Obviously this would be very welcome but we have had false starts before. This is probably the most concrete update I have had though so hopefully it will happen this time.

On a separate note I am trying to get the station cleaned up for the Tidy Towns at present. Am sure all readers of this blog are model citizens with regard to litter etc but if everyone could make a special effort as the tidy towns judging is running at present and the station cost them points last year.

Bio Energy Plant
A huge number of objections were received by Kildare county council against the proposed bio-energy complex at Monread / Kerdiffstown. The upshot of this was that the council refused planning permission for the proposed facility. The owner now has five weeks to appeal this decision. Residents or interested parties can also make a submission on the appeal.

NB Whilst the proposed facility is located adjacent to the existing Kerdiffstown dump, however the proposal comes in from a separate party, an M&M Coldstores company.

Existing Kerdiffstown Dump
After almost three years of filing by the EPA the high court granted a temporary injunction against the A1 waste facility at Kerdiffstown on Friday 14th May. This prevents A1 from lodging any further waste into this landfill. A question then arises as to how the estimated 1.5 million tonnes of unprocessed waste in the landfill is to be cleaned up. I have raised this question with the Minister and it is also being pursued by a number of parties including the EPA and the CAN (Clean Air Naas) group (www.can.ie).

Extension to Kerdiffstown Dump
Although the existing dump has now been shut down, at least temporarily, the council simultaneously granted planning permission for the construction of a new dump on an adjoining 26 acre site across the road from the existing plant. The council maintain that each planning proposal is dealt with on its own merits and this application satisfied the various grounds. However this new extension has yet to receive a license from the EPA and that application process will be ongoing through the Summer.

Please see attached map for the location of the above three sites. At any stage residents can continue to report odours to EPA on (01)268 0100 and these will all be logged and referenced in future cases and applications to extend / continue operations.

My key timetable points below:

Naas & Sallins Rail Users Group – NASRUG

Timetable Feedback 2010.

Submitted: James Lawless
(Contact 086 834 8869, james@jameslawless.ie)

Morning ex Sallins

Problem: Too large a gap between 8.15 and 8.59
Solution: Restore 8.15 to 8.25 or add new train 8.30?

Evening ex Heuston

Problem: Gap between 18.50, 20.10, 21.10
Solution: Reschedule as 19.30, 20.22, 21.10?

Connecting Trains

Problem: Commuters charged extra for making connections e.g. via Newbridge
Solution: Allow season ticket holders this flexibility.

Capacity

Problem: Some trains now running as three carriages
Solution: Allow extra carriages on busier trains (e.g. 7.45 ex Sallins)

Sundays & Bank Holidays

Problem: No evening Sunday service home (last train departs 6.15pm)
Solution: Schedule later Sunday evening service, e.g. 7.30pm or 8pm

Problem: No bank holiday service at all
Solution: Run Sunday or other reduced service level on bank holidays.

(Later Sunday service especially important during championship summers!)

Minor Flood Relief & Coastal Protection Programme 2010 - Kildare County Council

• Butterstream, Clane Construction of flood relief structures €356,142
• Ardclough Construction / Replacement of canal & road crossings €306,410
• Confey, Leixlip Upgrade culvert €66,556
• Newtown, Kilcock Construct overflow pipeline €237,912

Total  €967,020

I am disappointed to note that Killeenmore, Sallins is omitted also no mention of Johnstown (although this may have been allocated separately as was discussed in detail at council recently). Much work has recently been completed at Kerdiffstown Sallins to address the culvert issue which caused the Waterways flooding but there may need to be additional measures there in time also.

Killeenmore is in most urgent need of flood relief works and I will be asking why the omission.

Meeting Report

NASRUG met with Irish Rail on Monday 25th March.

Present for NASRUG: James Lawless, John Cunniffe, Conor McGarry

Present for Irish Rail: Myles McHugh

1. Timetable

JL queried whether a new timetable could be introduced Summer 2010 due to KRP concluding. MMcH stated that line capacity in place but dependency on rolling stock. Stock on order for delivery 2011. Passenger numbers down at present. Next timetable to be introduced November 2010. Agreed a dedicated meeting would be held Autumn for timetable inputs.

JL Asked whether Docklands station might allow Phoenix park tunnel trains into town – answer no because Meath on track about to link in there via new line at Pace.

2. Punctuality

MMcH acknowledged punctuality had been an issue from Nov 09 thru Jan 10. Measures taken in Jan 10 by IR seem be working. NASRUG acknowledged recent improvement. Noted the 6.31am train still unreliable. MMcH to check this service.

3. Station Upgrade

JL asked when would the station upgrade finally take place? MMcH said that Sallins had “fallen between gaps” with KRP on one side and intercity station revamps on the other. Said design now in progress. Aiming provide disability access by end 2010. Dependent on department transport funding but MMcH said department had always supported disability projects to date. CCTV and other upgrades planned alongside. Access may not take form of lift possibly overhead ramp and bridge instead.

