MEETING , THURSDAY 20th June, 2002
Lisnamrock School, Lisnamrock

Present: Sr Patricia Wall, Tony Claydon, Bill Martin, Alice Goldsboro, Kathleen Brennan. Dick Vaughan , Eileen Fennelly. Margaret Webster, Breda Quigley, Mick Fitzgerald., Dick Vaughan, Tomas Fitzgerald

Apologies: Annie Heaphy, Padraig Collins , Pat Walton

Diary Date : Next Meeting Thursday , 25th July, Community Hall , 8.30 p.m.
1. Last minutes approved.
Item 5 , no reply from Muintir . Action: Sr Patricia will telephone Muintir na Tire

2. Working Groups
Bill pointed out that the ‘borders ‘ do not really count where tourism is concerned Therefore we need to liaise with other groups such as Slievardagh Rural development, Killenaule development, Glengoole etc. Slieveardagh RD will be the umbrella group.
Action : Padraig to make contact with Liam Noonan and Seamus Troy before the next Community Council meeting

3. Fund raising
Congratulations to all for the work on the cards. We have 10 sponsors at 150 Euro each (and would welcome others). for 1000 of each card. The sale price of the cards will be 1.50 euro each or 5 for 6.00 euro. The cards will be on sale in the shops , post offices throughout the area. Bill will be the co-ordinator of the whole exercise.
Possibility of Lotto in the area …this is the Slieveardagh RD one, with money to our group on particular weeks . ( similar to the whist drive ) . Can we get on the whist drive in 2003.
We have a church gate collection on 17th & 18th August.

4. The Commons School
Bill/ Sr Patricia/ Annie / Margaret met with Slieveardagh RD. They are happy to handover the school. The condition of ownership is that it must be developed for the community. A solicitor has been contacted and things are ready to go ahead.
An idea from Bill is that the existing trustees should resign and Annie and /or Margaret should become trustees and then there would be little or no cost. This will be investigated O’Meara & Co, Thurles are the solicitors. Action : Annie/ Margaret .
The original school development group will be resurrected Action : Annie / Margaret

5. New Members required for the Ballingarry Healthy Community Project
We need some new members to replace those who have stopped attending the meetings.
Does the Community Council have any proposals. We need another 5 or 6 people to be active in the group and come up with new project ideas.
Contact TC ( 54008 ) if you have any proposals.

6. Water Quality
Fergus Murray is not available to lead this project.
Bill is interested in being involved with ideas for new sources of supply. Tony will provide technical advice/ support .
Alice will be the leader. Information gathering etc outside this meeting.
7. .Letter from Tipperary Institute
Is anyone interested in completing a course in waste management. Questionnaire. Probably only of interest to someone wanting a job in that field. No action.

8. Bus shelters
What is happening ?
Margaret will decide the location of The Commons.
Action : Sr Patricia to contact Susan Meagher re the funds for the shelters . TC will contact the principal at the secondary school.

9. Help with Development Ideas
Help from a consultant available …for free. Fee is paid by County Enterprise.
Invite to the next meeting. Action : Bill

Next meeting : Thursday ,25th July, Community Hall , 8.30 – 10.00 p.m.

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BALLINGARRY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING , THURSDAY 23rd May, 2002 in The COMMONS SCHOOL,

Present: Sr Patricia Wall, Tony Claydon, Bill Martin, Padraig Collins,Annie Heaphy, Alice Goldsboro, Kathleen Kelly, Kathleen Brennan. Dick Vaughan , Eileen Fennelly.
Pat Walton, Nicolas Lannigan, Mick Fitzgerald.

Apologies: Margaret Webster

Diary Date : Next Meeting Thursday , 20th June, Lisnamrock School , 8.30 p.m.
Last minutes approved.

