Category Archives: News
My submission to the OPW’s proposed Lower Lee (Cork City) Flood Relief Scheme
I lodged a short submission to the proposed Cork City Flood Relief Scheme at the very last minute on Friday. We had been given a brief presentation on the scheme by the consultants working on behalf of the OPW, had been given an opportunity to ask questions and were assured that the proposed scheme was being misrepresented in an unfair way by those opposed to it.
Nonetheless, I have my own concerns. They are fuelled by the enormous professional respect I hold for many who are vocal in their opposition to the scheme as proposed. Including indeed, my own professor in UCC when I was an undergraduate.
So I put the basis of my (very untechnical!) concerns in the following note to the OPW which they graciously acknowledged
Streetscape Painting and Signage Scheme for Ballincollig Carrigaline Municipal District – application form
Cork County Council’s new Painting and Signage Scheme is being run in Passage West and Douglas this year. Under the scheme, either tenants or owners of buildings can get a grant of up to 50% of the cost of painting the on-street facade.
If you have 10 or more adjacent buildings on one street, they will get priority and a grant of 60% will be provided.
Existing plastic, neon signs can be replaced with 50% of the cost of heritage type signs.
If the tenant/owner wants to do the work themselves, up to 50% of the cost of the materials will be provided.
Applications received by the Municipal District Office before 28th April will be given priority. So the earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get grant aid. The application form provides all the details and conditions of the scheme:
Painting scheme Ballincollig-Carrigaline
Shannonpark’s new Janeville development
Yesterday was the official sod-turning on Astra Construction’s new Janeville development at Shannonpark. This is the first of Cork County Council’s Masterplan sites to be developed, so it was a big day for the Council. The Masterplan approach is intended to play a significant role in the Council’s response to the current need for housing.
However, there are significant infrastructural deficits in and around Carrigaline. These have been commented on in the context of yesterday’s sod-turning. I too commented on them in my submissions to both the Masterplan and to the Astra planning application.
Further information request from An Bord Pleanála to Indaver in respect of its planning application for Ringaskiddy
An Bord Pleanála has issued a request for further information in respect of its proposed incinerator development at Ringaskiddy as follows: FI request from ABP, 20-03-2017
I got advance notice that this further information request was going to issue yesterday and received a copy of it today. How inutterably tragic that last week’s events with the loss of the Coastguard’s helicopter and four very precious lives should inadvertently superimpose themselves alongside the potential impact of Indaver’s proposed incinerator at Ringaskiddy. We do not yet know what happened in Blacksod Bay last week. But what we do know is that we need to make every effort that we humanely can to protect the air services of the Navy and the Coastguard. The reason for their existence is to serve society and the state. Our responsibility must be to do everything we can to safeguard those who devote their lives to that service.
Notes from the March meeting of the Ballincollig-Carrigaline Municipal District, 20-03-2017
1. Confirmation of Minutes
(a) To consider the confirmation and signing of the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 20th February 2017.
Minutes of the previous meeting: ‘Minutes 20.02.17 draft.pdf’
Confirmed and seconded.
Matters arising:
MDO said he has had no update from the Planning Department on
My submission to the Lidl planning application for Barry’s Field, Douglas
Whilst I enjoy shopping in Lidl for myself and the family, I have concerns about the proposed location of a Lidl store in Barry’s Field, Douglas. I am not happy that those concerns have been addressed in the planning application and so I have outlined them in a submission to Cork County Council as follows:
MY MOTION TO FULL COUNCIL ON ITS COMMITMENT TO GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
“That Cork County Council would initiate its commitment to Green Infrastructure outlined in the Cork County Development Plan 2014 by ensuring the critical elements of green infrastructure within Cork County are identified and mapped during the remaining lifetime of the County Development Plan 2014:
- Biodiversity and ecological networks
- Water quality and flood attenuation infrastructure
- Recreational/quality of life infrastructure.”
I wish green infrastructure wasn’t called green infrastructure. It makes it sound like some flowery, esoteric concept that costs a fortune.
It isn’t. In a modern society, with our increasing knowledge, our awareness of the finite nature of the earth’s resources and the impact of our footprint on them, the concept of green infrastructure is no longer a luxury. It is basic.