Knockbounce waste: awaiting decision

Kilcullen Community Action is to wait on a planning decision on the proposed waste and recycling plant at Knockbounce Business Park before deciding on whether a public meeting on the issue should be called, writes Brian Byrne.

The matter was discussed at the most recent KCA meeting, at which where details of the response by the promoter to requests by the Council for further information were outlined.

KCA is one of a significant number of groups and individuals who have submitted objections to the planning application.

During the discussion, JJ Warren raised the matter of whether KCA wanted to be seen as an organisation which is 'stopping employment' in the town?

It was decided that any prior public meeting on the issue would be pre-empting the local authority's planning decision.

TD asks for action on derelict house

A request that Kildare County Council board up a problematical derelict house in Kilcullen has been made by local TD Martin Heydon, writes Brian Byrne.

The premises on Hillside has been a location for antisocial behaviour for a considerable time, and has been raised at a number of meetings of Kilcullen Community Action.

The most recent meeting of KCA discussed the intervention by Deputy Heydon, and agreed that there should be as much support as possible from both KCA and the community.

The meeting was also told that the owners of neighbouring properties had been asked by An Garda to report every incidence of trespass and antisocial behaviour on the property.

It was also reported that Kildare County Council has been in touch with the owners of the property in relation to its Derelict Buildings policy.

It is understood that the property may soon go to sale.

Under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, local authorities can take measures to prevent and control Derelict Sites within their administrative area.

A Derelict Site as defined under this Act means any land which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of the existence on the land in question of structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition; or the neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land of any structures on the land in question.

'Cinderella' this week

The Stage 2 pupils' presentation of 'Cinderella' is this coming Thursday and Friday, show starting at 7pm in the Town Hall. Our pictures here are from the dress rehearsal last week, courtesy of Stage 2.

Some tickets still available at €10 for adults, €5 for children. Contact Maryclare at 087 9011405.

Josie is a Local Hero

Local woman Josie Connolly was honoured at today's County Show in Athy, receiving a 'Local Hero' award from Brian Ashmore, President, Kildare County Show, writes Brian Byrne.

Josie, whose activities on behalf of Kilcullen's Seniors are well known over many years in the town, was presented with the award in recognition of her commitment for over 30 years to St Vincent's Hospital, Athy and her voluntary work with Kilcullen Senior Citizens group. Josie is pictured above on the stage with Clem Ryan of KFM, after being presented with her award.

The Local Hero Awards were inaugurated at last year's County Show and were such a success that it was decided to make them an annual feature.

Meanwhile, the fundraising last weekend in Kilcullen for the Le Cheile Alzheimer's Unit, St Vincent's Athy, raised almost €5,000. "It is a wonderful amount considering the current economic situation," Josie says. "It is thanks to the generosity of Kilcullen people."

(Pic: Mary Orford.)

I nominated Josie because of the many hours she puts in as a volunteer for both St Vincent's Hospital, Athy and the Kilcullen Senior Citizens group, Mary Orford wrote in her citation for the awards. I know she does the voluntary work without any thought of personal glory. Her purpose is to bring some happiness into other people's lives.

Josie's voluntary work for St Vincent's Hospital, Athy has been unstinting for over thirty years. Her commitment includes a fortnightly visit to the residents, organising hugely successful fundraising in the Kilcullen area for Le Cheile Alzheimer's Unit in the hospital and, every Easter, organising a two hour variety show for the residents in St Vincents. There's even an Easter Egg for everyone in the audience!

Josie has been involved with Kilcullen Senior Citizens group for many years and is currently chairperson. She puts in many hours working with other committee members to organise fundraising, summer outings and Christmas parties.

Josie works for the HSE as a home help and she brings the same unfailing cheerfulness, kindness and energy to her job as she does to her voluntary work. She is a shining example of how older people can stay active and involved in the community.

Work night at playground

Monday's Tidy Towns work night will be dedicated to cutting grass at the Community Playground and generally tidying up the facility, writes Brian Byrne.

This was decided at Saturday morning's KCA meeting during a general discussion on the playground which included matters of maintenance.

JJ Warren gave details of his monitoring of the equipment for safety and maintenance purposes, which KCA undertakes on behalf of Kildare County Council.

