Slane cllrs told of Lobinstown road's 'terrible condition'

A road leading to the Meade Potato Company premises at Lobinstown is in a terrible condition, Cllr Ann Dillon Gallagher told a meeting of the Slane Electoral Area Council of Meath County Council. She was told the council was proceeding with a new road in the area, to be completed at the end of May. However, she said that the existing road was impassable. They had been fortunate that there had been fairly dry weather recently but she wondered what would happen if rain or snow returned in heavy volume. Area engineer Jim Colwell said that officials were awaiting word from the Department of the Environment & Local Government on the question of funding. He had visited the particular road that Cllr Dillon Gallagher was talking about and he agreed that it was in a bad condition. There was a serious issue with drainage in the area and he had spoken to local farmers on this issue. The work required there was substantial but it would not be possible for the council to carry out any major work there. Cllr Dillon Gallagher asked if the council "could at least throw some material into the holes there". She added: "It is like trying to walk a tightrope in trying to avoid potholes on that road." Cllr Campbell asked if the council could arrange a meeting with farmers to further discuss drainage issues but Cllr Dillon Gallagher said: "We have nothing but meetings, meetings, meetings. We have to at least make a passageway for people to pass through." Acting area manager Bill Sweeney said the last thing that was needed was a "band aid" solution. There were underlying problems with the road which needed to be addressed. The same councillor also raised the condition of a road at Roestown, off French's Lane in Stackallen. However, Mr Colwell said he thought that work had been done on this road. Cllr Dillon Gallagher also asked the officials if it was the case that a company dealing in organic compost would need a licence. She knew of one company taking in material from septic tanks and reprocessing it. Mr Sweeney said he was "almost 99 per cent certain" that a licence was needed. Cllr Sirena Campbell was told by the engineer that road markings required at Piltown Road would not be put down because there was no provision for it in this year's budget. In reply to a query from Cllr Seamus O'Neill, the engineer said that an estate at Commons in Duleek had not yet been taken over by the council. The councillor also asked about potholes at Mount Hanover and Clonalvy. He also raised the question of a faulty manhole cover at Cairns, Bellewstown. When the engineer said that it was expected that major waterworks installation would go ahead in the centre of Duleek, Cllr Jimmy Cudden said that the patience of the people of Duleek was running out over the bad state of the street. "The people of Duleek can't take any more. They have had enough," he claimed. Cllr O'Neill said that, in co-operation with Garda Sergeant Jim Flanagan, a village clean-up would be going ahead in Duleek on 13th March next.