Page 3 - COBH EDITION 3rd MAY DIGITAL VERSION

Update from Councillor Cathal Rasmussen April 2019

Over the next month or so work will begin on laying the new water main on Ticknock hill
and the road will be resurfaced by the council once the work is completed. At present
some sections of our roads are still in a very poor state and the council roads section in
conjunction with the local outdoor staff will begin proper reinstatement of sections in and
around the town shortly. I understand people’s frustrations when they see potholes but I
can assure you that I report as many as I am made aware of but I do accept that it is a
difficult battle to win. I have been working with the residents in the Belvelly area to try
and assist them in their plight to have their desperate water situation resolved. These
residents have had to endure rusty water for years but hopefully there is light at the end
of the tunnel with plans to begin laying the new water main from Ballard Hill all the way
down to Belvelly. The work will hopefully start in the next month or so but in the mean-
time the water cannot be safely used and it is causing huge strain on the residents. At
the same time I am working with the residents from Belvelly all the way into the dock-
yard area in an effort to try and find a solution to the lack of a proper sewerage system.
Again the issue is complex but
I recently facilitated a meeting between residents and Irish Water and we are looking at
a plan to solve the long term problem. Contracts were signed recently for the laying of
the underwater pipe from Cobh for the lower harbour scheme with this part expected to
begin in August. We are still waiting the official date for work to begin in the town itself
but it now looks as if it will be towards the end of the year.

The issue of the right of way at the five foot way is causing much discussion over the last
period. I completely understand the local opposition and I am hoping that some sort of
compromise will be worked out by all sides in the dispute.

Over the last months the issue of some drivers speeding in and around the town has be-
ing raised. I had a motion at our last meeting looking for traffic calming in many areas
of the town such as the Tay Road, Coolamber, College Drive, and Cuskinny, near the
Cathedral and also near the entrance to Cluain Ard. This request has also once again
included pedestrian crossings, signage and possible ramps. While the council are slow
to include ramps they are looking at a number of areas to try and make them safer and
I am awaiting a report back at our next meeting. I also requested the council to install
public lighting in the Carrigaloe area and this has been agreed to subject to an assess-
ment. Work is also due to start on repairing the dangerous boundary wall at Carriagloe
as well. Repairs are due to be done to railings at the five foot way which I reported and
also to the uprights holding the lifebuoys at this popular walkway.
As we all know parking in and around the town is a constant problem due to the lack of
spaces. I have been working away on a plan with some of the local schools and council
officials which will allow parking for visitors to take place in a number of our school yards
over the busy summer period. The plan will be announced shortly and hopefully the extra
spaces in the school yards will help to alleviate the pressures of visitors driving aim-
lessly around looking for parking. The work of our tidy town volunteers should never be
under estimated and with this in mind I secured support at our recent council meeting to
supplement grants already agreed to them to give them more funding from the pay for
parking dividend this year towards the great work they do for the people of Cobh
.
If I can help in any way feel free to contact me on 0868878421 or rosemount-
cobh1@eircom.net