Kingscourt's main street is 'falling apart' - Blake

"The main street in Kingscourt is in a deplorable state; it is falling apart," claimed Cllr. David Blake (FG) at Monday's meeting of Cavan County Council when he called for the council to utilise funding that he suggested had been ringfenced for restoration works on this busy thoroughfare. However, Director of Service, Joe McLoughlin, disagreed with Mr. Blake that funding had been ringfenced for a new overlay job of the street and said that the earliest time the council could expect to carry out restoration works was in about 18 months. Seeking an urgent restoration of the street by way of a motion on the agenda, David Blake stated that it was one of the most heavily used thoroughfares in Ireland being the gateway for all the heavy industry located around Kingscourt. According to Cllr. Blake the heavy traffic was placing a terrible toll on the fabric of the street and in some parts the street was completely gone. As well as the pressure from the heavy lorries, the condition of the street was also aggravated by the fact that it was dug up by various services and wasn't properly re-instated. Cllr. Blake praised the work of the local tidy towns committee in Kingscourt but said that despite their valiant efforts it was impossible to keep Main Street clean. While working with the tidy towns committee he was amazed at the level of rubble and dirt driven up on to the centre islands by traffic. "The street is falling apart and from the tidy towns perspective it is a poor image for tourists coming to Kingscourt," said Cllr. Blake. According to the Kingscourt Fine Gael councillor at a meeting back in April 09 between senior staff of the council and the chamber of commerce, it was revealed that money was allocated for the street in Kingscourt but that it was held up because of an RPS traffic management study. Mr. Blake said that this report was due to be completed in July 2009 but it was now July 2010 and it wasn't finalised. "What is the problem with that report and when is it going to be completed? I would seriously call on the management of the council to make funds available for the main street of Kingscourt," said Cllr. Blake. His party colleague Sean McKiernan asked if there was suitable oversight by the council of third parties who carried out works on the street. Also were the council suitably compensated, he asked. Much of the problems seemed to be due to excessive digging, he suggested. All of the other councillors from the Bailieboro electoral area spoke in favour of David Blake's motion. Responding, Director of Service, Joe McLoughlin, said that the traffic management study Cllr. Blake referred to was also carried out in the towns of Cootehill and Bailieboro. Consultation took place with the elected representatives and the reports were finalised. However, there maybe some gap between finalisation of the reports and they being made available to members; although he understood that had taken place. He agreed with Cllr. Blake that Main Street, Kingscourt, needed a complete overlay, the street having been impacted by the major upgrade of the water and sewerage systems in Kingscourt. He said that the council is concentrating its efforts in maintaining the regional and rural roads of the county, which were adversely affected by the harsh winter. He disagreed with Mr. Blake that money was allocated for Kingscourt's Main Street in 2009. It was intended to set aside money from the development levy for such works but the income from that source had shrunk dramatically in recent times. The restoration of Main Street, Kingscourt, must be undertaken in the context of the provision of parking and may be looked at over the next year or 18 months, he said. Cllr. Blake insisted that money was allocated in a capital fund for Kingscourt. Where was that money now, he asked. The councillor further claimed that minutes were available of the meeting in question. Nevertheless, Mr. McLoughlin said that he raised the matter with one of the others present at the meeting and they had a different recollection of what was said to that of Cllr. Blake. Cllr. Blake: The Director of Service at that meeting said that there was money ringfenced for Kingscourt. Mr. McLoughlin: I would imagine that what was said was that money would come in from the development levies and that it would be allocated to the Kingscourt area. Cllr. Blake: That is not what happened. In relation to the opening of the street, work hasn't been properly re-instated after various openings by different contractors. All these contractors are gone and paid and you now have trenches across the street; the openings haven't been properly restored. Mr. McLoughlin didn't regard it as a re-instatement issue; the street required a complete overhaul and re-iterated that the council would try and move resources to this work within the next 18 months. Cllr. Blake: That is not good enough for the ratepayers and the people who pay quite a substantial amount of road tax. It has gone on too long. Chairman (Des Boylan): You have made your point.