He said he had sent in some 13 completed maintenance checklists to the Council since the playground opened. He also explained that when he finds problems, he fixes them if he can, otherwise he notifies the Council.

JJ also noted that any member of KCC can decide to close the facility if it is their opinion that there's a safety issue with any part of it. It can also be closed for maintenance work.

The decision to do a work night on the facility was taken because there has been an emphasis in the current Tidy Towns competition on the playground, and it is expected that judges will go and look at it.

JJ had earlier said that the Council intends to do the grass and other light grounds maintenance, but the recent weather conditions had forced them to postpone the work.

The discussion also resolved a number of minor issues about opening the facility, and the provision of bags for litter.

'Change' scam warning

The Diary has been asked to warn people about a scam involving a 'well dressed man with a foreign accent' who may be accosting older people under the pretence of looking for change.

A reader says her mother was approached last Thursday at the entrance to Nolans Car Park while she was waiting for a lift.

The man asked her for change for parking, and when she took her purse out to help him, he distracted her. When she got home, she found a sum of money missing from her purse.

Our reader, who asked not to be named, wants local people to be aware of the issue, especially older people who are naturally inclined to offer help when asked for it.

If you have an older family member, let them know of the danger.

Putting up the flower boxes

Jerry Delaney putting up flower boxes yesterday, part of the KCA Summer Flowers Project.

Bats and birds times

Just a reminder about two really interesting events in Kilcullen next weekend.

On Friday at 8.30pm there's a Talk & Walk about local bats, given by Dr Tina Aughney. It starts from A Tearmann.

The following morning at 11am, Tom Cooney will do a Walk & Talk about local birds, again starting at An Tearmann.

The two events are linked with the Biodiversity Study being undertaken at the behest of Kilcullen Community Action, and which will lead to an extended nature trail along the banks of the Liffey in Kilcullen.

Not to be missed. Put the dates in your diary now.

Knockbounce waste plan 'would not impact' environment

A proposed waste disposal and vehicle ELV processing plant at Knockbounce would have 'no significant effects' on the environment, according to the architect for the promoters, writes Brian Byrne.

In response to a wide ranging request from Kildare County Council for more information on the proposal, Sean Byrne Planning & Development Services have provided a variety of reports on the noise, odour, dust and traffic impacts of the development applied for by Christopher & Catherine Dolly. 

A hydrological survey report on the effects on the local Pinkeen Stream is also included, and the architect says the combined conclusions show that the applicant has endeavoured to provide all necessary independent environmental reports to show 'conformity with regulation standards'.

A bank between the proposed development and nearby housing estates would be built and landscaped at the same time as construction, to a design that would keep the facility out of view without impacting on the visual and light amenity of the houses.

The further information was received a week ago, and is now being considered by the planners.

The original application was lodged last November, subsequent to pre-planning meetings with Council officials which took place in August 2011.

A large number of submissions were made by local residents, residents groups, and Kilcullen Community Action. Among other things, the objections were based on lack of consultation, alleged conflict of interest on the Council's part because it would be selling the site to the promoters if planning permission was given, a variety of environmental considerations, and general overall safety issues because the location of the project was close to residential areas.

Other matters raised included traffic movements because of the type of business, inappropriate zoning, and the possibility that organic waste might be included in the processes.

Existing owners of businesses at the Knockbounce Business Park also objected, in particular to plans to utilise water and sewer services which they themselves had privately provided.

The response of the developers deals with a number of technical queries relating to the original application, including management of materials, storage, and security.

The document also provides details of estimated vehicle movements at the site, including three HGV skip trucks carrying out four visits a day, and less than 100 cars a week using the public disposal area. The promoters estimate that some 12 light cars and vans will be received each week for dismantling, crushing and disposal of the components.

The operation is expecting to recover 4,500 tonnes annually of mixed waste brought in by skip truck, which would include 1,000 tonnes of metal and a similar amount of wood. ELV vehicles are anticipated to total 1,275 tonnes, and the materials brought by the public at around 1,125 tonnes.

If permission is given, the promotors are suggesting that a representative of neighbouring residents be given the opportunity to attend weekly meetings involving a liaison offier with Kildare County Council during the construction process.

