Are you concerned about climate change? Do you think Ireland is doing its fair share to prevent climate chaos in the future? The Government wants to know what you think Ireland should do to reduce our carbon emissions. This is a chance to press for real action. Ireland’s climate pollution has risen by almost twice the amount allowed under the Kyoto Protocol. Now the Government is saying it will develop a new Climate Change Strategy and they have invited the public to make recommendations.

Friends of the Earth have created a facility on their website www.climatepledge.ie to help you have your say in a matter of minutes. You can send a ready-made submission using their suggestions or you can pick and mix from their ideas, edit or discard them, and add your own. Either way, each submission adds to the pressure to take the issue more seriosuly. Have your say at http://www.climatepledge.ie.

The agenda for the next meeting of  Malahide/Howth Area Committee (Services B – Planning,
Property and Economic Development, Housing, Community Recreation and
Amenities, General) in Baldoyle Library at 3.00 p.m. on Thursday 21st September is out.
COMHAIRLE CONTAE FHINE GALL

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

Phone:  8905000                                         P.O. Box 174,
Fax:      8905809                                         County Hall,
                                     Swords,
                                    Fingal,
                                    Co.Dublin.

                            
                                14th September, 2006

                                
To each Member of the Malahide/Howth
Area Committee:

Dear Councillor
                                
A meeting of the Malahide/Howth Area Committee (Services B – Planning, Property and Economic Development, Housing, Community Recreation and Amenities, General) will be held in the Baldoyle Library and Offices, Baldoyle, Fingal, Dublin 13, at 3.00 p.m. on Thursday 21st September 2006 to consider the following Agenda.

Yours faithfully,

S. Peppard
Meetings Administrator
Corporate Services Division

****************************************************

A  G  E  N  D  A

1.    Confirmation and Re-affirmation of Minutes

(a)    Minutes of Meeting of Malahide/Howth Area Committee (Services B) held on 15th June, 2006.
  (already circulated)

COMMUNITY RECREATION AND AMENITIES QUESTIONS

2.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"To ask the Manager to have the pathway between Castle Cove ( Seabury) and the Killeen Estate, Malahide resurfaced as it is in a very poor condition in parts?"

3.    Councillor A. Farrell
"To ask the Manager to remove all garden waste material from the eastern green hedge row at Biscayne (bordering with Robswall), Malahide and complete all grass cutting, including edging within the estate?"

4.    Councillor A. Farrell
"To ask the Manager to outline plans to replace the grove of trees/bushes at 16 and 17 Biscayne, Malahide and anywhere else within the estate?"

5.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager of the need for reinstatement of grass and litter bin between jetty at Haven View and past Texas Lane, Malahide?"

6.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if the trees to the side and rear of Riverside View Cottages, Strand Road, Portmarnock could be examined and cut back, given the adverse impact on the properties and also taking into account the numerous anti-social problems reported at this location with associated dangers to the properties?

7.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if the tree on the roadside at 9 Wheatfield Grove, Portmarnock, could be pruned in the Winter Programme of Works?"

8.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if the tree on the roadside at 92-93 Martello Court, Portmarnock, could be pruned in the Winter Programme of Works?"

9.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if the steps from the pathway at Portmarnock Hotel/Links to the Council’s sleeper walk on the dunes could be improved?"

10.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to outline his proposals for the drawing up of a plan for the renovation of the promenade in Howth?"

11.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to report on the progress in relation to the needs analysis for Baldoyle and the proposals for a playground in Baldoyle and the all-weather facility for Baldoyle as in the 3 year capital programme?"

12.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to arrange for the removal of the base of the mast at Sutton Park?"

13.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to confirm that no plans or proposals exist in relation to pitches in Baldoyle which would compromise the effectiveness of the flood control bund in place north of Admiral Park?"

14.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager what is the anticipated timescale for drawing up draft plans for the Millennium Park in Baldoyle and putting those plans on public display?"

GENERAL QUESTIONS

15.    Councillor R. Kelly
    "To ask the Manager would it be possible in individual cases were the new
paypath is not a suitable payment system to still pay by cheque. (pension)?"

PROPERTY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUESTIONS

16.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to report on progress in identifying potential locations for more allotments in the Malahide / Howth Areas?"

