COUNCIL ROUND-UP: BOROUGH DISTRICT
High Street works caused concern for local businesses
A combination of bad weather to conclude footpath upgrade work and the need to close off some areas to traffic to allow the work to settle in were offered as an explanation why footpath works on Sligo’s High Street seemed to take longer than expected. However, one local councillor said businesses on the street were not happy with the length of time the work took as it caused “significant” disruption.
Cllr Declan Bree said this week that while much of High Street awaits redevelopment, the businesses which are currently operating in the street are conscious of the need to retain customers. Businesspeople recognise that any improvement works on the street, on the footpaths and roads are to be welcomed, he said.
“However, the length of time it took recently for works to be carried out and completed on the footpath on the west side of the street certainly caused significant disruption and much concern,” he added.
Cllr Bree said people were at a loss to understand why it took such a length of time to have the work completed.
He said people are anxious to know, when the council engages a contractor, if there is a specific time scale for the work to be carried out.
Does the Director of Services believe it is acceptable that works should drag on for so long, he asked. Cllr Bree said: “Car parking on the street was reduced significantly during the period of the works. “Vehicular access to Market Yard was closed off for the duration of the works, and even pedestrian traffic from the street to and from the Market Yard was closed off for a lengthy period.”
Brian Flynn, Senior Engineer for Sligo County Council, said the work started on September 26 and was expected to finish within a week. However, due to particularly bad weather the work was briefly postponed and concluded on October 11, he said.
Mr Flynn, in a report, stated: “The recent enhancement works at High Street involved the breakout and removal of circa 130sq.m of footpath (66m total length), kerb installation, drainage, reconstruction of footpaths and all associated pedestrian and traffic management.
“Following a competitive tender process, Gerald Love Contracts were deemed to have submitted the most economically advantageous tender in the amount of €16,048 and were awarded the contract.
“The works commenced on September 26 and were expected to take approximately seven days to complete. A period of inclement weather resulted in a delay of approximately one week to the original programme and the works were completed on October 11.
“The condition of the footpath at the alleyway entrance to the Market Yard was particularly bad, therefore the upgrade of this particular section of footpath was included as part of the scope of works.
“It was not considered necessary to obtain an official road closure for these works, as it was envisaged that the closure of the pedestrian and vehicular access from High Street to the Market Yard and vice versa would only be of very short duration to allow the new concrete footpath to cure.
“However, weather conditions were such that the contractor was unable to pour concrete footpaths for a number of days.
“At all times during the works, pedestrian and vehicular access to the Market Yard was maintained via Temple Street and Dominic Street. Pedestrian access was also available via the Friary.”
Cllr Bree said he welcomed the report but it remained that business people on the street were quite frustrated it “dragged on so long”.
Council is coming up roses after repair works
Council workers in Sligo got a pat on the back for the excellence of the work they have done in resurfacing and repairing roads and footpaths in the town.
Cllr Arthur Gibbons was handing out the plaudits at Monday’s meeting of Sligo-Strandhill Municipal District when he commented: “I have to put it on record that the quality and the quantity of work done by the council staff in and around Sligo town since the end of Covid has been first class, they have done an awful lot of very welcome work and deserve credit for that.”
Cllr Marc MacSharry, the Mayor, was also in good humour, pleased to hear that road resurfacing at the Rosehill Estate in the town would start in the next two weeks. In response to a motion from Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady, who had sought a start date for the works in Rosehill, the council confirmed that resurfacing works are underway within the urban area presently. It is anticipated that Rosehill resurfacing works will be carried out on the week commencing October 31.
Lights will shine again at Pearse Road crossing
Cllr Tom MacSharry has been told that out of order lights on Pearse Road will be fixed. He asked that Sligo Municipal District engineering staff work with the ESB to ensure the two out of order street lights on Pearse Road are put back into operation.
He was told the council’s public lighting maintenance contractor has been informed of issues around public lighting outages at Pearse Road. Contractor personnel have attended the site and have identified defects in underground cabling. The council is liaising with the contractor to agree dates and times for repair as the repair works will require excavation and traffic management.
Works for Strandhill Village update
Consultants have been appointed to progress the design of active travel interventions for Strandhill village, the recent meeting of the Sligo-Strandhill Municipal District was told on Monday.
In reply to a query from Cllr
Arthur Gibbons, the council stated: “The section of the R292 which lies within the 50kph speed limit (that is St Anne’s Church as far as the junction of the R292/L-35053 Carrowdough) is included in the consultant’s brief.
“In conjunction with our active travel team and the National Transport Authority, the design team is working on the preparation of an options assessment report, which we anticipate will be completed circa quarter 1, 2023.”
Cllr Gibbons had asked that “recognising that Strandhill is a major tourist attraction, and all interested bodies have its best interests at heart, I am now calling on the roads department of Sligo County Council to bring forward a full progress report on the works that are essential in the interest of health and safety to upgrade the R292 top road Strandhill village.”
Brian Flynn, Senior engineer, pointed out to Cllr Gibbons that the work on footpaths he was requesting was a much bigger project that he may have envisaged and would need considerable time and planning. He said their work was “very, much at design stage” adding “this is a considerable project” and was not as simple as “extending a footpath from point A to point B”.
Estate in Maugheraboy should have a sign
A housing estate in Maugheraboy should have a sign bearing its name, a councillor said this week, and the council agreed with him.
