Agenda and minutes

Venue: MS Teams

Contact: Neal Geraghty  Email: nealg@roscommoncoco.ie

Items
No. Item

20.21

Adoption of the Minutes

Roscommon Municipal District Meeting – 23rd March, 2021

Minutes:

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Leyden

            SECONDED by Cllr McDermott

It was AGREED to adopt the Minutes of the Roscommon Municipal District meeting held on 23rd March, 2021.

 

21.21

Matters arising from the minutes

Minutes:

The following points were raised –

·         It was agreed to amend 18.21 of the minutes of 23rd March stating that it was Cllr. Fitzmaurice and not Cllr. Shanagher that raised the issue regarding Somers Park in Castlerea.  The members also agreed to amend item 13.21 to include Japanese knotweed in addition to Himalayan knotweed.

·         Cllr. Leyden requested an update on the areas identified for inclusion in the pollinator plan

Neal Geraghty informed the members that the designated areas included the Lough road, Roscommon, part of the park area of Hawthorne Drive, a strip out the Boyle road, a meadow area at the rear of Loughnaneane park and another roadside area on the road from Loughglynn to Ballaghaderreen.  The locations will be reviewed annually and we will continue to look at other areas.

·         Cllr. Leyden restated her belief that Roscommon Municipal District should adopt a “pesticide-free policy” and made reference to Galway City Council who are prohibiting the use of weed killers on non-invasive species.  Stephen Walsh is Head of Parks in Galway City Council and could be a good contact to establish the measures that they are using in Galway to support this policy.  Cllr. Fitzmaurice supported this initiative but restated the need for pesticide use along streets and footpaths and to eradicate invasive species.

Pat Murtagh informed the members that Roscommon County Council are entering into a service level agreement with Kildare County Council to consider alternatives to pesticide use and ultimately help reach the objectives in the pollinator plan.  The Council will be working with an expert on the issue of pollination and how to manage lands.

Cllr. Fitzmaurice expressed his approval for this and is in favour of investigating alternatives that will work instead of spraying chemicals.  Cllr. Leyden also stated that this was a very positive development and looks forward to seeing the outcome of the service level agreement.

·         An update was requested on the signage for Cloonkeen road where there is a blind junction

Neal Geraghty informed the members that the signs are ordered however, delivery is delayed but they will be erected as soon as they arrive

 

22.21

Update on Roscommon Town Public Realm Enhancement Project

Minutes:

Neal Geraghty gave the following update on the Public Realm Project

·         Main St, Roscommon is currently closed for works until 11th June

·         The main pipelines have been completed and the road construction has commenced. It is anticipated that the new road construction will be complete (excluding final course) by end of May

·         Work to the footpath on each side of the street will continue with pedestrian access along the newly laid road surface up until 11th June

·         On 11th June the road will re-open to one-way traffic in a south to north direction only and around the west side of the square. The majority of the works on Main St should be completed by 11th June, however some work to footpaths may continue for a short period thereafter

·         After 11th June the east side of the square will be closed for works which will be ongoing until August

 

23.21

Feedback from the Town Team Meetings

Minutes:

Cllr. Leyden and Cllr. Shanagher gave an update from the Roscommon Town Team

·         The report on possible future uses of Edenville House also known as Blacks House is being finalised

·         The Youth Facilities Survey is currently taking place to identify the need and opportunities for the provision of accessible and free youth facilities in Roscommon town for the age group 9 – 24 years.  The survey is available on the Roscommon Town Team page and the Foróige page and is being circulated to local schools and other organisations to encourage engagement with it up to 31st May.  If the survey shows the need for additional facilities, an expression of interest has already been submitted to Roscommon Leader Partnership which will be actioned

·         The Roscommon Town Team app is live

·         The Roscommon Town Team diverted funding to the wildflower area on the Galway road in lieu of supporting the flowers on Main Street, Roscommon this Summer

 

Cllr. Waldron and Cllr. Fitzmaurice gave an update from the Castlerea Town Team

·         The Castlerea Town Team discussed the County Development Plan and zoning.  The County Development Plan is significant as it is a five-year plan and it is important for people to give their views

·         They are working on increasing tourism and development of the River Suck

·         There is a small amount of work outstanding to finalise the painting scheme in Castlerea town

·         Some signage has to be erected in conjunction with the Town & Village Renewal Scheme.

