Raw sewage is running into rivers in both Tullow and Clonmore, according to two County Councillors.
The claims were made at last Monday's Council meeting, when Cllr. John Pender said that raw sewage was running into the Slaney in Tullow.
Stating that it was an absolute disgrace that it hasn't been cleared up,' Cllr. Pender said that the situation was worsened by the fine weather.
Cllr. P.J. Kavanagh also made a similar complaint about sewage running into a stream from a housing estate in Clonmore.
When is Clonmore going to get its sewerage system updated?' he asked.
The recent fine weather also highlighted a problem in Bagenalstown's McGrath Hall, Cllr. Denis Foley told the assembled Councillors.
He said that the smell of sewage in the hall was so bad that a meeting had to be abandoned.
Replying to Cllr. Foley, Director of Services, Mr. Eamonn Walsh, said that the drains in the area were to be cleaned. To Cllr. Pender, he said that while there was some work completed in Tullow, there was more to be done.
Carlow People
Showing posts with label carlow planners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carlow planners. Show all posts
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Friday, 1 June 2007
Rainwater being harvested in new housing development
The housing development at Milford Park in Ballinabranagh is being used for an interesting pilot scheme involving harvestable rainwater.
Three control houses are being monitored for water use at the moment, while three new rainwater harvesting facilities are being installed in a further three houses, with three more planned by the end of the year.
The main aims of the project are to quantify the amount of harvestable rainwater in an Irish location, and to quantify the water savings from same.
The project will also help develop water conservation measures to reduce the demand in rural group water schemes.
While harvested rainwater is not suitable for drinking, it can be used for flushing toilets, watering gardens and and washing laundry.
This week Cllr. Rody Kelly welcomed the project and said that he cannot wait for the results of the tests.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Mary White also welcomed the measure, and saw it as a positive step in the face of climate change.
Water is going to be our most precious resource because of climate change. Parts of the South East will be arid by 2015 if we don't do something now,' she said.
Cllr. Joe MacDonald however said that people needed to be educated about rainwater harvesting. I have two plastic drums full of rainwater, that I use on my flowers and gardens. It's all about education. I don't think it's new or super technology or anything,' he said.
The results of the project will be available in a few months time, when they will be presented to both the planning and environment SPC's of the Council.
© Carlow People
Three control houses are being monitored for water use at the moment, while three new rainwater harvesting facilities are being installed in a further three houses, with three more planned by the end of the year.
The main aims of the project are to quantify the amount of harvestable rainwater in an Irish location, and to quantify the water savings from same.
The project will also help develop water conservation measures to reduce the demand in rural group water schemes.
While harvested rainwater is not suitable for drinking, it can be used for flushing toilets, watering gardens and and washing laundry.
This week Cllr. Rody Kelly welcomed the project and said that he cannot wait for the results of the tests.
Meanwhile, Cllr. Mary White also welcomed the measure, and saw it as a positive step in the face of climate change.
Water is going to be our most precious resource because of climate change. Parts of the South East will be arid by 2015 if we don't do something now,' she said.
Cllr. Joe MacDonald however said that people needed to be educated about rainwater harvesting. I have two plastic drums full of rainwater, that I use on my flowers and gardens. It's all about education. I don't think it's new or super technology or anything,' he said.
The results of the project will be available in a few months time, when they will be presented to both the planning and environment SPC's of the Council.
© Carlow People
Carlow farmers may be wiped out
A Carlow County Councillor has predicted that there will be no farmers left in the county in the next ten years, as fewer young people farm the land.
Cllr. Tom Kinsella said that the recent election canvass trail has thrown up a depressing observation of the farming community.
It's hard to find one full time farmer under the age of 50 in Carlow,' he said, adding that there didn't appear to be any interest at Government level about the dwindling number of small farms.
There are more rules and regulations in farming all the time. If you have one hen you have to have it registered. One cow, and you have to have it tagged. I don't think there are as many regulations for humans,' he said.
We have already lost the best industry we had with beet production. Farmers can't sell sheep in Ireland any more. They are importing sheep from Brazil and selling it as Irish.'
There won't be any farmers in Carlow in a few years,' Cllr. Kinsella said.