1. Working Groups
Report back:
Village development:
First meeting was in The Commons:
We will prioitise at the next meeting :
Cross Roads ( exit to Urlingford ) needs fixing. Two corners need taking back 3 metres.
Bill to organize CAD layout and we will contact Johnathan Cooney. Via the County Councillors.
Sewage : prepare a proposal to put to the County Councilors ( i.e. the local representatives ) . The current line stops at the bowling alley. TC to write to Micheal Horan , Sanitation Engineer to ask exactly what the current position is. ( Annie to provide information )
Footpaths needed on both sides of the village
Action ; Bill to sort out drawing
Ball alley to stay ‘ as is ‘ .
Lights needed behind the houses : to go on our list.
The Old School House:
Meeting to be arranged with Seamus Troy ( Slieveardagh Rural Development ) .
Action : Bill ( + Annie , Sr Patricia, Margaret )
The ‘ old ‘ Commons School Committee would like to develop this building as a Community Centre. Action : Annie to restart this committee
TC will liaise with Fr Breen re the legal side ( i.e. who owns freehold of school )
Tourism / History etc
Feedback from first sub group meeting :
Tourism : scenery is the main strength. Birds , fishing .
Weakness : Lack of food provision , evening meals , coffee , snacks.
Lack of sign posting. Need the standard tourist symbols on the signposts.
Walks. Need to map the existing ones now. Identify all points of interest.
( e.g . Opposite Ballingarry N.S. school / boreen , Commons, Lisnamrock etc will suit cyclists also Note : some of the walks will go outside the Parish boundaries. What do we do ? Need to network with other groups to achieve common objectives. ( overlap not seen as an issue but we will need to know about the other groups ; contact Declan Rice , BNS ) .
Documenting the history . The Parish Journal is a real asset. Try to capture the information that is still with the ‘ older people ‘ ( recording ) . Bob Stakelum will be contacted ( re the project at Holy Cross )
Action : contact with the tourist board re map signs. Padraig to contact Pat Nolan
There is a map ( Bill ) for the web site with sites identified.

2. Ideas for fund raising
Bill distributed examples of cards illustrating connections with the area. 150 Euro / thousand. All liked the idea. To be followed up at future meetings.

3. Update on Social Economy Project
Moving slowly as we need to identify the participants.
We will now be moving into the end unit but the plans have yet to be approved.

4. Co opted members
Bill proposed Michael Nolan , Mellison , Glengoole and Barbara Fryday , Grange be approached as additional Community Council members. It was agreed that we will keep them informed but at this stage we will keep the membership to those living within the Parish.

5.Muintir Na Tire
TC has sent in the completed forms. No reply to date.

NEXT MEETING : THURSDAY 20th JUNE , LISNAMROCK SCHOOL, 8.30 – 10.00 P.M.

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From: Tony Claydon 25/04/2002

BALLINGARRY COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING , THURSDAY 25th April, 2002
COMMUNITY HALL, BALLINGARRY

Present: Sr Patricia Wall, Tony Claydon, Bill Martin, Margaret Webster, Padraig Collins,Annie Heaphy, Tomas Fitzgerald. Eileen Fennelly, Alice Goldsboro, Kathleen Kelly, Kathleen Brennan.

Apologies:

Diary Date : Next Meeting Thursday ,23rd May , The Commons School. 8.30 p.m. start.

Distributed : Copy of letter sent ( as agreed in last meeting 11/04 ) from TC to Jonathan Cooney , South Tipp Co Co , Proposals / names for the Community Council Groups.
Last minutes approved.

1. Working Groups
Discussion on document distributed.
We will need to communicate with the local Co councillors to let them know what the plans are.
The sub committees need to formalize the short , medium and long term projects.
Prioritize.
The Old School as a Community Centre in The Commons looks a good project…need to negotiate with Sleiveardagh Rural Development.( who own the site ) .
Sr patricia , Bill , Margaret , Annie will meet up with Seamus Troy
Bill referred to the Slieveardagh audit ( 1998 ) . We can build on some of these ideas.
The sub groups will meet before the next meeting.
Agreed that Padraig will lead the first group.
Sr Patricia will lead the second group.
The new appointment Tess Collins, Tennant Liaison Officer will help .
Other groups as listed BSE project , Community Alert.
Finance …examine the potential for locally produce crafts. Post cards , Xmas cards,
Coasters etc. Bill will come back to the next meeting.
BHCP as is. (lunches for all N.S. schools on Wednesday 24th April , we will do some work advising the secondary schools)
War House. – Annie, Margaret. Will sort out the communication channels . Report back at the next meeting.

2. Letter to Jonathan Cooney
Copy of letter from TC to Jonathan distributed …this was agreed at the last meeting. We will follow up.
The bin emptying job needs resolving …we need a key . Action: Tomas.

3. Update on Social Economy Project
The new manager was appointed last Monday…… Paul Brett.
Board of Directors is Bill , Tony , Dick , Sr Patricia.
We now have the tax clearance certificate

4. Fr Morris’s House Discussion.
Bill investigated the possibility of the Community Council managing the house. Lease arrangement .Fr Breen was in agreement with the building being put to that use. The implications would be considerable and such items as insurance , maintenance , repair etc would need thorough examination.
The experience of Slieveardagh Rural Development with the building in Killenaule was not good …they are saddled with debt .
One idea is an old people’s home ( for mobile people ) managed by SEHB. Problem could be health & safety ( lifts / fire doors etc )
Item should be temporarily put on the ‘ back burner ‘ .