The promoters have also offered to reduce the opening times of the operation by 12 hours a week. A proposed wind turbine installation has been dropped on noise grounds, and for the same reason an electric forklift would be used to transfer ELV vehicles to the dismantling area.

The applicants now propose to connect directly into water and sewer facilities on the main road under Council control, rather than the privately built facility.

In all, 34 points in the further information request were dealt with by the latest submission from the promoters.

NOTE: In a commentary before Christmas on the submissions received, the architect for the developers noted that under the Kilcullen Local Area Plan 2008, the Council could consider proposals outside the 'matrix' of land use zoning, having regard to the general policies and objectives for an area.

He also discounted objections suggesting that the facility came under the descriptions of 'Garage & Car Repairs', 'Petrol Station' or 'Heavy Commercial Vehicle Park'.

The architect's submission also disagreed with claims that the site notices had been incorrectly placed, noting that the promoters had followed the 'previous trends' of earlier developments in the business park.

It also emphasised that the development would only cater for Dry Waste and that handling organic waste was not part of the proposal.

Dog training classes

A series of dog training classes are being organised at Animals First Veterinary Hospital beginning on 25 June with an introductory talk.

Further practical sessions with dogs will take place on June 26 and 28, and those who want to continue will undertake a 6-week course.

Under the title 'Train4Fun', there are sessions for adult dogs and puppies.

If you are interested in attending, email train4fun@animalsfirst.ie or phone 045 480478. Spaces are limited so early booking is essential to avoid disappointment.

Community Alert 'the route to go'

If you didn't have an interest in Community Alert before listening to Margaret Quinn of Muintir na Tire, you'd be a zombie if you weren't enthusiastic after she spoke recently in Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne.

A self-confessed height-challenged person ("at one meeting I was asked to stand up by someone who didn't know I already was") she's a bundle of energy far beyond her size. And at the recent Community and Sports Clubs Open Evening she left nobody in doubt but that Kilcullen should go the Community Alert route.

Margaret is the south-eastern region development officer for the Community Alert scheme operated by her organisation. She told the meeting of how Community Alert had helped communities in her region not just to deal with crime, but also to forge community links which helped bring people and their common problems closer together.

She noted that there's a wrong impression that Community Alert involves only the older people in a community. "Regardless of what age we are, we can all play our part," she said.

But she was adamant that Community Alert in itself will not solve all the problems of dealing with criminality in an area. "What it will do is lessen the opportunity for something to go wrong. That's all we can hope for, and anything achieved beyond that is probably a bonus."

Margaret acknowledged a traditional resistance, particularly in rural communities, in 'going to the Guards'. But she said it was important for communities 'to get to know your local Guards'.

That said, she believes that Community Alert is much more than just a focus on local crime. She showed a number of initiatives, including a laminated card which one community had published and distributed to all local homes, detailing emergency services and other useful numbers.

There's also the 'bottle in the fridge', a plastic container with details of medication and other medical information which people can keep in their fridge. "The reason for the fridge is that everybody has one, and in the areas where this is used, emergency personnel know to go to the fridge."

Another community produced a map showing the 320 houses in their area, with permission from those participating, detailing the name and phone number of each household in the area. This was distributed to the various emergency services, and subsequently to all the homes in the area.

A text messaging service in a community was funded by €10 a year from each participating member. It works by a text being sent to a specific phone by somebody who notices something untoward, and after the sender is verified, the message is sent on to the garda, who will then decide whether it should be widely broadcast.

Another group got involved in local health and mental health issues as a result of setting up Community Alert.

The Open Evening was organised under the auspices of Kilcullen 2017, the implementation group for the Development Plan which came out of the Community Survey commissioned last year by Kilcullen Community Action.

Brannoxtown NS and €4,000 voucher

The Brannoxtown NS pupils and class teacher Celia O'Riordan (back left) and PTA chairperson Lorna Brophy (front left), with Hector o hEochagain after winning second prize in the Lidl Fit Factor competition, a two week programme about healthy eating and exercise.

Camphill Open Day Sunday week

The annual Camphill Dunshane Open Day is being held on Sunday week, 24 June, and all are invited to go along and see the community's activities in farming, horticulture and crafts.

