CBMD Minutes 25 02 21

Minutes of Meeting held on Friday 28th February in Courthouse, Cavan.

Presiding: 

• Councillor Patricia Walsh, Cathaoirleach

Present:

• Councillor John Paul Feeley
• Councillor Brendan Fay
• Councillor Niamh Brady
• Councillor Damien Brady
• Councillor Áine Smith                                                                  

In Attendance:

• Brendan Jennings, Director of Services, Cavan County Council 
• Paul Mulligan, SEE, Cavan Belturbet Municipal District Office 
• Rosaleen Higgins, Assistant Staff Officer, Minute Taker    

Agenda

1. Confirmation of Minutes

To confirm Minutes of Monthly Meeting held on 18th November 2024.

2. Disclosure of Interests.

There were no disclosures of Interest.

Business prescribed by Statute, Standing Orders or Resolutions of the Council

3. Confirmation of Minutes

Cllr Feeley proposed minutes of last meetings and Cllr Smith seconded

4. Appointment of Councillors onto the following boards

• Bridge Street Centre: Patricia Walsh and Niamh Brady. Proposed by Cllr Feeley and seconded by Cllr Fay.
• Cavan Sports Complex: Cllr Feeley and Cllr D Brady. Proposed by Cllr Fay and seconded by Cllr Walsh.
• Shannon Pot Discovery Centre: Cllr Smith and Cllr Fay. Proposed by Cllr N Brady and seconded by Cllr D Brady

5. Cllr Walsh asked we send a letter of condolences to Cllr A Smith on the sudden death of her uncle in Oxford.

All Councillors asked to be associated with it.

6. Road Works Programme update - Paul Mulligan

Mr Mulligan presented his report.

Cllr Brady complimented Mr Mulligan on the excellent job with the lights in the park in Ballyconnell. A lot of the antisocial behaviour is gone. He would like CCTV, but GDPR is holding it up.

Mr Mulligan said the issue of GDPR needs to be grasped.

Cllr Walsh asked about cameras in estates.

Mr Jennings stated that cameras in Cavan Town are out of date and a lot of investment is needed. The Guards should be the controller, but they want the council to do it.

Cllr Walsh said only one person monitoring cameras in the Bridge Street centre, control should be with the guards.

Cllr Fay said it was a big minefield with redacting data, no one wants to take control of data.

Cllr Feeley also thought Guards should monitor cameras.

Cllr Fay mentioned the issue people have with the new speed limit signs.

Mr Mulligan said the cost of it was covered by the Department.

Mr Mulligan referenced Page 10 of the report, showing what we faced after the storm.

Cllr D Brady thanked the outdoor staff for the help they gave the fire brigade. Cllr Walsh seconded this.

Cllr Feeley also thanked Uisce Eireann for their works.

Mr Mulligan said we are doing as much drainage as possible before works before we start on our RI Programme.

Mr Mulligan said the drainage works was money well spent, it is costly sucking out all the gully’s but if they are not sucked out, a waste of time doing drainage.

Cllr N Brady mentioned that people were asking her why Cathedral Road was so narrow. Mr Mulligan said it was not narrower; it’s the correct width. Cyle lanes are separate now. Its like an optical illusion but it is the same width he emphasised.

Cllr Smith said buses and lorries can not meet at the same time. Mr Mulligan said they need to give way to each other. He said in the Netherlands cars give way to Cyclists.

Cllr Fay asked for update on Turbet Island. Mr Mulligan said he would ask Hugo to give Brendan a call.

Members' Items

1. Safety concerns at the Marsh Road (Cllr Smith): 

Cllr Smith says the Marsh Road so unsafe now, drops on each side, can cats eyes be put in.

Mr Mulligan said there is poles and reflectors, people must not see them. There is no verge or ground to support a crash barrier.

Cllr Smith said the alternative is to go into drain.

Mr Mulligan said the drain is flat and no flow.

Cllr Feeley reiterated the danger on March Road, he said drains each side full of water. He totally understands that there is no foundation but there must be something to make it safer.

All councillors support the motion.

Mr Mulligan said there is no simple fix. Mr Jennings asked can we close the road.

Cllr Smith said no. Cllr D Brady said most locals would know of dangers.

Cllr Walsh asked can we put up signs, Mr Mulligan said signs already there.

Mr Mulligan said a plan needs to be put in place, there needs to be a channel for funding. It is bigger than an RI scheme.

2. Traffic calming measures at Drumcarraig Cavan and old road Belturbet (Cllr Smith): 

Cllr Smith said the traffic is driving at high speed at Arkeen/Harmony Height past the pool. Can speed measures be put in place, as complex and three schools on this route.

Mr Mulligan said he met with Jim Lyng at entrance to pool and there is an issue with speed and visibility. Potential measures are under review.

