of these signs asap. In response to Cllr. Keena it was confirmed that the operative speed limits are as approved in the respective areas but that they are ineffective pending the erection of appropriate signage.
6 - November 2007:
What is the delay in presenting the draft Creggan LAP to the Athlone area members?
Reply:
This plan is for a very substantial area and preparatory work is ongoing. It is expected that the Draft Plan will be presented to the members within 3 months.
7 - May 2008:
That this Council serve a warning notice on the owner of the two derelict houses alongside the N6 near Kilmartin’s Roundabout.
Reply:
8 - May 2008:
What is the status of the proposed traffic management solution at the Athlone Business Park / Dublin Road junction?
Reply:
Consultants are completing a safety audit at this location at present and a report is expected by the end of May. The detailed design of the junction has been completed and the project is expected to go to tender within the next month.
