James Lawless – View from the Tracks

Last week I spoke of the RTÉ enquiry which led to much acrimony within the Waterways estate at the Minister’s comments which contradicted the technical evidence previously presented. The ful episode can be seen here: http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1063707
Similar claims had also been made in local media at the outset, example here:
02 December 2009  Leinster Leader – http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Counting-the-cost-of-the.5876640.jp
Thankfully the local debate [...]

Last night (8th Jan, 2010), RTE Prime Time screened a program on the floods in Sallins, amongst other places.
I spoke to the program makers, on camera, for about thirty minutes, however I did not feature in the eventual program. I did show them around the local landscape and bring them to the site of the [...]

For the benefit of anyone who may have been affected by the recent flooding at Sallins, there is a new page here with pointers to the different resources available.

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Great night had last night at our Waterways benefit night fundraiser, in Boss Byrnes lounge. I was on quizmaster duty and we had a full house, over 25 tables entered and some great prizes, thanks to all our sponsors and supporters. We even had music at the interval, from Sallins latest trad sensations, Sult Na [...]

It’s two weeks now since the Waterways was flooded and there’s a lot of water under the bridge (culvert) since.

A delegation comprised of residents reps and the area councillors has been in talks with the county council about solving the problem longer term. As mentioned in previous post this will involve an upgrade of the [...]

I did a bit of research the last few days. I’ve had a lot of conversations with engineers, with residents in around the waterways and even walked (with the landowners) across farmland in the Kerdiffstown area bordering the Waterways development.  Consensus is now building as to what went wrong and it doesn’t appear that it [...]

A second meeting was held on Wednesday night (2nd December) and the following was agreed -
One group will work with the county councillors to try meet with council officials and press for drains upgrade that is needed at Kerdiffstown. The temporary drain that was dug on Tuesday is still open but this needs to be [...]

Quick update, the water is now gone from the Waterways development. A volunteer team led by local engineer Brendan McCauley dug a trench out across the Kerdiffstown road. The problem was that a stream running behind the Waterways site has historically served as a feeder for the canal and an offrun for surface water from [...]

About this time last year I was concerned about flooding in Johnstown. Now it’s hit even closer to home. The Waterways estate, which I know well as a local development, and home to some good friends is now submerged.

Council response was slow at best, inadequate at worst and a group of us got together yesterday [...]

My proposing speech on local democracy motion:
That this Ard-Fheis calls for the implementation of measures that would provide for greater participation in local democracy. (Sallins Cumann, Kildare North)
Opening
Minister, Teachta Daila, Senators, A delgaidi, etc etc,
It is a great honour to address this Ard Fheis.
Intro
In proposing this motion I intend to address a twin track [...]