PLANNING QUESTIONS

17.    Councillor R. Kelly
To ask the Manager to report on a developer cutting down a number of trees
(40 mature trees ) at Oak Hall, The Hill Malahide in deliberate breech of
planning permission and what action is planned?"

18.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager when and how the Statements of Character for Architectural Conservation Areas in Howth and Malahide electoral areas are to be put on public display?"

19.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to put the Howth SAAO Management Committee minutes on the Council website?"

HOUSING BUSINESS
    
20.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
(if any, to be circulated)

21.    Sketch layouts for proposed dwellings in the Housing Construction Programme  – Initiation of procedure pursuant to Part XI, Local Government Planning and Development Act 2000.

22.    Correspondence.
 (if any, to be circulated)

COMMUNITY RECREATION AND AMENITIES BUSINESS

23.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
                
                                                                   (if any, to be circulated)

24.    Proposals for the Provision of Playgrounds in Bayside Sutton, and Seapark, Malahide.
                                       (to be circulated)

25.    Proposed Development of a Boardwalk at Caves Marsh, Malahide.

         (report to be circulated)

26.    Applications for Funding.
                                 (if any, to be circulated)

COMMUNITY RECREATION AND AMENITIES MOTIONS

27.    Councillor P. Coyle
"This Committee recommends that a footpath be constructed across the Carrickhill community lands from the entrance at Portmarnock Community School to the Portmarnock Sport and Leisure Centre, this path being particularly needed now to facilitate users of the new playground."

28.    Councillor D. Healy
"That the Council draw up a plan for improving the access from the East Pier to Claremont Beach, improving the promenade on the beach and providing access from the beach to the Claremont level crossing, in order to link and improve the pedestrian routes in the area."
29.    Councillor P. Coyle
"This Committee recommends that the Parks Department examine the entrance to Portmarnock adjacent to Portmarnock Bridge and devise a plan in conjunction with a new Tidy Village committee to enhance the area with some planting and bedding."

30.    Councillor D. Healy
"That the Manager arrange for the removal of the base of the mast at Sutton Park."

GENERAL BUSINESS

31.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
      (report if any, to be circulated)

32.    Correspondence.
                                          (if any, to be circulated)

GENERAL MOTIONS

33.    Councillor D. O’Brein
"That this Committee recommends that Dublin Bus provide a Feeder Bus service from Swords via Kinsealy and Waterside to Malahide/ Portmarnock DART Stations thereby further improving the public transport network."

34.    Councillor D. Healy
"That this Committee recommends to the Council that it be adopted as the policy of Fingal County Council to support the inclusion of Howth in the Northside Partnership Area."

PROPERTY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS       

    
35.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
 (if any, to be circulated)

36.    Proposed Disposal of Properties.

          (if any to be circulated)
37.    Correspondence.

         (if any, to be circulated)

PLANNING BUSINESS

38.    Application for Planning Permission and Decisions – Files requested by Members.
    
(a)          Files requested by Area Chairperson,
(b)    Files relating to the Malahide and Howth Electoral Areas,

39.    Howth , Sutton and Baldoyle ACA’s Public Consultation
                            
                                     (report ,if any, to be circulated)
40.    Files listed by Manager.
(if any, to be circulated)
                
41.    Correspondence.
(if any, to be circulated)

PLANNING MOTIONS

42.    Councillor R. Kelly
"That the Manager reports on any recorded archaeological sites at caves marsh
with a view that it would not effect both proposed walkway, and any
archaeological site recorded."

43.    Councillor P. Coyle
In relation to the designated ACA for The Rise, Malahide, that the Manager report on :
a)     The process and timescale expected in publishing the character appraisals and area specific policy for this ACA (under Objective HO15 of the County Development Plan);
b)     in the interim what efforts are being made by this Council to protect the character of The Rise, given that some recent developments there appear to be contrary to the objectives of an ACA.
    
44.    Councillor R. Kelly
"That this Committee recommends that a proper archaeological assessment of
Caves Marsh before any work is carried out on the proposed caves marsh
Walkway."

