SPC 2 - Minutes

Minutes of Strategic Policy Committee 2 – Environment & Infrastructure Meeting held on 12th September 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Council Chamber, County Hall, Sligo.


ATTENDANCE:

  • Councillor Thomas Walsh, Cathaoirleach
  • Councillor Michael Clarke

 

REPRESENTATIVES:

  • Ms Joan Swift (Environment Pillar Sectoral Rep)
  • Ms Sharon Eastwood (Community & Voluntary Sectoral Rep)
  • Mr Michael O Dowd (IFA)

 

OFFICIALS:

  • Ms Emer Concannon, A/Director of Services
  • Mr Tom Brennan Senior Engineer
  • Mr Thomas Kerins, A/ Senior Executive Engineer
  • Mr Conleth Whelan, Assistant Engineer
  • Ms Imelda McCarron, Administrative Officer

 

APOLOGIES

  • Councillor Donal Gilroy
  • Caroline McManus
  • Fineen O’Driscoll
  • Conor McCarthy

 

1. Confirmation of Minutes

Minutes of Meeting held on 13th June 2023 were adopted, proposed by Councillor Thomas Walsh and seconded by Joan Swift.

 

2. Matters Arising

None.

 

3. Car Parking / Parking Places Bye Laws

Thomas Kerins gave a presentation on the Car Parking / Parking Places Bye Laws and advised that the next step would public consultation before being adopted by the Council.

A discussion followed and the following points were raised:

  • Provision for sufficient EV Charging Points.
  • Need for community groups and residents to be able to feed into the consultation process.
  • Improvement in the number of disabled parking bays.
  • Importance of clear signage required for parking meters in town, particularly the parking zone needs to be clearly displayed (Holborn Street mentioned in particular).
  • Importance of promoting Connaughton Road car parks properly to visitors.
  • Importance of Bye Laws taking into consideration other National Policies such as Climate Change (Road Space allocation to reduce emissions and Safe to School Routes).
  • Possibility of monitoring the air quality beside the areas where car parks are being removed and reviewing them once the parking has been removed/reduced to see the improvement in air quality.

Staff were commended for their input to date. It was confirmed that the Bye Laws would be an evolving document but for now it enables enforcement of the existing situation.

 

4. Update on Major Infrastructure Projects

Emer Concannon gave an update on the following:

  • N17 Knock to Collooney [Atlantic Economic Corridor] project.
  • N16 Lugatober Scheme
  • Sligo Greenway Projects

Tom Brennan gave an update on the Eastern Garvogue Bridge Scheme.

A discussion followed and the following points were raised:

  • Engineering methods being used on the Eastern Garvogue Bridge Scheme to ensure it’s a traffic calmed route and will not be used as an alternative to the N4 for traffic and HGVs.
  • Commendation to staff for progressing the Eastern Garvogue Bridge Scheme so far.
  • N17 is being progressed still through the normal procedures. €2.4m being sought as part of the 2024 budget for environmental and cost reports to help bring the route to detailed design stage. Council is waiting to hear if that money will be awarded. The wider perception that the N17 is paused or stopped is incorrect.
  • Request for Emer Concannon and Councillor Thomas Walsh to meet with the N17 Road Safety group to discuss ongoing issues – EC and TW to meet with MO’D after meeting to agree a date.
  • A dedicated engineer is currently working on Road Safety issues on the N17. Two junctions are listed for priority. EC to confirm which 2 junctions.
  • Discussion on the validity of the current rail network for return to public transport or development of Greenways
  • Request for an update on the N17 works to be added to the agenda for the next meeting

 

5. Update on current Active Travel Programme

Tom Brennan presented the report on the Active Travel Programme, a very detailed programme of works being delivered by Sligo County Council.

A discussion followed and the following points were noted:

  • Several Safe to School routes have received funding but Council is awaiting on design proposals before being implemented by the Active Travel team, so they have not been included in the report at this time.
  • Carraroe – Sligo project is currently at the Options stage; the consultant has been given various options and is exploring feasibility of each to select the most suitable design. Joint approach with SLNCR coming to Carraroe is required.
  • Links with the Biodiversity Officer for the Active Travel and Road’s schemes is important.
  • Need highlighted for Active Travel team to improve Consultation options – particularly in-person opportunities rather than exclusively online consultations.
  • Request for an agenda item for a future meeting; the importance of bus timetabling, particularly at weekends. Councillors Walsh and Clarke are to raise the issue at the next meeting with NTA and Local Link.

 

6. Taking in Charge rural roads

Agreed this item would be removed from the agenda. Policy has been approved and adopted by Council.

 

7. Update on Roads Schedule

Motion came before Council. Staff are in the process of digitising the Roads Schedule. Should any queries arise to the classification of a road, the Roads Department can be contacted.

 

8. Summer 2023

Imelda McCarron gave an update to the meeting on Summer 2023.

A discussion followed and the following points were noted:

  • Information to be shared during lifeguard recruitment process in 2024 regarding hours available for work.
  • Need for beach mats was highlighted, particularly for those who cannot transfer out of their own wheelchair into one of the beach wheelchairs.
  • Confirmed at Plenary meeting that Council is seeking the private sector to develop facilities for camper vans.
  • IMcC to investigate possibility of putting up a sign in places like Dunmoran informing camper vans where best to dispose of their waste.
  • IMcC to explore the possibility of holding 4no. Waste Collection days in 2024 dependant on resourcing and funding from the Department.

 

9. Any Other Business

Noted that the Air Show at Strandhill was well received but for 2024, if the event was to go ahead public transport and active travel provision would be explored further.

 

10. To confirm date for the next SPC2 Meeting

Date of the next SPC Meeting 05th December 2023.

Councillor T. Walsh thanked everyone for attending. Meeting concluded at 1.10 pm.


Meeting Date 12/09/2023