News

Motion: Councillor D. Smith “That this Committee agrees that an extra road sign is placed at Forest Fields Cottages and for that sign to read “Rathingle Lane” given that is the historical name for the lane and would resolve ongoing confusion with other areas named Forest Fields in Rivervalley.”

Report: The use of two different names for a road would only lead to confusion. The official name for the road referred to in the Motion is Forest Fields Cottages. Should there be unanimous agreement from the residents on the road to a name change, a formal application must be submitted to the Council in order to initiate process for an official name change to a road.

Question: Councillor D. Smith “To ask the Chief Executive can the Council put in place a landscaping and safety plan for the plane spotters viewing area on the Old Airport Road as this area is regularly used and is unsafe and in disrepair?”

Reply: The Council have provided off-road parking area on Collinstown Lane for use as a plane spotting viewing area. Recently, significant embankment works adjacent to and at the rear of the parking area were carried out at the request of DAA in order to alleviate the problem of indiscriminate dumping at this location. The DAA also requested that this area should not be planted in order to minimise the attraction of birds to this location.

Motion: Councillor D. Smith:  “That this Committee agrees to explore a pilot programme in the Balbriggan/Swords areas for a Brown Zone Policy as it relates to Estates and areas which have a problem with Dog Litter, over the course of the Summer and Autumn 2016, with a report for the pilot programme to be presented to the Committee in December 2016.”

Report: If agreed by the Members, the Environment Division will examine the Brown Zone Policy as it relates to Estates and areas which have a problem with Dog Litter with a view to assessing the merit of it’s introduction on a pilot basis over the course of the Summer and Autumn 2016

Question: Councillor D. Smith – “To ask the Chief Executive to detail the works planned in the 2016 works programme for the recycling facility on the Townparks Distributor Road and can that work include moving the facility towards Skerries Point Shopping Centre?”

Reply: The Operations Department have confirmed that work is planned during 2016 as part of the Annual Work Programme, to extend the concrete plinth, so as to accommodate all of the six bring banks currently located on the Townparks Distributor Road, Skerries. The Environment Division will consider the placement of a bring bank in the Skerries point Shopping Centre in the context of responding to the demand from the public for such a service.

Question: Councillor D. Smith:  “To ask the Chief Executive has any progress been made towards identifying a site or moving the process for a Community Centre in Meakstown forward in recent months?”

Reply: A planning and procurement process is underway for the feasibility study and needs analysis of potential sites and possible synergies with existing community and sports facilities. In addition the Community Department has contacted the Department of Education and Skills to determine if there are plans for the development of schools in the area in the future. This will help focus the nature of the research. The local Meakstown Community Council is fully engaged in the process and local business people are aware and have expressed interest in participating

Question: Councillor D. Smith:. “To ask the Chief Executive to clarify the current situation regarding water and water waste capacity in Loughshinny as it relates to new planning permissions?”

Reply: Loughshinny is considered to have an adequate water supply and there is no issue with water supply for proposed new developments. However, there is a major constraint in relation to the foul drainage network. The Loughshinny area is served by a large Septic Tank which is at capacity and cannot accept any additional effluent. The only new developments that can be progressed at present are those with the potential to have individual On Site Wastewater Treatments systems pending the Loughshinny Foul Drainage Scheme. This scheme will replace the existing system and provide a pumped solution linking Loughshinny to the Skerries Foul Drainage Network. This scheme is a matter for Irish Water and the current expected completion date for the scheme is the end of 2018.