·         Work is continuing on tourism signs and points of contact for visitors to Castlerea

·         Castlerea Town Team are facilitating the upgrade of the CCTV to a digital system

 

Pat Murtagh informed the members of his meeting with Mel Gavin, IT Sligo who is one of the mentors from S.E.A.I.  for Roscommon.  The Council are in the process of signing a service level agreement with the S.E.A.I. on delivering the funding which Roscommon County Council will be providing to a number of SEC’s including Roscommon and Castlerea town.  The members welcomed this news and thanked Pat for the funding for the Energy Management Fund and for being so proactive in addressing climate change.

 

24.21

Correspondence

E-mail correspondence with Irish Water regarding reference 10.21 (March 2021)

Minutes:

·         E-mail correspondence from Irish Water dated 29th April, 2021 regarding reference 10.21 (March 2021)

 

25.21

Votes of Congratulations/Sympathy

Minutes:

There were no votes of congratulations or sympathies.

 

26.21

A.O.B.

Minutes:

The following items were raised-

·         Cllr. Fitzmaurice stated that the damage caused to the children’s playground at Castlehill, Castlerea was a terrible act of vandalism.  He stated that the playground was used by children from a wide area and he did not want the general public to presume that the damage was caused by young people living in Castlehill.  He called on the general public to take ownership of all public areas.  The playground is now closed and if anyone has any information concerning the damage they can contact Roscommon County Council or the Gardaí

·         Cllr. Fitzmaurice pointed out that a second pedestrian crossing with lights is needed on Main Street in Castlerea near Cahill’s Supervalu store.  This is a very busy N60 route and some tactile paving and ducting are already installed to facilitate future traffic lights in this area.  

On the PROPOSAL of Cllr Fitzmaurice

                    SECONDED by Cllr Leyden

It was AGREED to write to Transport Infrastructure Ireland seeking funding for the provision of a pedestrian crossing with traffic lights at Main Street, Castlerea

·      Cllr. Leyden requested that Roscommon MD Meetings for the forthcoming year be scheduled on Thursday’s and on a different week to the Plenary meeting.  The other members were in agreement

·      Cllr. McDermott requested that the footpaths beyond Walsh’s on the Castlerea road be repaired

·      Cllr. Fitzmaurice requested that an extremely dangerous footpath in St. Joseph’s cemetery, Castlerea be inspected as it is in need of repair

·      Cllr. Leyden thanked Neal Geraghty and his team for cleaning the footpaths at the Ballyboughan Industrial Serviced Sites on the Racecourse Road, Roscommon

·      Cllr. Shanagher asked if the size of the apertures on the bins could be considered when deciding on the bins as part of the Public Realm Project and for all town bins in general.  It is important to deter household dumping and to stop crows from scattering rubbish.  

·      Cllr. Shanagher also requested that the containers with trees around the town be moved to the footpath area between Tesco’s and Supervalu while the public realm works are ongoing

·      Cllr. Shanagher mentioned new signs for the Castle and Abbey flagpoles and requested that the flagpole at St. Ciaran’s park be moved down to the Jail Lane

·      Pat Murtagh informed the members that €73,000 is available in each Municipal District this year for the Municipal District Scheme.  The Council are in the process of updating the terms and conditions and aim to have applications available online by mid-June.  The members welcomed the scheme and Cllr. Leyden clarified that this money was not spent in 2020 due to Covid-19.

·      Neal Geraghty informed the members of his plan to carry out works in Loughnaneane Park for health and

safety reasons.  The works will include removal of the existing hedging, remove overhanging trees, erect lower fencing and replacement of some of the playground surface.  This will open up the area and make the playground more visible.  The members supported the plan and reaffirmed the importance of Loughnaneane Park for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.21

27.21

Date of next Roscommon MD Meeting

Minutes:

It was agreed that the Roscommon MD A.G.M. will be held on Monday, 21st June, 2021 following the Plenary A.G.M.

 

 

Original text