Ballymote-Tubbercurry Minutes 2022

Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry Held on Monday 16th May 2022 at 2.00 Pm in Teach Laighne, Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.


COUNCILLORS PRESENT:

  • Councillor Martin Connolly (Cathaoirleach)
  • Councillor Michael Clarke
  • Councillor Gerard Mullaney
  • Councillor Dara Mulvey
  • Councillor Joseph Queenan

 

OFFICIALS IN ATTENDANCE:

  • Ms Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services
  • Paddy Hughes, Senior Executive Engineer
  • David Golden, Executive Engineer
  • Dessie Sloyan, Executive Engineer
  • Sarah McNamara, Staff Officer

 

APOLOGIES:

  • Councillor Paul Taylor
  • Councillor Martin Baker

 

CATHAOIRLEACH:

The Cathaoirleach, Councillor Martin Connolly, presided and welcomed those present to the meeting. 

 

1.MINUTES OF MEETING MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF BALLYMOTE-TUBBERCURRY HELD ON 28th MARCH, 2022

PROPOSED BY: COUNCILLOR M. CONNOLLY
SECONDED BY: COUNCILLOR J. QUEENAN

 

AND AGREED

“To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Municipal District of Ballymote-Tubbercurry held on 28th March 2022”.

 

2.MATTERS ARISING:
LOUGH NA SUIL:
PUMPING STATION CASTLEGROVE ESTATE, BALLYMOTE:
PUBLIC LIGHTING ENNISCRONE HOLIDAY ESTATES:

Councillor Mullaney requested an up-to-date position with regard to the flooding at Lough na Suil.  Mr. Sloyan, Ballymote Area Engineer confirmed he has met with landowners.

Mr. Hughes, SEE, noted that Irish Water confirmed the pump has now been repaired.  Councillor Mullaney to monitor.

Following a request from Cllr Clarke, Ms. Concannon, A/DOS agreed to meet a small deputation to discuss the public lighting in holiday estates in Enniscrone.  Ms. Concannon noted public lighting in private estates is the responsibility of the developer/investors/homeowners.  Ms. Concannon suggested that a management company should be put in place to maintain the public lights and other services.

 

3.FOOTPATH OPPOSITE COACH HOUSE HOTEL,BALLYMOTE

PROPOSED BY: COUNCILLOR D. MULVEY
SECONDED BY: COUNCILLOR G. MULLANEY

AND AGREED
“To ask Sligo County Council to repair the broken footpath along Grattan Street opposite the Coach House Hotel, Ballymote”.

Mr. Hughes SEE reported that there is no funding available for this scheme at present. This section of footpath will be considered for replacement if funding becomes available under an Active Travel Scheme or a Footpath Enhancement Scheme (own resources).

Councillor Mulvey thanked Mr. Hughes for his report and thanked Mr. Sloyan for the new footpaths installed around the town recently.

 

4. ROAD L 1502 CARRIGANS:

PROPOSED BY: COUNCILLOR D. MULVEY
SECONDED BY: COUNCILLOR G. CONNOLLY

AND AGREED

“To ask Sligo County Council if the bend on the narrow road off Road L1502 Carrigans, Upper Ballymote (heading towards the old golf course) could be straightened due to the road being only the width of one vehicle, and if slow down signs could be fitted as this road has many blind bends.  This road is being used daily as a short cut route to the National and Secondary schools in Ballymote.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE reported Sligo County Council do not have funding for this project. Land acquisition would be required to re-align the road. If the land was available some improvements could be carried out in the area under a future Safety Improvement Grant.

 

5. SAFETY BARRIER R296 CARROWNANTY, BALLYMOTE:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR G. MULLANEY:
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR J. QUEENAN:

AND AGREED:

“To call on Sligo County Council to erect a safety barrier on the railway bridge on the R296 at Carrownanty, Ballymote in the interest of public safety.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE reported there is not sufficient width to erect a railing along this section of footpath. Erecting a railing along this footpath would create a hazard and is not recommended under the design manual for roads and bridges.

 

6.FOOTPATH R295 KEENAGHAN CLOSE, BALLYMOTE:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR G. MULLANEY
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR D. MULVEY

AND AGREED:

To call on this council to provide a footpath on the right-hand side of the R295 as you travel towards Keash from the existing footpath to the pedestrian entrance to Keenaghan Close Ballymote.”

Mr. Hughes SEE, reported this location is being proposed for funding under an Active Travel Scheme grant application.

 

7.UPGRADE OF L1502 DRUMFIN BALLYMOTE ROAD:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR D. MULVEY
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR G. MULLANEY

AND AGREED:

Can Sligo County Council provide an update on my earlier motion in Sept 2021 asking Transport Infrastructure Ireland {TII} what plans are in place to insure the upgrade of L1502 Drumfin to Ballymote road. As the recently completed motorway from Collooney to Castlebaldwin is an excellent piece of infrastructure, road L1502 {Drumfin- Ballymote road} has become the main route now for extra volumes of traffic coming from Donegal-Sligo and the East of the country and daily commuters to Sligo and beyond and has many dangerous bends and the road is prone to subsiding in places due to the poor ground conditions.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE reported this is a busy local primary road. It is approx. 7km. to Ballymote from the junction with the N4. It has poor alignment and is narrow at some locations.

