Monday, 22nd February 2010 Area Meeting, Kells Chamber
Presiding:
Cllr. E. Cassidy
Present:
Cllr. J.V. Farrelly, Cllr. Oliver Fox,Cllr. Bryan Reilly
Apologies:
Cllr. C. Yore
Officials:
Mr Brendan McGrath, Area Manager, Mr. S. Carroll, Area Engineer, Mr J. Flanagan, Town Clerk, Ms. L. Hennessy, A/Staff Officer
In Attendance:
Mr. Martin Rogers, Senior Executive Engineer, Infrastructure Section, Mr. Paul Phelan, Executive Engineer, NRDO, Mr. Maurice Kelly, Executive Engineer, NRDO.
Item 1. Confirmation of Minutes of the January meeting.
The Minutes of the Area Council meeting held on the 19th January 2010 were confirmed on the proposal of Cllr. B. Reilly and seconded by Cllr, O. Fox.
Item 2. Reports
Housing Report
Mr J. Flanagan, Town Clerk, submitted the Housing Report to the meeting, copy previously circulated.
Roads Report
- Mr. S. Carroll, Area Engineer, submitted the Roads Report to the meeting copy previously circulated.
The following issues were raised by the members and noted by Mr. S. Carroll.
- Progress regarding the restoration work?
- Road damage has been assessed – the decision has been made to repair potholes, if we don’t get extra funding will funding come out of the Kells Area Maintenance budget?
Mr. Martin Rogers informed the members that Infrastructure has just been notified of the allocations and there is flexibility to work outside the 3 year plan. The net effect is slightly up.
It has not been decided yet as to how the allocation will be divided up amongst the 5 areas.
Sanitary Report
Mr. S. Carroll, Area Engineersubmitted the Sanitary Report to the meeting, copy previously circulated.
The following issues were raised by the members and noted by Mr. S. Carroll.
- Ardfrail Estate in Oldcastle – water pressure is low
Item 3
To receive a report on the draft speed limit bye-laws due to the inter-phase of the M3 Scheme with the existing speed limit bye-laws. Report was given by Mr. Martin Rogers, Senior Executive Office, Infrastructure Section and Mr. Maurice Kelly, Executive Engineer, NRDO.
The M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway Scheme is due to be completed in July 2010. Meath County Council has commenced the statutory procedures, under Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, to make Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws for this scheme. Due to the scale of the M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway Scheme it has been necessary to take into account a number of interfaces with the current Road traffic (Special Speed Limits)(County of Meath) Bye-Laws 2008.
It should be noted that the default speed limit for (a) motorways are 120km/h (b) national roads are 100km/h and (c) regional and local roads are 80km/h (d) Town Council (built up areas) are 50km/h.
The following issues were raised by Cllr. J. V. Farrelly.
- I am not supporting the 80 Km/h speed limits on the Kells/Navan N3 road. This should remain at 100 Km/h.
Mr. M Rogers suggested to the members that this could be done as CountyPolicy. Because this road will become a regional road the 80km/h speed limit will be the default speed limit. If these draft speed limit bye-laws are not approved, they cannot go on display and therefore, will not come into force in time for the opening of the new motorway.
The Manager noted to Mr. Rogers that the speed limit out to Balrath Cross was to be extended to 60km/h (about an extra 200/300 meters).
The following questions were raised by the members and noted by Mr. Martin Rogers:
- Signage within the Town
- Provisions for footpaths
The draft speed limit bye-laws due to the inter-phase of the M3 Scheme with the existing speed limit bye-laws was confirmed on the proposal of Cllr. E. Cassidy and seconded by Cllr, O. Fox.
Item 4
Oldcastle Traffic Management Plan.
This was differed until the March meeting.
Item 5 Any Other Business
Cllr. B. Reilly:
- Kilmainham Lane – in poor condition
- Athboy Rd – two points on the road completely gone
- Middle of MaudlinBridge - pothole
Cllr. O. Fox
- Cortown Community Centre – flooding issue
- Killallon Lane – condition of the road surface
Cllr. J.V. Farrelly:
- Oldcastle Rd at Flanagan’s Pub – water lodging, splashing up onto the houses, could the vergers be drained
Cllr. E. Cassidy:
- Drumconrath slip road – could it be made one-way
Mgr –
- Suggested that the members need to send some resolutions to the County Council when handing back of the R147
- Once the road becomes a regional road the Kells Area Maintenance budget will have to account for repairs – will it become a gritting route
- Who will maintain the grass on the roundabouts
- It is possible that there is a need for footpaths to go around the roundabouts along with public lightening
Cllr. B. Reilly proposed that a meeting be held with the NRA to have some of these areas discussed.
The Manager read out the following which Cllr. Yore requested:
- Athboy Road Restoration/Sewerage Scheme
- Headshops (Oldcastle and Kells)
- Traffic Management Plan Oldcastle
- To receive a copy of the Roads Report
- Litter – concern both within our area and the County
This concluded the business of the meeting.
SIGNED: ______
An Cathaoirleach
June Meeting.docPage 1 of 4
Kells Town Council and Area Office, Unit S(C), Lloyd Business Park, Cavan Road, Kells, County Meath