News

Question: Councillor D. Smith -. “To ask the Chief Executive for an update on the taking in charge of the Thornleigh Estate, Swords?”

Reply: Waterman Moylan Engineering Consultants has been employed by the bondholder to act on its behalf to bring Thornleigh estate to taking in charge standard. A meeting was held on site in November 2015 with Waterman Moylan Engineering Consultants. It was confirmed at this meeting that a CCTV survey of the drainage networks was completed and examined. Following remedial works to the drainage networks a further CCTV survey was carried out. Surface defects to roads and footpaths were identified at this meeting. Waterman Moylan Engineering Consultants confirmed that they would draw up a list of all sub-surface and surface remedial works to be carried out. Fingal County Council Water Services Department carried out a check of leakages in December 2015 and found no leakages. In January 2016 Fingal County Council prepared a report on the public lighting. This was passed on to the consultants. Further site meetings took place with Waterman Moylan Engineering Consultants in February and March 2016 to identify any outstanding issues with the foul and storm water chambers. Joint inspections of the watermain also took place. There are some remaining areas of watermain to be inspected. Following completion of these inspections the Consultant will complete the list of outstanding works to be carried out. When these works are completed on site we will check to see that they are to a taking in charge standard so that we can proceed to taking Thornleigh in charge.

Motion: Councillor D. Smith “That this Committee agrees to set up, a working group, to examine measures to tackle involuntary parking of cars, outside primary schools, in the Swords area during opening and closing times, with a view to compiling a list of areas of concern and finding solutions to this ongoing problem?”

Report: In general, parking of vehicles near schools has become a matter of increasing concern in recent years. The situation is most acute during morning drop-off and afternoon collection periods when parents / guardians often park their vehicles in locations or in a manner which puts the safety of others, particularly schoolchildren, at risk. At present, The Council is in the process of establishing a Working Group to coordinate multi-agency road safety policy and to publish a Road Safety Action Plan for implementation at a local level. In this regard, the Council would welcome input from an interested school principal / teacher and a parent representative. An invitation has already been extended to the Elected Members to have one Member from each Area Committee on the Working Group. It is also intended to have a member of An Garda Siochana on the Working Group.

Motion: Councillor D. Smith: “That the Chief Executive agrees a plan to tackle speeding traffic on the Drynam Road, from Mountgorry Way through to the Pavilions roundabout taking into account its strategic importance but also the fact it is a residential area with narrow paths and is heavily used by parents with children.”

Report: A speed survey will be carried out on Drynam Road to determine if there is a speeding problem. On completion of the speed survey the situation will be reviewed.

Question: Councillor D. Smith: To ask the Chief Executive if there is a traffic management plan for the junction of the Townparks Distributor Road and Dublin Road in Skerries, to combat the dangerous junction which exists for pedestrians and vehicles?”

Reply: Consultation will be undertaken with An Garda Síochána, in relation to the placement of a yellow box at the junction of the Townparks Distributor Road and Dublin Road Skerries. If there are no objections to the Yellow Box the placement of the Yellow box will be included in the 2016 signing and lining programme, subject to funding. The signalisation of the Dublin Road/distributor road junction was approved by the Council some years ago as part of a traffic and accessibility improvement scheme at this location. This element of the scheme did not proceed due mainly to objections from residents living at the junction in question. At present there is no budget to complete junction upgrade works at this location.

Question: Councillor D. Smith “To ask the Chief Executive can a yellow box be included in the lining programme for 2016 for the location on junction between Forest Road and Rathingle Lane?”

Reply: A Yellow box will be placed on 1 traffic lane at the entrance to the Forest Fields Cottages, Rathingle Lane, as part of signing and lining programme for 2016.

Question: Councillor D. Smith “To ask the Chief Executive what further plans are there for Swords Main St. in 2016 to build on the many provisions rolled out in 2015 such as flower box planters?”

Reply: It is intended that the baskets and planters will be provided on Swords Main Street again this summer from the middle to late May depending on the weather. The street furniture including poles and bins were all painted last summer and have been inspected earlier this year and some minor maintenance has been identified. Some damaged and redundant signage has also been identified for replacement and removal respectively. Additional seating was introduced at the Garda Station last year and more seating can be installed if locations can be agreed between the TidyTowns Committee, local traders and residents. Additional bicycle parking racks were provided at the Garda Station and the corner of Seatown Road during 2015. Crown Reduction pruning of approximately 30% will be carried out on a sample of 6 of the mature trees on the main street. If these trees respond well to this treatment which is not a foregone conclusion further trees can be similarly reduced in the coming years.