It would cost a lot of money to upgrade the road to an acceptable standard. Land acquisition would be required. It would be depending on grants from the Department of Transport to improve the road.

Perhaps sections of the road can be improved over a number of years under a Strategic Regional and Local Road grant or a Specific Improvement grant.

It is planned to surface 1.5km of this road in 2024. In the meantime, we will maintain the road in a reasonable condition under road maintenance funding.

 

8. GROUND OPPOSITE BALLINACARROW COMMUNITY CENTRE:

PROPOSED BY:  CONCILLOR D. MULVEY:
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR G. MULLANEY

AND AGREED:

“I call on Sligo County Council to secure a small section of ground opposite the Community Centre Ballinacarrow to allow a safe crossing can be put in place for children attending the National School and Community Centre.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE reported there is no funding available for this project at present.

However, if the land was available an application for grant funding for the project could be made in the future under Active Travel /Department of Transport- Safety Improvement Scheme grants -subject to the project satisfying the eligibility criteria for these grants.

Ms. Concannon, A/DOS reported there is a long list under the Active Travel Scheme presently and the County Council will do our best to maximise the monies available.

 

9.  TAKE IN CHARGE CIRCULAR ROAD IN ACLARE:

PROPOSED BY:  CLLRS MULVEY, TAYLOR, CONNOLLY AND QUEENAN: 
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR CLARKE

“Can Sligo County Council roads office take in charge circular road at the rear off Aclare behind L4803-0.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE reported Sligo County Council have not taken in charge roads in rural areas for a number of years except housing estates. This policy might change in the future. Roads should be in a good condition so that the Council is not taking on a liability.

In the meantime, an application could be made for a LIS grant to upgrade the road. A local contribution would have to be paid by the beneficiaries.

 

10. CAR PARKING THE SQUARE, TUBBERCURRY:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR M. CONNOLLY
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR D. MULVEY

AND AGREED:

“To ask SCC that 4 car parking spaces in the square be clearly marked no parking on Thursday and Friday from 6am to 6pm to facilitate street trading. “

Mr. Hughes, SEE reported, trading bays are outlined in yellow numbered 1 to 6 with information signage re trading spaces / days of trading and time of trading are in place in accordance with the Casual Trading bye-laws. It was highlighted that the inclusion of road marking as requested “No parking Thursday & Friday 6am to 6pm” would detract from this public realm area of Tubbercurry. Mr. Golden added that parking spaces are currently marked, and the enforcement of the Trading Bye Laws is dealt with by the Environmental Services Section.

 

11.  INSTALLATION OF EV CHARGING POINTS:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR J. QUEENAN
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR M. CLARKE

AND AGREED:

“To ask Sligo County Council to work with Electric Ireland to install EV charging points around the county.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE, reported that the Area Engineer in Enniscrone is currently working with ESB eCars regarding the installation of a standard EV charger in the town.

Work is ongoing, and it is expected that a location will soon be finalised, and work on the installation will commence once this has been done.

The Councillors present thanked Mr. Hughes for his report and stressed the need for EV charging points in towns and villages around the County.

 

12.  WATER MAIN PIPES IN ENNISCRONE AND KILGLASS:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR J. QUEENAN
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR M. CLARKE

AND AGREED:

“Ask Sligo County Council to work with Irish Water so that the main water pipes on Main St Enniscrone and on Rd. 94 Kilglass be replaced.”

Mr. Hughes, SEE, reported that the Area Engineer has liaised with Irish Water staff in relation to roads issues for progressing these schemes.

 

13.FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR

CIS 2022:

Due to the absence of Councillor Taylor, motions 13 and 14 were deferred to the next meeting.

 

14.  UPDATE ON NEW N17 ROUTE:

 Deferred.

 

 

15. VOTES OF SYMPATHY:

There were no votes of sympathy.

 

16.  VOTES OF CONGRATULATIONS:

PROPOSED BY:  COUNCILLOR MICHAEL CLARKE
SECONDED BY:  COUNCILLOR MARTIN CONNOLLY

AND AGREED:

That a vote of congratulations be extended to Mr. Dessie Sloyan, Manager of the Sligo U20 Gaelic Team having recently won the Connacht U20 Football Final in Markievicz Park.  Congratulations were extended to the entire Background Team and Players.

 

17.  CORRESPONDENCE:

(a) Acknowledgement dated 12th April, 2022 from OPW regarding the rising level of Lough na Suil Lake

(b) Acknowledgement dated 12th April, 2022 from OPW regarding proposed new Garda Station in Tubbercurry

(c) Letter dated 14th April, 2022 from OPW regarding proposed new Garda Station in Tubbercurry.

 

18. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

It is noted the Annual General Meeting of the Ballymote Tubbercurry Municipal District is scheduled for 2.00 pm on Monday, 20th June, 2022 in Teach Laighne.  No further meeting was scheduled.

 

19.  ANY OTHER BUSINESS:

There was no other business.

 

The business of the meeting concluded at 3.10pm.


Meeting Date 16/05/2022