Adoption Ofminutes of Minutes of May2013 Meeting of Birr Town Council, Held on 13Thmay 2013

MINUTES OF JUNE MEETING OF BIRR TOWN COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, CIVIC OFFICES, BIRR ON MONDAY 10thJUNE2013.

CATHAOIRLEACH: / Cllr. J. Carroll
MEMBERS PRESENT: / Cllrs.M. Campbell, B. Fanneran, M. Loughnane, T. McLoughlin, N. Russell, D. Sheils, D. Tierney and B Whelahan
IN ATTENDANCE / Messrs. F. Heslin, D.O.S, J. Hogan, Town Clerk, Ms. A. Healy, Town Engineer.

Adoption ofminutes of Minutes of May2013 meeting of Birr Town Council, held on 13thMay 2013.

On the proposal of Cllr. N. Russell, seconded by Cllr. B. Whelahan,the minutes of the May2013 meeting of the Council, held on 13th May 2013 were adopted.

Emmet Square and environs

Mr. F. Heslin, Birr Town Manager, began by saying that the big outstanding item in the Birr Public Realm plan was the possible enhancement of Emmet Square and environs. At the community meeting last autumn, there seemed to be a desire to explore options for this area. The Manager said at the very least it was worth having the conversation even if the conclusion was to do nothing . Mr. Heslin said that the council invited submissions in February on an outline proposal. He thanked everyone who took the time to make submissions and he said that all suggestions and proposals were given serious consideration.

Mr Heslin said the objectives of any enhancement would be to :-

•make Emmet Square and environs an attractive shopping and civic space for locals and visitors

•ensure safe and easy access for pedestrians and traffic.

The desired outcomes were to :-

•reduce the negative impact of heavy goods vehicles

•easy and safe vehicular access to shopping areas

•generous pedestrian space for shoppers

•an attractive civic space

•provision of adequate short and long-term parking.

In summarising the responses, the Manager said that some shoppers wrote welcoming wider footpaths but the shop owners themselves suggested that there be no reduction in parking along O’Connell St except at the steps outside the old Central Hotel building. This opinion of the shop owners was accepted.

There were both positive and negative comments about the spheres. It was not considered to be a fundamental issue, one way or the other, at this stage.

The first submission proposed improving the radius of the road outside Dooly’s Hotel to facilitate traffic from Roscrea and in addition allowing access to the Main St. for traffic coming from Tullamore. The Manager advised that the revised design would incorporate both these points.

The second proposal was essentially a large roundabout around the column. This was not recommended for reasons of loss of parking and loss of amenity generally.

The third proposal proposed removing three traffic movements. The first – removing the access at Dooley’s Hotel would be positive although traffic numbers were low. The second - removing the access northwards onto the square at the eastern side of the column would also be positive although traffic numbers were low. Thirdly, removing right turning movement onto the square from the Green would have a substantial and positive impact as traffic volume were significant there. The Manager advised that for it to work in practice, it might be necessary also to remove the right turning movement for traffic coming from Tullamore and going to the Green. Overall, there were merits to the proposal although the bus stop would require to be relocated, perhaps to Wilmer Rd, the pinch point at the Green would still remain and the priority link from the Green to Main St would be compromised. This option would need further investigation to establish clear feasability.

The fourth submission suggested a mini roundabout near the old Post Office quadrant to facilitate more efficient right turning for traffic from Tullamore going down Main St. The geometry of the square was the main difficulty with this proposal. However, the executive said that they could explore the possibility of a loop with the pedestrian lights to better regulate this movement.

For the Green, some people felt that trees would be attractive while others said that the shadow might be a problem for residents. Mr. Heslin advised that trees are not an essential feature and potted plants or other features could be considered. He also said that there was a pinchpoint on Green Street, close to The Chestnut pub, which was the main reason why a one way traffic system was being proposed. He also advised that the Council was in talks with Dooly’s Hotel regarding the use of the carpark behind the Garda Station. Greater use of this car park of 45 spaces would be a positive benefit for the town.

Mr Heslin then outlined the revised proposal for Emmet Square and environs (see drawing below). The feedback on parking in O’Connell St and on the spheresand the suggested traffic flows outlined in submission 1 were all taken on board when this revised proposal was redrafted.

Mr. Heslin said that the revised proposal was the best option, all things considered, and would be good for business. He suggested that the one way element at the Green be piloted for a short period to monitor how effective it would be in practice. The trial would be relatively easy to implement with minimal disruption.

Among the issues stated by the Councillors were :-

Very contentious introducing a one-way traffic system at The Green.
Public perception that Council is trying to railroad this proposal.
Would be difficult to sweep around trees in the Green.
Traffic exiting The Green will have to go down Main Street.
General public has no faith in the trial period.
Must have regard for people’s concerns. People on Oxmantown Mall and Pound Streets will not be happy with increased traffic.
Some Councillors said they could not support a one-way traffic system for The Green.
Councillors would like to see enhancement of Emmet Square.

Mr. Heslin said that members could take time to consider the presentation as outlined and decide the next steps at the July meeting. He said that he was very mindful of the commercial interests of the town. In order to source funding and to justify direct expenditure and also the likely disturbance involved, there would need to be very valid reasons to upgrade Emmet Square. The less the Council does, then the less it will benefit the town. Doing nothing was also an option.