4. Miscellaneous

Smart cards currently being rolled out on DART line, may be rolled out later in year on Sallins line. Discussed repair work at station car park including broken bollards and patch ground. Useful discussion on future of underground carpark also. Asked whether bike rack can be secured with concrete, MMcH to progress. JC raised late boarding of 17.35 MMcH to investigate. Announcements raised (as always) and mismatched station announcements.

5. Infrastructure

Metro West investment received EU approval last week. Interconnector at advanced stage design.

————————————————————————————————————————

Coincidentally an article appeared in some local media last week surrounding the disability access issues at the station and suggesting the issue was in hand - sample coverage:(http://www.leinsterleader.ie/news/Sallins-train-station-to-get.6176342.jp).

The reports (which obviously followed the script of a press release) did not relate to what was discussed at the meeting, the information (for what it was worth) was not shared with those of us attending the meeting and I would have to wonder as to its timing and why this was released within the same week as the ‘official’ set piece meeting was due to take place. Could it have been an attempt to hog the headlines and displace the ‘official’ meeting in news cycles? Or am I too cynical?

 In brief the plant would ‘compost’ organic waste materials to produce an effluent gas which would then be converted to power / electricity. This is a renewable energy source and has the dual benefit of disposing of waste materials whilst producing essential energy. Such plants are common on the continent and in use in many countries. I am not aware of another in Ireland at present although I am open to correction on that.

Kerdiffstown and surrounding areas (Sallins / Kill / Johnstown / North Naas) have suffered at the hands of waste disposal for some time, with the nefarious Neiphim Trading causing serious problems on the Kerdiffstown road over a period of years cluminating this year when the odours reached an all time high (low?) and in some cases people were literally forced to flee their homes in the surrounding area. Whilst it was always an issue for people on the road, amazingly in the surrounding areas until recently there were those who remained unaware of the problem. I remember people asking me what it was when I mentioned the issues in a newsletter at one stage during the local election campaign. However the past twelve months brought the issue into stark relief as the stench really extended to pollute the atmosphere for miles around. Just this week a high court injunction forced the place into some kind of compliance and the end may be in sight there.

This hangover bodes poorly for another waste disposal facility in the same vicinity. A new applicant, M&M Coldstores, have applied for planning at a nearby site. Their proposal is for a bio-energy plant as mentioned above and the facility would create 50 new jobs once opened. The applicants also claim the facility would consume waste from the surrounding area and return energy to the same locations. Considering we currently purchase energy on the international markets I would be very interested in the technicalities of keeping it local if it could be achieved. (Am a little sceptical until I hear them unfortunately.)

There has been widespread alarm about the proposed facility, a central concern being that it may process thousands of tons of animal carcasses. I gather this is not planned by the operators although the sought permission would enable it were it to be granted. This in itself not necessarily a bad concept, unpleasant as the idea is, the output of killing floors must go somewhere and at least in the best Catholic tradition “from ashes to ashes, from dust to dust” a natural circle converting the waste matter back to energy for the living. Esoterics aside I do not believe this will happen at this site in any event, even if the plant does go ahead.

On a very practical level I would have concerns re the proposals on the following grounds:

• Traffic volumes in Sallins and Monread are already very high and would struggle to absorb more HGVs
• The EPA has not inspired confidence in its dealings with the other Kerdiffstown facility; if these are the regulators then I am afraid in recent times the law has been shown to be an ass.
• Proximity to residential areas is very acute. An even slightly more removed site would be preferable.

There are also many technical arguments on the nature of the scientific processes used although these as always are open to expert debate. I think the more local practical problems are enough of a challenge at this point. I have seen some good letters of objection doing the rounds and I include one here.

UPDATE: I learned overnight that the site location is currently zoned ‘Agricultural’. In planning terms, this means that a change of use proposal would have to go before the council to allow this be zoned ‘Industrial’. This would require a majority of Councillors voting to override the existing planning status in what is called a ‘material contravention’. I cannot really see this happening on something as contentious as this and therefore I would be very surprised at this point were this facility to go ahead.

The map above shows some the areas affected. The Morrell river flows under the canal and alongside the railway. When it overflows the culverts under railway see it spill over onto nearby fields & houses.

We discussed the root causes which included increased drainage demands from infrastuctural developments ranging from the M7 upgrade to the railway tracks. Some work was done at the time of the motorway upgrade, including upgrading of bridges and some banking of ditches but a lot more is now needed. In a sense the problem is constantly moving downstream as the issues at Johnstown are now manifesting in places like Killeenmór and the neighbouring Turnings townland. The Painestown and Morrell rivers intersect and both join the Liffey eventually.