Cllr Arhur Gibbons proposed
that the District Council for Sligo/Strandhill calls on the roads department of this local authority to provide a stand-alone name street sign (Oak Park) to the entrance of the housing estate bearing the same name at Maugheraboy.
Cllr Rosaleen O’Grady said having the name was important in the event of an emergency to allow services to quickly identify the area in the event that their intervention was needed at a home in the estate.
Cllr Gibbons was told the area engineer will liaise with him about the sign.
Two pedestrian crossings enough on Holborn Street
A councillor’s request to have a third pedestrian crossing provided on Holborn Street was rejected by Sligo County Council this week on the basis that two such crossings were adequate there.
Cllr Arthur Gibbons moved his motion that the roads department of Sligo County Council install a pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the play park at Upper Holborn Street to facilitate wheelchair users, children accessing the play park and the general public to access the shops, doctors, and the town.
He said various people had told him there were difficulties crossing the road.
Brian Flynn, Senior Engineer SCC, said there were plans to widen parts of the footpath but with one crossing there already and a second one to be provided shortly, it was felt that was enough for the street.
“People would have to make a choice which one they wanted to use, but it was felt a third crossing was not required.
The official reply stated: “There is currently one pedestrian crossing on Holborn Street, with a second one being installed later this year adjacent to the pharmacy. There is no proposal or funding available to provide another pedestrian crossing on Holborn Street.”
Council not keen on removing trees at Barrack Street
The council said they would not support the removal of street trees in front of houses at Barrack Street to facilitate additional parking. Cllr Gino O’Boyle had asked the Council to remove shrubbery and trees from Barrack Street in front of the houses to make room for parking for residents.
But, in a reply, he was told: “The roads department would not support the removal of street trees at this location in order to facilitate additional parking.
“The area engineer will meet with residents to examine the existing parking provision and to determine if there are any minor alterations which might be made to ensure the most efficient use of these existing spaces.”
No funds available for Glendallon ramps
Cllr Gino O’Boyle was told this week that there is no funding available to install ramps in Glendallon. He had asked for the ramps when he spoke at Monday’s district meeting, but was told that down the road they may be considered:
The council stated: “There is no funding available in the current year for traffic calming interventions in Glendallon.
“Any such works can be considered in the context of future road works programmes and in consultation with the residents of Glendallon Estate.” 5osses 3oint, &o. 6ligo is the perfect setting for the 0aritiPe Heritage :eekend, 2ctober. 6tories of our rich 0aritiPe Heritage will be brought to life with a series of talks and lectures froP sailors, e[plorers and historians in Harry¶s Bar, and in the &ounty 6ligo Golf &lub.
The keynote speaker for the weekend is Dr. &riostoir 0ac &arthaigh, (ditor Traditional Boats of ,reland &ollins
3ress , is one of ,reland¶s leading traditional boat authorities. His topic, µDown to the 6ea ± Boats of 2ur 1orth Atlantic &oPPunities¶, focusses on the skills and traditions of the boat building and seafaring at 0oneygold, 6ligo. The brothers, -ohnny and ToP 0c&ann, were the last of a long line of boat builders..
The 1ational 0useuP ,rish )olklife holds a collection contains over thirty traditional ,rish boats and a large collection of ParitiPe obMects. 1oel &aPpbell of the 1ational 0useuP of ,reland will talk about developing a traditional boat gallery for this collection at the 1ational 0useuP in 0ayo. )ergus 2¶GorPan will launch his book, Antarctic Affair during the weekend. At
, his book tells the story of the only living ,rishPan to have overwintered in Antarctica. He boarded the royal research ship 6hackleton at in 2ctober as a research biologist returning after three years having studied seals, penguins, flying albatross and petrels.
,n , the )ranklin e[pedition disappeared searching for the 1orthwest 3assage. ,t wasn¶t until that a &anadian Pission, eTuipped with all the latest Parine archaeological eTuipPent, located (rebus. And subseTuently the Terror. Dr (avan 2¶Dochartaigh is currently an 6), ,5& 3athway 3rograPPe Awardee at University of Galway. Her first book, 9isual &ulture and Arctic 9oyages is published by &aPbridge University 3ress. 6he presents µThe Devil is in the Details :H- Browne¶s 6earch for the 0issing )ranklin ([pedition¶.
During his early scientific career, Dr
David 0c&arthy was lucky to take part in international deep sea e[peditions to study the biology of the deep ocean. The Deep 6ea /ife Beyond the Twilight =one will provide soPe insights into, with photos and stories, into the abyssal plains of the 1orth Atlantic, The 6outhern ,ndian 2cean, and the 0editerranean sea.
The final talk of the weekend, by Brian 6canlon, recalls The 6ligo Dock 6trike.
,n , the 6ligo dockworkers and sailors were organised into the 1ational Union of 6ailors and )irePan and the ,TG:U ,rish Transport and General :orkers Union . However, living conditions were terrible in 6ligo with high rates of tuberculosis and poor housing. The ,TG:U aiPed to bring about a socialist organisation of industry through the unionisation of labour using the leverage of a General 6trike.
The dispute began on 0arch . 2ccurring si[ Ponths earlier than the Dublin /ockout, it was regarded as a precursor to that action and a successful application of the ,rish Transport General :orkers Union¶s strategy for workers¶ rights.
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