Attractions on the Open Day will include face painting, sheep racing, a wheelbarrow race, treasure hunt, games, raffles, crafts, bric-a-brac, food from different parts of the world and, of course, ice cream.

The event runs through the afternoon from 2pm, and signposts on all the roads in the area will help with access.

Life in the 18 Camphill Communities around Ireland, which are part of an international charitable trust, involves living and working with people who have intellectual disabilities and other kinds of special needs.

In Camphill, residents share their home, spiritual and working lives with those who are motivated to accept them as equals who need support and recognition for what they can contribute. Most of the people providing this support are volunteers, coming locally or from abroad. The ethos is one of self-sufficiency where possible for both the individual and the community.

DIRECTIONS: Drive out the Kilcullen Road from Naas, take the turn for Dunlavin on the left, turn immediately left again (100yards), pass GAA field on your right and keep driving to bottom of road. At T-Junction, turn right and we are the 3rd entrance on the left. There is a big stone engraved with Camphill Dunshane outside the entrance. Admission is free and free parking is available on site.

Community Alert would be 'huge benefit'

Setting up a Community Alert system for Kilcullen would be of 'huge benefit' to the town, says Cllr Ivan Keatley, pictured on left above with Joe Dooley.

Speaking at the recent Community & Sports Clubs Open Evening, writes Brian Byrne, he said it would mean that Kilcullen would be a part of a Community Emergency Response scheme which Kildare County Council is working on.

"There have been a number of events in recent years, involving snow, and floods, when the Council's switchboards have almost reached meltdown," he said. "The Council is now looking at tapping into the Community Watch/Community Alert system to establish a database of phone numbers through which information can be provided in an emergency."

The councillor also said a Community Alert in Kilcullen would help An Garda to 'put a cap' on crimes of theft. "I think they will be vital for communities in the future. Robbers these days can take advantage of our improved roads and motorways to get away in a matter of minutes from the scenes of their crime. So the quicker that the gardai can be alerted, the better is the chance of dealing with it."

The Open Evening was organised under the auspices of Kilcullen 2017, the implementation group for the community Development Plan which came out of the Community Survey commissioned last year by Kilcullen Community Action.

Big blitz to complete nature trail

A call for a number of team leaders is being made by the Bridge Camphill to take part in a big one-day push to complete the nature trail under construction at the Liffeyside campus, writes Brian Byrne.

They will be needed to work with a 250-strong group from a multinational financial services company whose staff will be taking part in a team-building day by working on the project.

Local people are also required to help with catering for the group, and entertaineers are needed at a barbecue planned for the end of the day, aptly the 4th of July as the company involved, Fidelity Investments, has its HQ in Boston.

The whole event is being organised by a company specialising in corporate days with a community twist. ’Difference Days’ started out as a standard corporate events provider in 1997 with the familiar outdoor challenges format.

"In 2008 I became a volunteer with Special Olympics and had such a wonderful time organising Family Days, I decided to change the direction of our corporate events and offer our clients an opportunity to experience the joy and satisfaction that volunteering brings," says MD Denis O'Reilly. "Also we could see a lot of companies truly wanted to do something more meaningful than shooting clay pigeons!"

The following year Denis and fellow director Angela O’Reilly launched Difference Days to facilitate 'socially responsible' corporate events. The Irish Camphill organisation was one of the community groups chosen to be helped, and the Kilcullen community’s nature trail project won out as one of the successful ideas.

Some advance work will be carried out in the two weeks before the Fidelity employees arrive. And Camphill’s volunteers have already mapped out and opened up the route of the trail, which begins and ends in the community’s farmyard sections.

The nature path is 750m long and the plan includes a 50m stretch of boardwalk. It will be fully accessible. In addition to providing the labour, Fidelity is supplying all required materials.

At least a dozen people are needed to help with catering. All the food required will be on site but people will be needed to help make sandwiches and coordinate things.

If you are interested in getting involved please contact Mischa by email at mischa@camphill.ie.

'Make sure you're in the Directory'

The Business Group of Kilcullen 2017 is urging all local businesses, clubs, groups, including including tradesmen, retail and professional services health services, legal and others to make sure they are in the Kilcullen Community Directory compiled by KCA and recently published on the KCA website.

There are already over 440 registrations in a wide range of categories, from an exhaustive trawl of many local sources.