***************************************

The Green Party / Comhaontas Glas held a special screening of "An Inconvenient Truth" on 12th Sept.  The documentary film is quite unusual as it is in effect a science lecture.  Al Gore has developed a detailed and very powerful slideshow to put across the science of climate change.  It gives a good understanding of how climate change happens and its consequences.
I strongly recommend it.  More info from http://www.climatecrisis.net/

I have been asked to speak at See the Light 2006, organised by Sustainable Energy Ireland’s Renewable Energy Information Office (SEI REIO) in association with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI).

The conference "showcases the emergence of extraordinary standards of energy performance into the mainstream of building construction across Europe and Ireland, as well as the unprecedented level of uptake of renewable energy technologies for building services."
I will be speaking on the implementation of Fingal’s energy standards, as set out on this website. 

More information on the conference at http://www.sei.ie/index.asp?locID=565&docID=920

I have objected to the proposed high-density development of part of the Santa Sabina lands.
Councillor David Healy
Green Party/Comhaontas Glas
Howth ward / Dublin North East
 
www.davidhealy.com
01 8324087
54, Páirc Éabhóra, Beann Éadair
54, Evora Park, Howth
 
5th September 2006

Planning Department,
Fingal County Council

Re: planning application F06A/1099

A chairde,

I wish to object to this application on the following grounds.

1. Excessive density in an area poorly served by public transport.  

Density guidelines both at national and local level are based on the potential for serving higher density developments by public transport.  This area is on the 31B bus route which has 16 buses a day on a weekday, 6 on a Saturday and 3 on a Sunday.    It is well outside walking distance from Sutton Dart Station.  The overall area is mostly low to medium density housing and amenity, high amenity, special amenity area and other protected lands.  The creation a pockets of high-density development within this area, which will not be served by quality public transport is car-dependent residential development and therefore is entirely contrary to proper planning and development.

2. Visual impact  and height

The development would have a negative visual impact on protected views, marked for preservation in the Development Plan from Dublin Road and Strand Road.  This is primarily due to the height of the developments.

3. Impact on neighbouring residential amenity.

The development would have a severe negative impact on adjacent houses.  I know many of these residents are rightly objecting on their own behalf.

4. Flooding risk

The development could by displacing groundwater and interfering with drainage increase flooding risks in the area.  I note that ground floor levels are elevated in the plans.  Underneath some of these ground floors basement car parking is proposed.  Is it considered that car parking with a high risk of flooding is proper planning?

Allegations of irregularities in the planning process

Mr. Bannon’s letter of 24th August makes an important allegation that alterations were made to documents in the planning file.  If this allegation is correct it would be an  offence under the planning acts. I request that this matter be fully investigated.

Is mise, le meas,

David Healy

The Agenda for the next Area Cttee A (Water Services, Environment and Transportation) is out. The meeting is on Wednesday the 6th September at 3pm in Baldoyle Library and is open to the public.
COMHAIRLE CONTAE FHINE GALL

FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL

Phone:  8905000                              P.O. Box 174,
Fax:      8905809                             County Hall,
                                    Swords,
                                    Fingal,    
                                    Co. Dublin.
                                                                                 30th August, 2006

         OTE CHANGE OF DATE OF MEETING
       

To each Member of the Malahide/Howth
Area Committee:

Dear Councillor,

A meeting of the Malahide/Howth Area Committee (Services A – Transportation, Environment and Water Services) will be held in the Baldoyle Library and Offices, Baldoyle, Fingal Dublin 13, at 3.00 p.m. on Wednesday 6th September 2006 to consider the following Agenda.

Yours faithfully,

 S. Peppard
Meetings Administrator
Corporate Services Division

****************************************************

A  G  E  N  D  A

1.    Confirmation and Re-affirmation of Minutes.

(a)    Minutes of Malahide/Howth Area Committee (Services A) held on Thursday 8th June 2006.
           (already circulated)

(b)     Minutes of Special Meeting of Malahide/Howth Area Committee (Services A) held on Thursday 29th June 2006.                        
        
               (to be circulated)
WATER SERVICES QUESTIONS

2.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager to report on recent large sewage spill on Old Portmarnock Road area (possibly linked to Seabrooke,Links and Kilns apartments)which is flowing into the Sluice Marsh?"