5.Muintir Na Tire
Sr Patricia has all the forms . Details read out. Costings, setting up a company , insurance etc. Proposal to complete the forms . Bill said all details are on the web site.

NEXT MEETING : THURSDAY 23rd May , 8.30 – 10.00 , The Commons School
( Annie has booked this )

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BALLINGARRY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING , THURSDAY 11th April, 2002
COMMUNITY HALL, BALLINGARRY

Present: Sr Patricia Wall, Tony Claydon, Bill Martin, Dick Vaughan, Pat Walton, Margaret Webster, Padraig Collins,Mick Fitzgerald, Annie Heaphy, Nicolas Lannigan, Tomas Fitzgerald.

Apologies: Eileen Fennelly, Alice Goldsboro, Kathleen Kelly

Diary Date : Next Meeting Thursday 25th April ( to be confirmed ) , Community Hall , 8.00 – 9.30 p.m.

Distributed : Copy of letter from Jonathan Cooney , South Tipp Co Co , Drawing/ Plan for corner development in Ballingarry , booklet South Tipp County Strategy for Economic Social and Cultural Development.

1. Social Economy Project
Sr Patricia debriefed the meeting on the project ( all had received a description copy via the mail ).
Initially 1 manager + 4 workers will be employed.
Two main themes : Child care and I.T.
Will be interviewing for a manager Friday 12th April.
Directors agreed by Community Council: Dick Vaughan, Sr Patricia, Bill Martin, Tony Claydon.
Proposed by Pat Walron , seconded by Annie Heaphy.
Cost of forming a company will be approx 400 euro ( info from Nicolas )
Check with Muintir Na Tire. Action Sr Patricia.( also invite to the next meeting )

2. Follow up from the meeting on 21st Feb with County Council reps.
See letter from Jonathan Cooney
Seen as a positive response.
We need feed back on budget spend .
Footpaths:
‘Healthy Walks’ could be included.
Village to hall to Lower Ballingarry.
Lay bye's .
St Marys Road footpath will be included with Assumption Terrace work.
Assumption is :will be wheelchair friendly.
Prioritise :
First three are all equal.
1. Village to hall & St Mary’s Road ( existing footpath is dangerous )
Commons sports field to Patricks Terrace houses.
2. Hall to lower Ballingarry ( can this be a condition of the Planning Permission for the proposed housing development )
3. Lower Ballingarry to Enterprise Centre.
4. Ballingarry Commons road village to Crokes Cross
Signposting
TC to write to Jonathan about adding ‘ welcome to Healthy Community ‘ to the village signs.
Cleaning
Doubts expressed about if regular street cleaning is completed. Commons seems to be missed . Should go to the 30-mph signs. TC to contact Jonathan Cooney.
Lighting
Ballingarry village exit / Commons road , near school signs .
Can we have a copy of the survey of the general lighting requirements?
Speed warnings
Paint the road with limits. e.g. Ballinure.
Rubbish bins
New one needed to replace the damaged one at Centra.
Grass Cutting
Needs to be sorted . Co Co are not doing the Green Belt ( particularly The Commons )
Corner development
Bill debriefed the Committee on the very positive meeting with John Moloney.
We are awaiting the official response.
The proposal for a memorial corner was discussed.
The project could become a major activity for the Community Council.
( Padraig asked if we could use a similar idea of a large-scale drawing to show other areas of the parish )

3. Working Groups
We need to sort out small working within the Community Council.
People need to be involved.
Bill talked about marketing Ballingarry; table mats etc.
Historical connections.
Development needs …roads near the sites for tourists.
Tourism in general.

GROUPS:
Fund raising : ideas will be collated by Bill for the next meeting.
County Council Liaison :
Ballingarry Healthy Community Project
Community Alert
Ballingarry Social Economy Project
Suggested
Water
Community Hall
This will be an agenda item for next meeting.

NEXT MEETING : THURSDAY 25TH APRIL , 8.00 – 9.30 ,COMMUNITY HALL
( suggestion that, in future , we should move the meeting location e.g. The Commons, Mohober etc )

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South Tipperary County Council
Town Hall, Carrick-on-Suir. Ireland.
Telephone 051-640587 . Fax 051-640987
E-mail carrick © southtippcoco. ie

Ballingarry Community Council 10th ApriL 2002

Mr. Tony Claydon,
Secretary,
Ballingarry Community Council,
Meadowview,
Ballingarry,
Co. Tipperary.

