By Dan Walsh at Wexford County Council meeting
Fresh from the Local Elections with some newly elected members attending their inaugural meeting of Wexford County Council at Council Chamber, County Hall, this afternoon (Monday), the July meeting had a pre-holiday atmosphere, and one sensed the countdown to a General Election has started. Cllr Pip Breen, Cathaoirleach, presided.
There was an endless line of dialogue and questioning of officials and, again, it appeared as if many members were bringing to the chamber issues, some new, but most of them historic at this point, that had arisen during canvass on the doorsteps!
Cllr Aidan Browne raised the matter of the Boil Water Notice on the Ferns Water Treatment Plant. Cllrs Barbara-Anne Murphy, Cathal Byrne and Jackser Owens added their ‘disappointment’ in the delay at Uisce Éireann in this matter, However, Eamonn Hore, Deputy Executive and Director of Services, shocked them with his reply which stated that the Boil Water Notice at Ferns is likely to continue for another 2/3 weeks!
Cllr Garry Laffan raised many road matters including the completion of the Oylegate to Rosslare motorway and other road issues related to Larkin’s Cross, Tomcole Cross and Kyle Cross. In reply, Mr Hore spoke of a delay in plans for the motorway including the provision of a service station every 50kms which has been added to the completion plans. Cllr John Dwyer mentioned the N25 at Ballinaboola. Cllr Jim Codd knows there the oldest pothole in Co. Wexford is! “It is a 50 years old pothole”, he said and called for more maintenance for rural roads.
Cllr George Lawlor spoke of issues at Hookless Village which he described as “a death trap” and demanded urgent action.
Cllr AoifeRose O’Brien asked about the proposed Wexford-Rosslare greenway.
Cllr Joe Sullivan wanted to know if there are new reports of pyrite affecting buildings and asked about the Council’s role in helping those affected.
Cllr Barbara-Anne Murphy asked about the Local Development Plan for Enniscorthy town and Cllr Jackser Owens also referred to the Plan and claimed that “taking 104 car parking spaces from the town centre is going to kill the town.” Cllr Owens also raised issues about the Murphy-Flood’s site in the town centre and wanted to know when demolition begins and called for more loudspeakers to be made available at the graveyard in the town during the forthcoming Patron.
Cllr Pat Kehoe asked about trimming back overgrown hedges to ensure health and safety on country roads. Chief Executive Eddie Taaffe assured Cllr Kehoe that any decision taken by a farmer in the interest of safety is guaranteed the backing of the Council.
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