There would be a loss of about ten spaces at Dooly’s Hotel but the compensation would be improved quality for the remaining spaces and improved access into Dooly’s Hotel car park. Mr. Heslin reassured members that if a trial period is agreed then proposals would be fully reviewed after the trial period before any final decision is made. The suggested trial period was from mid August 2013 to mid September 2013.

Following prolonged discussion, the Cathaoirleach, Cllr Carroll proposed a vote on a one month trial of the one way system for the Green from mid August 2013 to mid September 2013, as outlined in the Managers revised proposal. This was seconded by Cllr Campbell.

Councillors who voted in favour of the trial period – Cllrs. M. Loughnane, D. Tierney, M. Campbell, N. Russell, B. Fanneran (5).

Councillors who voted against the trial period – Cllrs. T. McLoughlin, D. Sheils, B. Whelahan and Cathaoirleach Cllr. J. Carroll (4).

It was therfeore agreed that the revised proposals for enhancement of Emmet Square and a one-way traffic system for The Green, as presented to the meeting, would be introduced on a trial basis after Vintage week for a period of one month.

On the proposal of the Cathaoirleach, Cllr. J. Carroll, seconded by Cllr. M. Campbell, it was agreed to suspend standing orders to consider the views of representatives of Birr Chamber of Commerce, who were present at the meeting, Mr. Martin Kearns and Mr. David O’Meara. They advised that they attended a recent public meeting in relation to proposals for Emmet Square and The Green and they advised that not one person at that public meeting was in favour of a one-way traffic system for The Green.

Mr. F. Heslin pointed out that he had written advising that it was premature for him to attend such a public meeting, until a report on all submissions were presented to the members of Birr Town Council, which is still the statutory representative body for Birr. We were still some way from concluding on the issues. The suggested trial would provide useful additional information which would inform the decision making process.

Parking byelaws, resident’s permits.

Councillors welcomed the consultation process and complimented the executive on meeting the people on Connaught Street.

On the proposal of Cllr. B. Whelahan, seconded by Cllr. N. Russell, it was agreed to proceed with the amendment of the parking byelaws outlined below, as circulated. It was also agreed to consider loading for Talbot’s Motor Factors.

STREET OR PORTIONS OF STREETS IN WHICH PARKING IS
PROHIBITED EXCEPT WHILE TAKING UP OR SETTING DOWN
PASSENGERS OR LOADING OR UNLOADING OF GOODS
AT ANY TIME ( Double Yellow Lines)
REF. NO. / NAME OF STREET / PORTION OF STREET
1 / Connaught Street / North side, from its junction with John's Place, eastwards for a distance of 45m
2 / Connaught Street / South side, from its junction with Main Street, eastwards for a distance of 12m.
PARKING PLACES WHERE PARKING IS LIMITED TO A HALF HOUR
DURING BUSINESS HOURS
REF. NO. / NAME OF STREET / LIMITS OF PARKING PLACE / POSITION OF VEHICLE IN PARKING PLACE
01 / Connaught Street / South side, from a point 12m from its junction with Main Street to a point, 5m from its junction with Mill Street. / In a single line, by the kerb and parallel thereto.

PARKING PERMITS

Proposed change in Byelaws.

The conditions for Residents Permits on O’Connell Street, Main Street, Connaught Street between the junction with Mill Street and the junction with Main Street, Market Square and Emmet Square will not apply from 11.00am to 18.00 from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive.

Alternative free parking will be provided at other locations during these times.

Military Road Junction

Ms. Anne Healy, Town Engineer, advised the Councillors that she had carried out tests in relation to the various traffic movements at the military road junction and presented maps of the junction. Mr. F. Heslin, Town Managerasked the Councillors to considerr the junction over the next number of weeks.

Housing Needs Assessment analysis.

Mr. J. Hogan, Town Clerk, that the 2013 Housing Needs Assessment had been completed for the Council. He advised that on the28th February 2013, the Council wrote to all applicants approved for housing up to and including 31stDecember 2012 (237 households).

The Town Clerk said that of the237 written out to 146 applicants responded to the satisfaction of the Council while 91 made no reply. On completion of this exercise, together with those excluded as being over the statutory income limits, 102 applications have been closed off. The Town Clerk said that the net position with the Councilis that there are 135 open applications. He advised that 11 applications were closed as a result of the revised income regulations.

Councillors welcomed the fact that the assessment had been completed. However they expressed concern that there was no money to purchase or build houses for the 135 applicants on the housing waiting list. Councillors stated that security of tenure was very important for housing applicants and they recommended that the Council continue with the good progress on the Social Housing Leasing Scheme.

Conferences

There were no conferences for approval. Cllr. M. Loughnane gave an update on the recent IPBMI conference, which he attended.

Correspondence

Councillors considered correspondence received from Mr. Barry Cowen, TD re. closure of Birr and Edenderry District Courts. It was noted that submissions were to be made by 13th June. Councillors again expressed their dissapointment at the proposed cloure of the Courts in Birr and agreed that a submission would be made to the Courts Service, requesting that they would reconsideer the matter.
Email dated 29th May 2013 from Shannon Development re. Birr Tourist Office.Councillors welcomed the fact that the Tourist Office would be reopening for the summer months. They said it would be important that a plan be in place to ensure that a Tourist Office would remain in Birr.

Notices of Motion

There were no Notices of Motion for consideration.

Congratulations/ best wishes

Peter Dooley on playing for Ireland U20 rugby team.
Crinke School.
Oxmantown School on receiving Green flag.

This concluded the business of the meeting.

SIGNED______

CATHAOIRLEACH

Dated July 2013