Re: Response to meeting held on 21st February 2002.

Dear Mr. Claydon,
Further. to the above meeting I reply as follows to the matters raised.

1 Footpaths:
I enclose ordnance map of tThllingarry Village for you attention. I respectfully suggest that the requested section of footpath extension be highlighted and returned to myself so that a full costing can be prepared. This will be a long term project, subject to the approval of the Fethard Area Councillors, and subject to the necessary finance being made available.

I understand Linda Maddens response on the night related to Assumption Terrace only.

2. Speed Restrictions near Schools.
Improved signage has been ordered and will be erected once it is delivered.

3. Speed Sign.
I have agreed to review speed limits, and as stated, this will be carried out in
2002. An advertisement will be placed in the local newspapers advising of same
and I will contact the Committee directly. Ballingarry is one of a number of
villages where speed limits will be reviewed.

4. Village Signs
Village sings will be erected within the next month. Locations have been decided.

5. Blind Corner near Lisnamrock.
This will be inspected and the Committee informed of the response during w/e/ 19/04/02.

6. Lisnamrock Shelly’s Corner.
This bend has been cleaned back to improve sight distance.

7. Main Road near Harley Park need resurfacing.
The R691-9 at Harleypark is on the 2005 Roadworks Programme at a cost of Euro lO9,728. This will complete the section from the previous strengthening works to the County Bounds.

I inspected the section referred to at the meeting as requested, and as stated previously, this section requires strengthening works as opposed to surfacing only. I am not in a position at this stage to give a more definite commitment.

8. General Lack of Signposting.
50 no. new signs were erected in the Fethard Area in 2000, 50 again in 2001. In some instances the signage is being stolen despite being rigidly fixed in place. The Community Council can make suggestions for signage in 2002. This work is generally carried out in the latter part of the year.

9. Street Cleaning.
Ballingarry is being cleaned once a week. Spraying of weeds in the Village will commence shortly.
As part of the Fethard Area Roadworks Scheme 2002, the Fethard Area Councillors agreed at the annual roadworks meeting that I allocate Euro 6,300 towards improvement works within the Ballingarry Area. These monies have to be spent directly by the Council, but suggestions are to come from the Community Council. I have tried this elsewhere on a previous occasion and it worked very successfully. I suggest items such as trees, bins, signage, landscaping, lighting etc., and also suggest that it is spread over a number of months so that continous improvements take place.

If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.

Yours sincerely,

Jonathan Cooney, S.
Area Engineer.

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From: Tony Claydon
Tel : ( 052 ) 54008
tonyclaydon@ocenfeee.net
BALLINGARRY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
NEXT MEETING

- PLEASE BOOK THE FOLLOWING DATE IN YOUR DIARY:

- THURSDAY 11TH APRIL

- 8.00 – 9.30 P.M.

- COMMUNITY HALL

- AGENDA will include updates and follow ups from previous meetings

( see minutes ) , full details on the Ballingarry Social Economy Project,

further setting up of action groups,

AOB

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From : Tony Claydon 052 54008
............tonyclaydon@oceanfree.net
......................info@Ballingarry.net
..............................web:www.ballingarry.net

BALLINGARRY COMMUNITY COUNCIL
SUBMISSION TO SOUTH TIPP DEVELOPMENT PLAN
28th Feb 2002

The Ballingarry Community Council was established after an election towards the end of 2001. It represents all members of the community.
The comments below are a summary of the input from all committee members.
It is recognized that there is overlap in many of the sections ( e.g. population trend and employment opportunities are inextricably linked )
We are keen to work with the County Council and we would like to see target completion dates NOT just aspirations in the Development Plan.

1. Population
The population trend in Ballingarry / Slieveardagh has been in a continuous decline for many years.
Even before the demise of the coal mining young people left the area in large numbers.
The main cause has been undoubtedly lack of employment opportunities.

2. Vision for the future
Continuous development of small industries. ( e.g. the child care and the IT project that are now starting off as part of the Social Economy Programme )
Encourage large companies to be patrons / mentors.
More emphasis on tourism with good marketing.
Development of more sites such as a mining museum in Ballingarry and links with other local mining areas such as Mardyke and New Birmingham.
Palatine history , monastery at Kilkooley, Wellington monument and development of the circular castle at Farranrory are all more examples.