© Carlow People
Cllr. Tom Kinsella said that the recent election canvass trail has thrown up a depressing observation of the farming community.
It's hard to find one full time farmer under the age of 50 in Carlow,' he said, adding that there didn't appear to be any interest at Government level about the dwindling number of small farms.
There are more rules and regulations in farming all the time. If you have one hen you have to have it registered. One cow, and you have to have it tagged. I don't think there are as many regulations for humans,' he said.
We have already lost the best industry we had with beet production. Farmers can't sell sheep in Ireland any more. They are importing sheep from Brazil and selling it as Irish.'
There won't be any farmers in Carlow in a few years,' Cllr. Kinsella said.
© Carlow People
Friday, 16 March 2007
Issue of planning objections debated
'Professional objectors' are objecting to developments in Bagenalstown inhibiting progress, Bagenalstown Town Council heard last week.
A discussion about the overhang at the new credit union quickly veered off topic at last week's meeting of Bagenalstown Town Council when Cllr. Paddy Kiely said that when it came to planning in Bagenalstown some people got it and other people didn't.
Cllr. Margaret Cushen however pointed out that it was the right of everyone to make submissions.
'I never said they were not entitled to but you have professional objectors objecting in Bagenalstown. All the latest objectors are members of Bagenalstown Environmental Association (BEA).
'These are certain individuals who are objecting the whole time. They ran Niall Quinn, a international footballer who could have put Bagenalstown on the map, out of town.'
Trying to bring order to the proceedings Cathaoirleach Margaret Cushen said 'this is not part of what we are meant to be discussing'.
However Cllr. Denis Foley continued on in the same vein as Cllr. Kiely. 'We are going to lose a hotel for Bagenalstown now [because An Bord Pleanala refused permission] and section 23 is gone too. A hotel is a long-term investment. I wanted it for the town and now we are not going to get it.
'Other developments in the town are in jeopardy too. We can put gates and locks at each end of the town and say developers are not welcome. We are not developing the way we should be.'
Cllr. John Clarke asked Cllr. Cushen, who is a member of the BEA, if it put her in an awkward position.
'I have no problem with being a member and will continue to be a member.'
Cllr. Kiely however was not appeased. 'These people are unconstitutional. We are under threat from them. I was talking to one developer who said he was moving to Tullow while another said if you wanted permission in Bagenalstown from Carlow County Council you had to have a meeting with the BEA first.'
Cllr. Cushen said An Bord Pleanala were a totally independent body and once submissions were made to them they sent an independent inspector to the site and made up their own mind.
© Carlow People
A discussion about the overhang at the new credit union quickly veered off topic at last week's meeting of Bagenalstown Town Council when Cllr. Paddy Kiely said that when it came to planning in Bagenalstown some people got it and other people didn't.
Cllr. Margaret Cushen however pointed out that it was the right of everyone to make submissions.
'I never said they were not entitled to but you have professional objectors objecting in Bagenalstown. All the latest objectors are members of Bagenalstown Environmental Association (BEA).
'These are certain individuals who are objecting the whole time. They ran Niall Quinn, a international footballer who could have put Bagenalstown on the map, out of town.'
Trying to bring order to the proceedings Cathaoirleach Margaret Cushen said 'this is not part of what we are meant to be discussing'.
However Cllr. Denis Foley continued on in the same vein as Cllr. Kiely. 'We are going to lose a hotel for Bagenalstown now [because An Bord Pleanala refused permission] and section 23 is gone too. A hotel is a long-term investment. I wanted it for the town and now we are not going to get it.
'Other developments in the town are in jeopardy too. We can put gates and locks at each end of the town and say developers are not welcome. We are not developing the way we should be.'
Cllr. John Clarke asked Cllr. Cushen, who is a member of the BEA, if it put her in an awkward position.
'I have no problem with being a member and will continue to be a member.'
Cllr. Kiely however was not appeased. 'These people are unconstitutional. We are under threat from them. I was talking to one developer who said he was moving to Tullow while another said if you wanted permission in Bagenalstown from Carlow County Council you had to have a meeting with the BEA first.'
Cllr. Cushen said An Bord Pleanala were a totally independent body and once submissions were made to them they sent an independent inspector to the site and made up their own mind.
© Carlow People
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