Caragh Manifesto
By James Lawless ~ May 18th, 2009. Filed under: Caragh.
I hope I’ve met most the good folk of Caragh by this stage but if not feel free to get in touch. Here is my list of updates and issues for the village:
Caragh NS: The school was included in September of last year as one of 25 projects which are to progress to tender and construction (RN: 18654A). The project involves the construction of a 15 classroom extension, GP hall and ancillary accommodation for the school. The project is currently progressing through the advanced stages of architectural planning
Estate Issues: I have raised compliance issues with council building control section particularly re Old Chapel Wood and Gingerstown Park estates, in relation to green space and access, and I am also pursuing works outstanding in a number of locations around the village such as drainage issues.
Drainage & Flooding – The road section near the railway bridge needs to be improved to prevent flooding issues. The flooding problem in this area has left the walls and footpaths at the Streams covered in dirt. This problem is also leading to potholes and road erosion. The recently installed water drains at the road edge also require rework and should be inset into the footpaths.
Footpath from Village to Donore/Mondello – The road to Stickens, Donore and Mondello can be dangerous for pedestrians, however, given their close proximity to the village shop, a footpath should be provided to serve these areas. Traffic calming in Donore is also needed along with resurfacing/rebuilding of the village road from the Liffey bridge through to Mondello.
Bus Service – Caragh needs a bus service to Naas and I am already engaging with private operators to progress this. I have proposed the creation of a Prosperous – Caragh – Naas route.
Broadband – Coverage in the village is not consistent and I have been in discussions with Eircom on this – the Caragh exchange is due for upgrade this year.
Playground – I support the provision of playgrounds and play centres right across the constituency. If elected, I would hope to identify a suitable playground site within Caragh village.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:38 am
You have your finger on the pulse.
It’s time someone took Caragh seriously. All the council projects the last 5-10 years have been directed towards the big towns like Naas and Newbridge, while growing villages like Caragh got nothing (and your own village Sallins included).
I hope you can get something done for Caragh in the next 5 years, we feel so neglected.
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Hello James,
I note in your manifesto that you state “you have raised compliance issues with council building control section particularly re Old Chapel Wood and Gingerstown Park estates, in relation to green space and access”
Unfortunately you are part of a long queue of politicians who have raised the issue however what the families require is delivery. When the entry to Old Chapel Wood is finished as per planning you will be deserving of credit, until then you remain in the legions of political promisers. If you have a clear plan of delivery I as Chairperson of Old Chapel Wood residents association would be delighted to meet you.
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Hi John.
My plan is simple – Meet the people – understand the issues – get elected – acquire some powers – use said powers to resolve the issues raised. I am at stage 2 at present. I canvassed Old Chapel quite recently and spoke to a few of your colleagues on the residents committee, I stated at the time my availability to meet with your committee, the offer of course still stands, let me know if you would like to do that and I will happily come out some evening.
In the meantime I will forward you copies of my correspondence with council on the relevant matters. I did understand some work had taken place on the green space recently and I have a planning compliance file raised re the estate access.
As a long serving secretary of my own residents committee I have a reasonable degree of personal experience in handing over issues and taking in charge. I have a good relationship with council officials and am well used to dealing with these matters but you will understand at present I am lobbying as an individual citizen, I would obviously hope to have a little more clout should I be successful next month.
James
May 22nd, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Hi James, best of luck with campaign hopefully you will take a different line to your peers in the Fianna Fail party and put the citizen before the developer. To date your good relationship with the council officials has not advanced the issues in our estate, but in fairness neither have any of the elected officials.
regards
John
May 25th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Thanks John.
I hope to work with you and the committee in future on these issues.
PS Are you the same John Farrelly from Caragh that sought a nomination to run for Fine Gael in the elections this year?
May 27th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Dear James,
The situation is at our entrance but also is an eyesore to any traffic entering the village.At this point innumerate politicians and so called elected representatives have been contacted and each with increasing regularity have done nothing.The problem is the council and laws of this country are only enacted for people who don’t display car tax disc’s or veer over the speed limit and receive the full rigours.Rogue builders are untouched for whatever lame excuses can be found or hidden behind.I not unlike most have a fast developing lack of faith in anyone doing anything to sort this or other issues and have no desire for political posturing but to say the one who does the business will have my vote and many others for the foreseeable future.
Please take the final point on board as it seems lost on so many both locally and on a national basis. You get it done or you don’t and sod what party you better thinking is complexed by, Ian Kelly
May 27th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Hi Ian, I hear you, I have itemised the tasks I would like to tackle on the council, I am asking for the chance to make them happen, if I get elected I hope to be busy working on these issues for you and other residents, if not I will be renewing the golf membership, as I have learned through personal experience there is a limit to what one can achieve from outside the door, hence I am seeking a seat at the table in this election. I have a compliance file open on this with KCC currently but I certainly won’t promise or pretend this issue will be sorted in the next 8 days, what I can promise is that I will work on it with all my ability inside the chamber, if I am given that oppportunity. Cheers James