3. Housing
The old plans were never implemented . For future development we need agreed target completion dates from Co Co.
Housing development MUST take into account local opinion ( in particular the significant local concern over safety ) . E.G. there are council plans to build houses on a corner which local people have had no formal opportunity to state their concerns or offer an alternative …this latest plan goes against the ‘ old ‘ plan as above.
Housing development should always be an acceptable mix of social and private.
There are obvious development areas in Ballingarry which would ‘ join’ the village together.
County Council should be more proactive in proposing development of derelict sites. E.g. old post office in the Commons , old car houses in Ballingarry.
Put seating in public areas.
Playgrounds / play areas should be located in Assumption Terrace and Patrick Terrace.
Car Parking spaces need in O’ Sullivan Tce.
Walls required in front of houses in Assumption Tce.

4. Infrastructure
Water supply needs a complete overhaul. The various parish supplies have a combination of :
Inadequate supply so that there are long periods of no water to some users.
Old pipes with sludge build up so that when water is turned on the supply is too dirty to use
Metal content ( e.g. iron ) twice the EU recommended maximum
Access to clean water is a basic human right.
This area has been awarded the Healthy community Project status by the Minister of Health and water is an issue of major concern to the whole community.
The initial proposal is full assessment of the supply ( urgent ) ; the results of Co Co testing be compared with acceptable National and EU water standards. An assessment of water sources be completed and that a survey of users be undertaken to establish the full extent of the problems.
Remedial action should be taken n to correct most immediate serious problems. Priority given to the work to bring up to the acceptable standard.
Where inadequate or contaminated an immediate should be identified.
The Co Co should publish an annual report with full test details and details of corrective action. ( no of tests versus standards , number of complaints by category . area, actions and time taken to correct )
The Community Council will continue to progress action with the Co Co . We should also look at water from the old mining areas.
The County Council already has a list ( 21/02 /02 ) of proposed footpaths / road changes suggested.
( eg Ballingarry Community hall to village and to Lwr Ballingarry )
We need an agreed timetable for completion.
These needs are major safety concerns ( the list also includes need for school signs etc )
This list includes street lighting needs.
Other than resurfacing there have been no road developments for many years. Ballingarry is located on a major tourist route and good roads and good sign posting are essential needs..
Co Co must have a programme of cleaning water inlets on the roads ( back end / once per year )
To accommodate tourists we need lay -byes for people to stop to look at the views.
( cars and coaches ) . On this same subject car parking in the villages and , of course, suitable sign posting ( with a map ) . Make the place appealing …do not put up block walls; face with stone..
Ballingarry is famous for the views of Slievenamon.

5. Employment
Development on an ongoing basis of small companies ( as above ).
The Social Economy Project should be an example of how to proceed.
The Community Council could take an active role in encouraging tourism in this area.
( see above in ‘ visions ‘ )
With the development / opening of the War House there is an opportunity to have an input into the local history etc available in the building. Distribution of tourist brochures etc . Involve guesthouses.
We would like Co Co support
Co Co Actively research ideas for Ballingarry.
Try and contact people with Ballingarry roots for sponsorship. Use the web site.

6. Environment & natural resources
Can we set up a degree course based locally . Department of Environment could use a site at the former Presentation Convent ( Tipperary Institute ) .
Particularly in Waste water and water management.
Co Co to follow this up.

7. Conservation
The points in ‘ vision ‘ also apply here. We are proposing that more is done to develop and market existing sites .
The sites ALL need official recognition.
We are losing our traditional town lands . We need these to be on the map and correct addresses on electoral lists.

LIST FOR COUNTY COUNCIL
ÌTEM 1 FROM MINUTES 10/01/2002
( AGENDA FOR MEETING 21/02/2002 )
Footpaths: Ballingarry Village to Community Hall , to houses in Tinnock, to the houses in the ‘old ‘ group on the Killenaule road, to Croakes Cross. etc

Street lighting along above footpaths, Ballingarry village exit to the Commons ( near the current school and 30 mph speed restriction signs )

Speed ramps near to all the schools

Speed signs 40 mph and 30 mph throughout the Parish ( locations particularly in / out Ballingarry & The Commons )

Village name signs needed .

Blind corner needs removing near Lisnamrock school exit

Lisnamrock , Shelly’s corner needs leveling

Road needs resurfacing Coalbrook Cross / School

( Susan will give this list to the County Council to enable preparation for the meeting scheduled 21/02/2002 )

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