Kells councillors and Oldcastle chamber trade past 'spats" for support

IT was a cordial meeting between Kells area councillors and Oldcastle Chamber of Commerce last Monday when Chamber officers stressed their support for council initiatives on infrastructural projects in the town. Chamber officers Gerry Farrelly and Stephen Patterson joined councillors at their meeting in Athboy and past 'spats' between the two bodies seemed to evaporate. Mr Farrelly said their focus was improving road access to Oldcastle from the M3, road signage improvements and more public lighting. Oldcastle had one of the highest employment levels in the region, with trucks leaving local plants from 3am. The Chamber welcomed the current works at Patrickstown but road signs for local tourism spots and on approach roads were needed or required improvement. He welcomed the investment in roads, the town"s new sewage scheme and current optimisation works as well as the prospect of some extra lights. Area engineer Shane Carroll said a detailed study on signage in Oldcastle had been carried out by the technical office, which would be 'actively followed up' in coming weeks. He had discussed amenity funding to be spent in the town with the Tidy Towns Committee but there was no current funding for bollards, which the Chamber had pressed for. Signage on the M3 had been raised with the Project Office and the NRA, which had been notified of all tourism points in the north of the county, said area manager Brendan McGrath. A comprehensive programme had been promised and a NRA representative would attend the next Kells area meeting. Oldcastle was 'a phenomenal business area, with world-class businesses in the most unusual locations'. Not all of the link road to the M3 would be done since it was one project competing with other important links such as Connaught Street, Athboy. Some funding had been provided for land acquisition at Patrickstown Hill while there was a commitment to fund more improvements on that road. Cllr Michael Lynch noted the €600,000 roads co-funding with the EU but pointed out much of this would go on design work. He welcomed the provision of seven extra lights on Oldcastle"s approach roads. Kells area councillors had supported everything he raised '100 per cent', he added. Those lights were being provided under the three-year programme on renewing the county"s public lights, funded by a €1.5million loan, said Mr McGrath. Councillors Liz McCormack and Bryan Reilly commended the efforts of Cllr Lynch to secure funding for Oldcastle. She said all councillors were disappointed by one critical letter (from the Chamber) to the Council. It was difficult for the six Kells area members to make their case on a Council of 29. Cllr John Farrelly said efforts to secure more signposting for the area had not proven 'over-successful' but progress might now be made. Cllr Eugene Cassidy welcomed the 'realistic list' from the Chamber, noting Oldcastle was one among many towns seeking funding from 'a pot just so big'. The town"s Traffic Management Plan would go on public display by mid to late September, said Mr McGrath. The non-pay system aimed to make those taking up spaces around the Square all day to park on the Fair Green, but would have to be enforced by gardaí, who had made clear they had many other commitments. The current scheme could be in operation by next February. Oldcastle"s central parking spaces were being held up by commuters, staff and property owners leaving cars there all day, when they should park on the renovated Fair Green. The bye-laws would improve things nonetheless, while the optimisation project on the town sewerage system would ease current problems ahead of the 2010 completion of the new scheme there. Work on the sewerage optimisation scheme could start by years end, with the contract likely to be signed in December, said Mr Carroll. That scheme had been fast-tracked thanks to the work of officials, said Cllr Lynch. His talks with the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board indicated that smaller building projects might now encounter no objections, as the capacity was there to cope with them. Mr Farrelly thanked members and officials and paid tribute to Cllr Lynch"s 'great work'. He reminded everyone that the Chamber had been formed to assist the town, not to undermine the work of local representatives.