There were no declarations of interest from the members.

·         Minutes of Meeting held on  18^th January, 2022

The Cathaoirleach Cllr, Laurence Fallon welcomed everyone to the meeting.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr E Kelly

         Seconded by:   Cllr J Keogh

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of Athlone Municipal District meeting held on 18^th January, 2022.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr T Ward

         Seconded by:   Cllr L Fallon

The Draft Athlone MD Road Works Scheme 2022 which was presented to the elected members by John Mockler, Senior Engineer, Roads Department and Paul Browne, MD Co-ordinator was approved and supported by all elected members.  They thanked them and all involved in the preparation of the programme.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr J Keogh

         Seconded by:   Cllr T Ward

Cllr John Keogh requested that a meeting be sought with Westmeath County Council and Elected Members to meet Athlone MD members and engineer with regards to issues that arise when one Local authority work programme impacts on another one.  This was supported by all the members.

John Mockler, Senior Engineer, Roads Department informed the members that the government has funded Roscommon County Council for flood relief for Lough Funshinigh over last few years and again this year under climate adaptation, Roscommon County Council has also allocated funding from the Discretionary Funding for ongoing costs.  In relation to Castlestrange Bridge, he is looking for funding and hopefully will be included in next year funding.

John Mockler also replied to Cllr. J Naughten’s query regarding an update on the Part 8 Planning for Cloonakilla NS and informed the members that it should be published in May and available to the members for viewing by June/July 2022.  In relation to Cloonakilla NS Cllr. T Ward queried if the possibility of a footpath from Cloonakilla NS to the soccer pitch would be considered by the Active Travel section when drawing up their design.

Cllr T Ward raised concern about trees at Summerhill.  Paul Browne informed the members that an arborist was engaged in 2017 to assess and recommend mitigation works.  The arborist recommended mitigation works over a 5 year period.  The programme of work was completed in 2021.

Cllr. L Fallon raised the issue of dangerous trees beside the Riffle Range, Carna, Kiltoom.   Paul Browne is in discussion with the Army and working to resolve the issue.

Caitlín Conneely, Acting Director of Services thanked the members for their support, she added that the Road Works Programme is a significant investment in the Municipal District and which is always maximized by the Athlone MD team.  She expressed a word of caution with regards to the possibility of cost increases which may impact on this year’s programme of works.

Paul Browne, Acting MD Co-ordinator, informed the members that further to Cllr. T Ward request regarding driver speed feedback signs and a pedestrian crossing at Brideswell, that the Active Travel section are in the process of engaging consultants to prepare an active travel strategy for Brideswell, Ballyforan and Curraghboy.

There was one item of Correspondence for discussion

With regards to a meeting with TII in relation to the N61, the members have already put a motion forward at the Plenary meeting and a meeting is being organised.

Cllr. D Kilduff requested that the Executive get clarification from legal advisor, if TII can refuse to engage with Municipal District Members directly. 

Caitlín Conneely, Acting Director of Services agreed to follow up on this.

There were two Notice of Motions for discussion.

The following Notice of Motions were read into records and a brief discussion took place in relation to the following.

“That Roscommon County Council consider installing additional speed tables on the Old Tuam Rd, Monksland as the ones installed previously have contributed to a reduction in speed.”

“That Roscommon County Council consider installing additional speed tables on the Old Tuam Rd, Monksland as the ones installed previously have contributed to a reduction in speed.”

Reply:

A number of traffic calming measures have been provided along public road LP 2047 including driver feedback signs, speed stamps, speed tables and ancillary warning signs and road markings. The speed tables were recently installed; road markings are yet to be completed on the second speed table. 

In addition, Roscommon County Council Road Safety Office actively works with the RSA and An Garda Siochana in promoting Road Safety and this stretch of road will be highlighted to the Gardai for increased observation and enforcement on those who do not comply with the speed limits.

The Council reminds all drivers to only drive within the necessary speed limits, but also at speeds that are appropriate to the conditions. Drivers should always be aware that speed limits are not a target! Drivers who ignore speed limits put themselves and others at great risk.

Cllr. J Naughten thanked the members for their support.  Paul Browne Acting MD Co-ordinator informed the members that an Area Based Transport Study is being carried out and would await the report findings which are due in Sept/Oct this year.