"But we have still spoken to a few businesses who werent't aware of the Directory's existence," says Nichola Kennedy from the business group.

Anyone who wants inclusion, especially in the print edition which will be published in the next issue of The Bridge Magazine, should send details to info@kilcullencommunityaction.ie, or contact Nichola Kennedy on 045 484643 for a form.

If you're emailing, send in the following information:

Name of Business/Group
Contact person (if you want to identify someone in particular)
Telephone number
Email address
Website
Short narrative about your group or business - 2 or 3 sentences only. Don't put in specific dates or prices as the information is static and cannot be regularly updated.

Tidy Towns work ongoing

Planting by Tidy Towns volunteers as part of the Summer Flowers Project.

'Covert' Garda operation targets burglars

Kilcullen has been among the locations of a number of covert operations being carried out by An Garda targeting burglars, writes Brian Byrne.

This was revealed by the divisional crime prevention officer Sgt Conor McMahon, speaking at the recent Community & Sports Clubs Open Evening.

Sgt McMahon said 'Operation Fiachra' had been 'very successful' over the last couple of months, but he was quite prepared on the night to listen to any complaints from local people about policing operations.

He said that 'ideally' he would like to see more gardai attached to Kilcullen, but the reality is that the staffing level is now 50 percent down on what it was 10 years ago.

"Kilcullen is now in a different district, and we have a new rostering system which has gardai doing 10-hour shifts instead of 8-hour," he added. "This has been in operation for the last two months, and effectively it means that we have gardai working more at night than in the day."

He said it was too early to see how the new system was working, although he believed it will 'prove to be effective'.

Sgt McMahon noted that his job was to carry out security surveys of business premises and homes, and if anybody has 'worries' in this regard, he's available to come along and help. "And at times when Kilcullen station is open, they can talk to Gda Joanne O'Sullivan," he concluded.

The Open Evening was organised under the auspices of Kilcullen 2017, the implementation group for the Development Plan which came out of the Community Survey commissioned last year by Kilcullen Community Action.

Lots of summer action in Kilcullen

There's lots lined up to keep local youngsters occupied over the next couple of months, writes Brian Byrne. And plenty for their parents too.

For those who want to see what Kilcullen GAA is offering, there's a Juvenile Open Day on 16 June.

With the increased interest in young people's drama evidenced by shows during the winter and spring, there's the Stage 2 Show in the Town Hall on Thursday 21 June and Friday 22 June at 7pm. The popular Drama Dynamics Summer Stage workshop will take place between 9-13 July, 10am-2pm in the Solas Club in Logstown, and finishing with a show in the Town Hall Theatre.

Wildlife interests are being catered for by a Bats Talk on the evening of Friday 22 June, and the following morning there's a Bird/Wildlife Walk, both events taking place as part of the Biodiversity Survey under way on the Liffey and other waterways in Kilcullen.

Brannockstown Book Fair will be held in the Stray Inn on Friday 22 June at 8pm. This involves a €5 cover charge for which you have the chance to take away as many books as you like, and also bring all those books at home taking up shelf space.

The Brannoxtown NS Family Treasure Hunt will start at 2pm on Sunday June 24, and will be followed by a Brannockstown's Got Talent session for the youngsters in The Stray Inn.

The Camphill Dunshane Open Day is being held on the afternoon of Sunday 24 June, at which the rich work and life of the residents and co-workers is on display for all, for free, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday with the family.

Brannockstown Baptist Annual Bible Summer Camp runs this year from 9-13 July, starting at 10am daily. On the same week and the following one there's a Summer Art Camp in the Community Centre, and the Steiner Summer Camp runs this year from July 23-27.

Some key Kilcullen end of summer events include the Mac & Norman's Vintage Drive in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, which takes place this year on Sunday 19 August, while the Kilcullen River Festival 2013 is a week later on Sunday 26 August.

(Did somebody say 'there's nothing to do here'?)

Stage 2 Cinderella

Stage 2 Performing Arts School for Kids & Teens will be presenting Cinderella and extracts from Magical Musicals on on Thursday 21 and Friday 22 June.

The venue is Kilcullen Town Hall, time 7pm, and tickets are available for €10 from Maryclare at 087 9011405.