Cllr Walsh said a lot of entrances on this road.

Mr Mulligan said we are working on a solution to improve visibility, but driver behaviour a problem. Not designed for 50km beside pool.

Cllr Smith asked about digital signs. Mr Mulligan said flashing signs would be effective.

Cllr Fay also said speed on the Old Belturbet Road a problem. He says people using this road to avoid speed cameras on main route. They are travelling through Belturbet at 100mph. Using old road now.

Mr Mulligan said maybe speed van on old Belturbet Road a solution. The fear of being caught might change some driver behaviour.

3. Speed control in the town of Belturbet., from centra to the roundabout (Cllr Fay): 

Already covered with Cllr Smith motion.

Cllr Fay mentioned speed in town itself, could flashing lights be installed.

Cllr D Brady supports the motion.

Cllr Feeley suggests raising junctions into estates.

Mr Mulligan said speed cushions do not stop people for example at Staghall. Speed ramps provide a purpose for example on Cootehill road. Ramps make you reduce speed. Cllr Fay asked can it be looked at.

4. People using the slip road at Elm Bank. Speeding to avoid traffic going into town, health and safety hazard for the people living there (Cllr Fay): 

Cllr Fay says he get a lot of reps on this issue.

Mr Mulligan said a number of options were discussed with a local representative for the residents committee. Their preferred option is the installation of ramps. Mr

Mulligan said a solution is to bolt down ramps as a trial. We have funding to carry out the works.

5. Foothpath and fencing on the Killashandra Road (Cullyleenan) Ballyconnell (Cllr D Brady): 

Cllr D Brady is referring to the main road Killeshandra side, into Ballyconnell. He says at the Parocial House, School and Chapel the footpath is covered in grass. He said the storm did a lot of damage and broke fence. He said a replacement fence is needed at Cullynehan. The fence and footpath need attention. He says “Creative Places” funding got money for Ballyconnell. The approach road needs attention. The fence is council property.

Mr Mulligan said he met Fr Liam out there. Branches down on graveyard. Mr Mulligan has secured funding to take down trees and it will be done after nesting season. We have no down time anymore. Mount Pleasant will be finished at some stage.

In relation to footpaths and fence, there is no specific budget for this, it will have to come out of our own resources.

6. Speed reduction on the Yellow Road, Ballyconnell (Cllr D Brady): 

Cllr D Brady has received lots of reps about the speed on the Belturbet side of the Yellow Road. Amber Wood Court sign 60 might be a mistake. No stop sign in housing estate. Near misses at entrance.

Mr Mulligan replied if the estate is in charge we can do signs, but it is not in charge. We will look at speed signs to see if there is a contradiction

7. Update on Corlurgan Junction (Cllr Walsh/Feeley): 

Cllr Feeley said about the volume and speed of traffic. Residents are concerned as it is extremely busy and dangerous. It needs to be kept on the Agenda.

Mr Mulligan replied that an Engineer in Road Design has been allocated to it. It is not an easy or cheap fix. One suggestion is that the slip road going in on left be removed. Slips removed on all main routes. They cause problems for people turning out of junction, you think a person on main road but person going in on slip road. Another option is realignment out to the roundabout but would be hugely expensive up on two million.

Cllr Feeley says it is a TII problem. Mr. Jennings says we are trying to find a solution. Mr. Mulligan went on to say Road Design section are also looking at Junction at Tractamotors.

8. Regulations for selling Vapes (Cllr Walsh): 

Cllr Walsh asks do new premises opening in the town, have permission to sell vapes. Planning gave them permission to trade. There should be a total

outright ban on selling vapes. Cllr Walsh went on to say she is livid; they are selling vapes even in Chippers. People that never smoked are vaping. She says young people are saying they help with weight loss.

Cllr Fay supports the motion but is reluctant to write to Minister as no regulations. Why is the Drug & Alcohol forum not taking lead on this.

Cllr A Smith also supports motion. There is a law for not selling vapes to U18, but the guards do not have resources to police it. She will raise the issue at the Health Forum.

9. Hazard of scooters on footpaths in Cavan town, breaking the law (Cllr N Brady): 

Cllr N Brady said there are people on E Scooters on footpaths on Church St and they are so dangerous. She had reps from people that had to move out of way to avoid scooters. Children and Adults riding scooters on footpaths. Can we put up signs saying scooters not allowed on footpaths.

Cllr D Brady fully supports motion, scooters are very powerful. They have no respect for rules of the road, so dangerous.

Cllr Smith supports it too and suggests putting up signs in all languages.

Should be law saying they can not be modified. Maybe a campaign to highlight same.

Mr Jennings said scooters have a lot of merits but use them correctly.

The meeting concluded at 5:20pm.