Environment

Online Survey provides opportunity to improve parking management in Wicklow’s towns – Doyle

Andrew 2015, Environment, Transport, Wicklow - East Carlow

ParkingMeterIn an effort to promote better parking management and to help support trade in our towns Andrew Doyle, Fine Gael TD for Wicklow/Carlow has highlighted the opportunity for people to participate in an online survey on parking being undertaken by Wicklow County Council.

“The online survey is part of a review currently underway into parking across County Wicklow and was inspired at least partly by the Co. Wicklow Economic Think Tank which recognised the need to develop a consistent pay parking policy that supports retail activity.

“As in other counties, there is a compelling need to address challenges for the retail sector in towns and villages in our County and to identify the practical actions that can be taken by Government and the industry itself to support the sector.

“Pay parking is one element of a parking management system.  There are other issues around parking management in towns including parking space availability for buses, information and signage which are intrinsic to a good visitor experience which also needs to be considered.

“Pay parking is often not perceived as a support to retail activity or as an encouragement to shoppers. There is a need to put a more uniform system in place across our towns in Wicklow and to devise a system which is all about ensuring footfall, smooth circulation of traffic and providing secure, accessible and reasonably priced parking.  It is important to provide more clarity on the motivation for pay parking than has previously been evident.

“I will be writing to Wicklow County Council in the context of this parking review as I believe it is important to develop a consistent parking management system across the county and that this is done against the backdrop of doing whatever is possible to stimulate trade, commerce and tourism across the county. I would encourage the Council to assess other counties across Ireland who may have undertaken similar reviews in an effort to devise an effective parking management system and also to ensure the Council is consulting with relevant stakeholders and bodies working to rejuvenate our towns and boost retail activity.

“I would urge people who have an opinion on this subject to take part in this online survey. Further opportunities for engagement as part of the consultation process will take place once the new draft parking byelaws have been formulated. Written submissions can be sent to Christine Flood, Senior Executive Officer in Wicklow Co Council or by emailing parking@wicklowcoco.ie or doing the online survey on Wicklow Co Council website. Closing date for receipt of observations or questionnaires is Friday 29th May.”

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Essential public health and safety works at Tigroney West, Avoca, Co. Wicklow- Doyle

Andrew 2015, Communications, Environment, Wicklow - East Carlow

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Andrew Doyle TD has welcomed the announcement that The Minister for Natural Resources has applied for planning permission to Wicklow County Council to undertake essential public health and safety works at Tigroney West, Avoca, Co. Wicklow.

“After on-going dialogue with the Minister and Stakeholders, I very much welcome that the intent of these works is to address the serious public health and safety issues that are a legacy of the mining era at Avoca. The works will conserve certain mine heritage features on the site, including the ore bins, the ‘850 adit’ portal and ‘flat rod tunnel’, all of which are in poor condition. There will be improvements to the local environment as a result of better water management” Doyle said

It is proposed to regrade and cover the spoils area to prevent further contamination of groundwater and run-off to the Avoca River as well as capturing drainage and surface run-off from the site. The surface water on site will be managed by a series of channels and through piping the mine discharge from the ‘850 adit’ underneath the spoils to a constructed culvert. These works will have a measurable positive impact on water quality in the river, which is contaminated from legacy mine discharges.

Capping of the spoils will protect the local community and visitors to the Avoca area from any exposure to the spoils material and mitigate any health risk. The capped surface will be landscaped in a manner similar to the local surroundings. The ore bins and cribbing will be removed for repair and restoration and then re-erected at their current location during the works.

Construction works commence upon receipt of planning permission and are expected to take 3-4 months to complete. An industrial archaeologist will supervise the heritage aspects of the works and measures will be taken to minimise inconvenience to the local community.

“When these works are completed, it is hoped that consequential improvements in public access will reveal the tourism potential in the area and local environs. This may enable local voluntary organisations to pursue their aspirations to develop tourism opportunities around the industrial heritage at this part of the former mine site at Avoca, Co Wicklow” Concluded Doyle