AN APPROXIMATE €600,000 has been spent by the local authority on remedial works at Cappahard Estate in Ennis.
As approved at the March meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Clare County Council have declared the roads within the Cappahard estate as public roads.
It includes the road from the junctions with the public roads (R352) and L-8563 to all terminal points within the estate, serving the following houses 5-8 Cappahard, 1-29 The Woods, 1-8 The Green, 1-16 The Close, 1-12 The Drive, 1-18 The Lane, 1-65 Ballymoneen, 1-10 Glen View Road, 1-18 Glen View Close, 1-16 Green View, 1-40 Fergus View, 1-32 Waterside.
Administrative officer in the planning department of the Council, Kieran O’Donnell stated that Irish Water was consulted and had no objections to the proposed taking in charge in case of the developments connected to public water and wastewater infrastructure. He added, “The Council is satisfied that the road is of general public utility and has considered the financial implications for the road’s authority of the proposed declaration”.
Over the past nine months, there has been “a substantial program of remedial works” completed in the area, O’Donnell outlined. “In advance of the main contract works, a number of minor contracts were awarded in order to substantiate the Council’s claim on the bonds. These contracts were to carry out an audit of the pump station, a full audit of manhole surveys and the water network and a full survey and audit of the foul and surface water sewers networks in the development and the combined costs of these contracts was €20,000”.
Two separate contracts were also awarded for the upgrade of the public lighting (€38,000) and the installation of stone name plaques in the estate (€18,000).
P.S. Carmody Ltd was awarded the main contracts for an approximate €520,000. This contract provided for substantial improvements to the water services network, surface water network, pump station, footpaths, pavement works, green areas and planting.
In total the Council has spent approximately €600,000 on remedial works to this estate. “The values of the bonds claimed were €520,000 and the balance of the works were funded by the Planning Department,” O’Donnell advised.
Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) who requested a progress report, recalled that the Cappahard estate “was built during the building boom, significant work was undertaken in 2008 and 2009 before Clare County Council took over the estate”. He said that councillors lobbied for a roundabout from 2011 and he recounted that he relayed this at a meeting with former Clare TD, Pat Breen (FG) and ex Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe (FG) which helped to secure funds for the roundabout.
He praised the planning department for their continued efforts. “At least 20m of green area on either side of the distributor road should be taken in,” Flynn suggested. Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) seconded his motion.