A comprehensive drainage landscape survey is required and I understand from Deputy Fitzpatrick’s office, that this is underway involving both the Office of Public Works and Kildare County Council. The full course of the Morrell has been walked by officials and a report should be drawn up shortly to see what’s needed.

A report was drawn up some years ago but never implemented, or at least only partially, however I feel the political will is onboard now to make something happen. I will stay close to it and keep the pressure on.

I have been down at the location a few times recently when this has happened and I brought Michael Fitzpatrick TD with me on Saturday morning. We drove around courtesy of a resident in a 4×4 as no normal car could get through the feet of water across the road. I know Councillor Liam Doyle also visited later that day. Anecodotal evidence suggests the situation has worsened since the motorway upgrade as surplus surface water increasingly swells the streams.

There is a small aqueduct by the 14th lock where the Morell goes under the canal and it is just downstream of this that the problem occurs. At the aqueduct there is a sluice gate beside Kileen golf club which appears to be perennially closed. Whilst this does not cause the problem it doesn’t help matters either.

I feel a comprehensive drainage report needs to be compiled for the whole region from Ardclough down to Johnstown. Whilst this straddles at least two electoral areas (Clane and Naas) it needs to be considered in tandem. We have been in touch with both areas about this and I hope to arrange a meeting onsite shortly. Will post here with updates.

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 has moved on in light of technical investigation and informed commentary from residents and engineers, however the prime time remarks represented a setback.

I spoke to Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick about this after the program and he raised the issue in the Oireachtas this week as follows:

Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I shall be brief. I shall mention one or two matters in relation to the flooding and move on to more recent events. There was not that much flooding in Kildare, but nonetheless it was very severe. Some of this was caused by the Liffey, as I mentioned earlier, and the way in which it is managed. We need to examine carefully how the Liffey is managed, because while it is flooding in Clane, it then starts to move down to the Strawberry Beds in Dublin, so there is a whole ripple effect.

Perhaps I can ask Mr. Dowling about the Waterways in Sallins. It was flooded very badly, mainly because of blocked drains and outlets. It would not have been flooded at all if proper maintenance had been done before the event. In a recent television comment, the Minister made reference to the Waterways and said the name indicated the development had been built on a flood plain. I have known this area for many years and it was not built on a flood plain, but rather on what was formerly a pitch and putt course, in a strategic location close to the railway station. It got its name from the Grand Canal which runs through the village and the promotional literature when the development was being sold highlighted the canal as a very special amenity, which it is. Comments such as that are very severe on the people now living in those houses, if they want to sell a house in the Waterways since the Minister has indicated it was built on a flood plain. The position needs to be clarified in the public arena about this particular estate. I appeal to the officials and indeed, the Minister, to clearly state that this enormous estate which contains all the infrastructure needed for a proper development, is not built on a flood plain.

Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I have one more question for Mr. Dowling, whose answer he may communicate to the committee later. I made a comment earlier about waterways in Sallins. A statement was made by the Minister on television which has the potential to devalue properties in the area substantially and many people are under stress due to this. Most of them are in negative equity at the moment and if his comments stood up, it would be serious for them.

Chairman: I will assist the Deputy. He has raised the matter and the committee will write to the Minister in this regard. We will try to obtain a transcript of the Minister’s comments. I saw the broadcast myself and I remember a certain phrase he used about the name of the estate, but I did not think of the consequences for the estate. We will obtain a transcript and ask the Minister to clarify his comments. We will write to the Minister rather than ask Mr. Dowling.

The full transcript can be seen here.

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 culvert etc where they interviewed both myself and Brendan McCauley (who did make the program for about 5 seconds!).

The technical information was not bad however the program gave the impression of a state of inertia. I feel that whilst there were many faults preceding the situation (principally lack of any maintenance on the culverts) there has been progress since which was not reflected. In the immediate aftermath, a number of meetings were held and a dedicated committee was setup to progress the engineering issues with the council. That committee had a meeting with the council before Christmas and I understand all sides viewed it as positive. Since then the council have begun a drainage survey of the surrounding lands and I believe the target is to have an upgraded culvert in place by month end.

So things do appear to be happening, albeit at a slow pace. I do not imagine there will be further public meetings however I expect the committee that was formed arising from the initial meetings will be getting together and furthering their work with the council. As I have further updates, I will post on here.

One remark that was most unhelpful was that from the Minister, John Gormely TD.  He remarked, almost flippantly at the end, that the estate was “built on a flood plain” and what would the residents expect? A casual remark, in my view and an uninformed one at that. I have stated in the past exactly why I believe the Waterways flooded and a flood plain does not come into it. I have raised this with Deputy Fitzpatrick and he is seeking a clarification with the Minister so the correct facts can be put on record from the department.