10 years ago I wrote a paper with the Chamber of Commerce and on the need for a Community Enterprise Centre for start up businesses. These work well in both Arklow and Wicklow Town and were shown to the developer. The Charlesland owner committed to donating a 2,800 sq.m. Centre as well as building more Enterprise Units for sale, prior to any houses being occupied. However the present planning application is for houses only and they do not seem aware of previous commitments and I have objected to that.

At Greystones Municipal District meeting I demanded that we get the Enterprise Units first and also that the Council appoints an official to ensure they are built.

Read full objection to Lack of enterprise units

‘This main approach road to Greystones has vegetation which will take some maintenance. Also the 6 roundabouts will become dangerous if the bushes are not trimmed as they will obscure approaching cars. There is no plan to maintain it’. ‘Fine Gael and all 4 local Councillors supported this but I was disappointed that Fianna Fail voted to Take it in Charge even though there is no maintenance plan’.

A large amount of money, probably €300,000 will be raised by the Household Charge on Charlesland homes and this and the Rates on the new factory on the road should be used to fund this maintenance.

The Department is supposed to listen to Council officials as it is very difficult for a Councillor to get them to discuss issues. So far I have not had a response.

Charlesland is also not on the list to receive a real time bus information sign. Such a large estate should have one and I have written to the transport authorities to get one.

Bus shelters are also needed in a number of other places in Greystones including Mill Road and Redford

However Kilcoole and Charlesland have been left out in spite of my demanding signs earlier in the year. In the recent Census Kilcoole was one of the fastest growing towns in Ireland and Charlesland is the second largest private estate. They must have higher usage figures than many places allocated these signs.

Wicklow has not received its fair share of these signs which are stated to be allocated according to bus usage. ‘I am demanding these signs be placed in Kilcoole and Charlesland and will be applying as much pressure as I can’

These signs show the next 4 busses arriving at the bus stop and the time to arrival, similar to DART stations. They are useful especially further out where busses are less frequent and passengers wonder if it is coming. They are planned at Greystones DART Station, Blacklion, 8 places in Bray and one in each of Enniskerry and Blessington. ‘I am demanding signs be put up in Charlesland and Kilcoole, both large population centres. Also priority should be given to Eden Gate, Mill Road, Delgany and Newcastle’.

The test version can be seen on www.rtpi.ie and when live will be available on mobile phones as well as the display signs

The Council is trying to take it over but is waiting for the lights to be fixed and surface water problems addressed. The Council will have a final snag list ready to give to the developer for The Spine Road in Charlesland in a week. These are to be fixed and 6 pedestrian crossings added including one with traffic lights near SuperQuinn. Part of the developers bank bond is to be released back to him when all these snags are fixed and both roads will be ‘taken in charge’ by the Council.

The IDA has owned this site for 25 years and has done nothing with it except grow grass. There has been no political will to provide jobs in Greystones. I welcome the IDA deciding to do something to create jobs on the site.

A long time ago I asked that 11 acres, next to Charlesland, would be reserved for a new Secondary School. I am extremely disappointed that the IDA have ignored this and are to build on it. They should reserve a site for a school next to Charlesland and develop jobs on the other 2 sections and not rezone for a shopping centre. ‘I told the IDA that I was opposed to the plan unless land was reserved for a school’

The town has expanded 40% over the last 5 years and there are many new children in the 2,000 new homes in Charlesland and Eden Gate. The current site for a new Secondary school is by Lidl, the opposite end of the town with poor cycle and pedestrian access. Also there are 2 Primary Schools there and traffic congestion will be a problem. Only 35% of Secondary Students attend school within the town which adds to the need for a new school. I was disappointed that no other Councillor supported locating the school where demand is greatest and that Cllr. Stokes (Labour) said we did not need a new school and that the Lidl site was appropriate if one was needed.

I do not know why it goes that way and whether it needs to. I am a very firm and longstanding supporter of Public Transport, having campaigned for the DART for 22 years, and it is essential that Charlesland Residents can get to the DART as easily as possible. I am reluctant to ban Public Transport. I have told them that I will try to get it moved but if there is some reasonable reason why this cannot happen I would pursue a lower speed limit on Killincarrick Road

The North lane of the N11 at the Glen o’ Downs was increased to 100 kph. In Kilmacanouge the North lane was increased to 80 and the length of most speed restrictions there reduced. The 80 limit on the single carriageway N11 has been extended south at Barndarrig.

Priory Road, Delgany, Old Mill Road, Greystones, the N11 to Enniskerry road and Cookstown road were all reduced to 50 kph. 50 limits have been extended at Lacken and Red Lane, Blessington.

‘I am pleased that we have been able to change some limits to improve safety. It is also important on good roads, such as much of the N11, that limits are not set too low as this brings all speed limits into disrepute’.