Updates from your Local County Councillor, Cathal Rasmussen

The good news for the residents of Belvelly and of course for all the people of Cobh is that the remedial work on the damaged walls at Belvelly are due to begin. Martin O’Callaghan has been appointed as the contractor by the County Council to carry out the work and workmen are due on the site any day now. The work will take approximately 4 to 6 weeks with the length of missing wall being replaced, any other repairs to the wall being done, drain holes blocked up and a better drainage system installed. Hopefully this will help eleviate the flooding issues we have seen at Belvelly over the years and I am delighted that both Cork County Council Officials and the OPW have agreed to carry the necessary repairs. I would like to thank County Council senior engineer David Keane for all his support in ensuring that this work will be carried out.

The issue of hedging and shrubbery growing over the walls onto footpaths and roads is a cause of concern in and around the town at present. This is an accident waiting to happen as many people with children and prams have to regularly walk on the roads to avoid the risk of injury by these protruding growths. I have spoken to the council engineers and they make the point that it is the land owner’s responsibility to ensure that the hedges are kept in a proper manner. They will however be contacting residents to remind them of this, if it’s noticed or reported to them that there is a risk to the public. I would appeal to all residents to keep their hedges under control and to cut them back if they are protruding on to public footpaths and roads. This can only improve the look of the the town, as well as making it safer to walk on the footpaths around the town and country area.

The issue of cars speeding through many of our housing estates is still a major problem in the town. I have being approached by residents in a number of estates in recent weeks voicing their concerns in relation to the whole problem. I intend putting a motion at our first municipal area meeting in early September in relation to traffic calming measures in these estates. Council officials are aware of this issue and discussion needs to take place in order to see what if possible can be done to help the residents before serious accidents occur due to the mindless speeding.

The amount of our young people abusing alcohol in many areas of the town has reached a serious level. Every evening we all see youngsters heading out with the cans and bottles to all the local haunts. The Burma steps has become a particurtlar meeting place for these young people and for anybody living in the area ,outside of the noise and nuisance of these groups ,there is a genuine concern for the health and safety for anybody using these steps. Broken glass, cans, bottles and many other items are collected regularly by the council and tidy towns. We as a community need to start looking at this problem and we need to find a solution. It is only a matter of time before somebody is seriously hurt on the steps. I will be meeting with local people and organisations to discuss the options available to try and stem the flow of drinkers on the Burma steps. The issue of restricting the access to the Burma steps is being openly discussed by many once again. The gardai spent many hours over the summer moving and talking to young people in and around this area. Other areas in the town are suffering with the same issue and efforts need to be increased to try and reduce this problem and eliminate it if possible.

If anybody has any ideas about how to solve any of the problems I have outlined above or if they have any issues that they need help with, please feel free to contact me on 0868878421 or rosemountcobh1@eircom.net

Cathal Rasmussen