3.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager for a report on sewage discharges into the Santry River and whether the loss of the Blue Flag at Dollymount might be linked to this?"

4.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager what the anticipated time scales are for installation of the sewage pipe between the outfall at the Nose of Howth and the pumping station at Sutton?"

5.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager what the arrangements are for the cleaning and caretaking of the public toilets at the East Pier in Howth?"

6.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to report on the water quality at Burrow Beach Sutton in 2005 and 2006 and to report on the known or likely sources of contamination?"

7.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager to report on the illegal dumping of road rubble at the
mouth of Sluice River which has not been removed over one year after it was
reported?"

ENVIRONMENT QUESTIONS

8.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager what policy has Fingal got in relation to both monitoring and removal of graffiti in the Malahide Ward?"

9.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager what powers do the Council have in relation to
enforcement of environment law in relation to Sluice Marsh?"

10.    Councillor R. Kelly
    "To ask the Manager could the Council get a break down on the cost the
Council pay Dublin City Council for Malahide Fire Station?"

11.    Councillor R. Kelly
    "To ask the Manager the to report back on Fingal County Council running
Malahide Fire Station independent of Dublin City Council?"

12.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager to comment on the recent news that Malahide Fire Station is closing down?"

    

TRANSPORTATION QUESTIONS

13.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"To ask the Manager to have a name plate erected on Holy Well Drive Kinsealy?"

14.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"To ask the Manager to provide the time scale and schedule of remaining works for the traffic management plan for Seabury, Old Yellow Walls Road, Millview and the Swords Road?"

15.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"To once again ask the Manager for an update in the progress with the ESB in relation to putting the ESB cables underground in Gainsborough Estate, Malahide."

16.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"To ask the Manager to arrange for the steps leading onto Bissetts Strand Malahide, at the Railway bridge to be fixed as they are broken and in a dangerous condition?"

17.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"To once again ask the Manager when the ESB poles will be removed at Barrack Bridge and to carry out this work as a matter of extreme urgency?"

18.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if the footpath outside 81-83 and 107 Carrick Court, Portmarnock, could be examined and remedial works carried out for pedestrian safety?"

19.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to arrange for the repair of the wall at the junction of Windgate Road and the track leading up the ben of Howth which was damaged by a fire engine 2 years ago?"(grid location 53˚22’07.39N, 6˚04’08.31W)

20.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager to place double yellow lines at both side of the entrance
to the driveway at 20 Yellow Walls Road due to problems caused by cars
parking and blocking the visibility?"

21.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager is the any current plans to put in place traffic calming
measures on Yellow Walls Road?"
22.    Councillor A. Farrell
"To ask the Manager to improve the surface drainage at The Walk, Kinsealy Melrose?"

23.    Councillor R. Kelly
    "To ask the Manager to investigate reports that recent work carried out by
Fingal or on behalf of Fingal on the path surface on Old Street Malahide
has blocked gutter drains?"

24.    Councillor R. Kelly
    "To ask the Manager to report on lack of footpath from Rob’s Wall to
Malahide Village?"

25.    Councillor R. Kelly
"To ask the Manager what are the current plans for access at Melrose Drive
and Melrose Park?"

26.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager why the repairs to the road outside the Methodist Church, Sutton referred to at the January 2006 meeting of this Committee have not been carried out?"

27.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager to report on the design of the junction at Grange Road and the reasons for the Council’s failure to respond to correspondence in relation to the junction and report on whether there has been a safety audit of the design and whether the design complies with the National Manual for Urban Areas on the Provision of Cycle Facilities?"

28.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager why the sign hasn’t gone up on the infill opposite St. Fintan’s High School as agreed at the meeting of this Area committee on 30th March 2006?"

29.    Councillor D. Healy
"To ask the Manager whether the design of the roundabout at the junction of the Coast Road and the access to the new residential area complies with the National Manual for Urban Areas on the Provision of Cycle Facilities and whether there has been a safety audit of the design?"

30.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager to include The Bawn Grove for resurfacing in the 2007 Programme of Works?"

31.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if a new street light could be installed near the entrance of Suncroft Avenue, Portmarnock?"

32.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager if the footpaths in Chalfont Estate, Malahide, could be examined and a major programme of remedial works be carried out under the 2007 Programme of Works?"