That Roscommon County Council calls on Irish rail to:

“Following the very positive development of Roscommon County Council installing active travel pathways linking Knockcroghery village core to the level crossing on the N61 and from the level crossing to St. Dominic’s sports field, I ask that the Council writes to Iarnrod Éireann seeking the expeditious installation of an automated pedestrian level crossing which will complete the pathway in a safe manner to protect the many recreational walkers and children going to the sports field, as the current narrow roadside strip for walkers across the railway track so close to the hectic N61 is unsafe and unsatisfactory. "

That Roscommon County Council calls on Irish rail to:

“Following the very positive development of Roscommon County Council installing active travel pathways linking Knockcroghery village core to the level crossing on the N61 and from the level crossing to St. Dominics sports field, I ask that the Council writes to Iarnrod Éireann seeking the expeditious installation of an automated pedestrian level crossing which will complete the pathway in a safe manner to protect the many recreational walkers and children going to the sports field, as the current narrow roadside strip for walkers across the railway track so close to the hectic N61 is unsafe and unsatisfactory. "

Reply:

Correspondence detailing the above was sent to Iarnród Éireann/Irish Rail on the 10^th March 2022.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr D Kilduff

         Seconded by:   Cllr. J Naughten

Cllr. D Kilduff thanked the members for their support and proposed writing to the Minister of Transport to encourage Iarnród Éireann to come on board to provide a pedestrian crossing at the level crossing in Knockcroghery to link the footpaths already installed by Active Travel from the village to the GAA pitch.

Civic Reception Nominations

The members were informed to notify the Athlone MD office if they had any nominations for Civic Receptions due to take place in May/June 2022.

There were two questions for noting.

“That Roscommon County Council apply for funding under Active Travel to extend footpaths and lighting from Ardcarn roundabout to the Circular road on the R357 Creagh, Ballinasloe.”

“That Roscommon County Council apply for funding under Active Travel to extend footpaths and lighting from Ardcarn roundabout to the Circular road on the R357 Creagh, Ballinasloe.”

Reply:

Roscommon County Council have applied for funding under Active Travel to extend a footpath from the Beagh Roundabout on the R446 to the Ard Carn Roundabout on R357.  This will complement works currently underway under the Creagh Active Travel Scheme.

“Can Roscommon County Council provide results of the traffic count undertaken at the Dolanstown junction, off the R446 as this road urgently requires a right turning lane.?”

“Can Roscommon County Council provide results of the traffic count undertaken at the Dolanstown junction, off the R446 as this road urgently requires a right turning lane.?”

Reply:

Both the average daily traffic (ADT) for the R446 (Major Road) and the L7644 (Minor Road) are well below the threshold required for the provision of a right turning lane, as per DN-GEO-03060 Geometric Design of Junctions.

The minimum ADT threshold is 5000 vehicles for the Major Road, and 600 vehicles for the Minor Road.

The current ADT on the R446 is 2760 and on the L7644 is 375, which are 45% and 38% below their respective threshold levels.

There were no votes of Congratulations/Sympathy for noting.

10.1     Cllr D Kilduff   -  Re N61

Cllr D Kilduff raised the issue in regards to the postponing of the N61 bypass and in the meantime lands and property along this route is now frozen indefinitely.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr. D Kilduff

         Seconded by:   Cllr T Ward

It was AGREED by all members to write to TII and also to the Minister of Transport to request that the design phase be completed and preferred route identified.  Members agreed to put this on the agenda for next meeting.

10.2     Cllr. E Kelly   -  Re Bus route services.

Cllr. E Kelly raised the issue of bus services from Ballyforan, Dysart and Four Roads area into Athlone and Roscommon towns.  She stated there are several families in the area willing to accommodate Ukrainian Refugees, however the area would need transport services in order for them to be approved.  She added this would also benefit local residents.

On the Proposal of:   Cllr. E Kelly

         Seconded by:   Cllr. L Fallon

The members agreed to write to NTA requesting that public transport services be extended out to these areas at least once or twice a week.  If this was not an option, Athlone MD should seek alternative possibility of using school buses to link in to Monksland.