33.    Councillor P. Coyle
"To ask the Manager to provide better notice at the entrance to The Bawn Grove, Malahide, indicating that there is no through road?"

WATER SERVICES BUSINESS

34.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
(if any, to be circulated)

35.    Correspondence.
   (if any, to be circulated)

WATER SERVICES MOTIONS

36.    Councillor R. Kelly
"That this Committee recomends repair work on foul sewage drain effecting
111,112,113,114,and 116 Seapark Coast Road Malahide which was promised seven months ago after intial work discovered possible root damage blocking drain."

37.    Councillor J. Maher
"That the pumping station on Racecourse Lands, Baldoyle be further secured and the area cleaned up."

38.    Councillor P. Coyle
"That the Manager report on who is responsible for the sewerage spills on Old Road, in Old Portmarnock, and to state what measures are being taken to prevent the regular re-occurrence and associated pollution to the local streams."

ENVIRONMENT BUSINESS  

39.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
(if any, to be circulated)

40.    Area Chairperson’s Business: Councillor D. Healy    
"That the Manager report on the dumping in the ditch along Grace O’Malley Drive and take the following steps:
a)    erection of a no dumping sign;
b)    erection of a fence;
c)    operation of a video camera focussed on the ditch."

41.    Correspondence.
                               (if any, to be circulated)              
ENVIRONMENT MOTIONS

42.    Councillor D. Healy
"That the Manager produce a detailed report on what is known by this Council and Dublin City Council and/or consultants answerable to the Council on the illegal hazardous waste dump at Clonshaugh/Belcamp and report on what steps are being taken to investigate the dump and bring those involved in dumping the waste to justice."

TRANSPORTATION BUSINESS

43.    New Works, Acceptance of Tenders etc.
(if any, to be circulated)

44.    Correspondence
(if any to be circulated)

TRANSPORTATION MOTIONS

45.    Councillor R. Kelly
"That the Manager reports on and does repair work on pot holes on Station
Road."

46.    Councillor A. Farrell
"That Fingal County Council constructs steps leading to the road opposite the entrance to Robswall Estate, Coast Road Malahide to increase pedestrian safety in the area"

47.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"That in the interest of safety, this committee strongly recommends that traffic calming measures are introduced on Kinsealy Lane to reduce dangerous speeding in the area."

48.    Councillor D. Healy
"That this Area Committee recommends that the Council direct the Manager to carry out a multi-modal transport study in relation to transport in the North Fringe/South Fringe area (Stapolin, Donaghmede, Balgriffin, Belcamp, Clonshaugh) with Dublin City Council’s co-operation if possible, to include consideration of the possibilities for a light rail link between the Dublin-Belfast railway line at Stapolin and the Metro in the vicinity of Ballymun/Dublin Airport and other possible rail links and to include consideration of roads, bus routes, cycling routes and walking routes in the area."

49.    Councillor P. Coyle
"That the Manager report on proposed road improvements for Station Road, Portmarnock, for the current year, and on plans for improving the junction with Drumnigh Road."

50.    Councillor R. Kelly
"That this Committee recomends repair work on surface drain effecting
111,112,113,114,and 116 Seapark Coast Road Malahide which is blocked by
leaves and other material and may need high pressure jetting to resolve the
situation."

51.    Councillor D. O’Brien
"That the Manager report on the progress of installing pedestrian lights on the Swords Road Malahide to facilitate the safe crossing of school children and pedestrians on this very busy road and furthermore that this Committee recommends that this work takes place as a matter of priority."

52.    Councillor D. Healy
"That given the close connection between traffic and urban design, the consultancy study in relation to traffic and parking management in Howth be carried out in tandem with the preparation of an Urban Centre Strategy for Howth as specified in Objective Howth 1 in the Development Plan."

53.    Councillor P. Coyle
"This Committee recommends that safe pedestrian facilities be provided for residents of Robswall to enable them to use the coastal footpath to and from Malahide Village."

**************************************

 

Just to update that I got a prompt and positive response from Jimmy Kinahan of Engineers Ireland to my last email.  He is recommending to the CPD committee that the incorporate a session on designing for cyclists.