The following is a copy of the minutes of the community group meeting held on 05-04-05, as recorded by Emmett Scully from the County Council. Anyone interested in getting involved in improving the community is asked to attend the next meeting (due next week), details of which will be posted as soon as they are known.

SHANNONBRIDGE BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
MEETING APRIL 5TH 2005

Venue - Old hall

Present: Roisín Lennon (West Offaly Partnership), Emmet Scully (Offaly Sports Partnership) Daragh Moran, Declan Price, Caitriona Slattery, Colette Quinn, Kerrill Thornhill, Olive Costello, Céline Grennan, Greg Nugent, Fr. O’Hanlon

Apologies: Padraig Boland (West Offaly Partnership), Tony Dalton (VEC), Amanda Pedlow (Offaly Co. Co.)

1. Tidy Towns

It was identified that existing voluntary tidy town efforts should be built. In particular Mary Kelly was identified as someone who needed to be included because of her efforts with tidy towns over the years.

A number of priority areas for the tidy towns were identified. These will be discussed and further developed at a meeting with Amanda Pedlow from Offaly Co Co:

- Enhance the appearance at either side of the bridge –
- Existing shrubbery has become overgrown. Low maintenance planting was suggested as most appropriate
- Repair to existing seating and put in place further seating.
- Repair railing at the side of the bridge.

- Enhance the appearance of the area across from the Church –
- Once again, it was suggested that low maintenance planting would be best

- Clean up the wall on the way in from the Balinasloe road –
- It had been cleaned before and as part of a student scheme
- Bushes and briars cover the wall and protrude onto the path

- Other areas that were identified were –
- Increase the number of bins and make existing ones bigger
- Signs erected e.g. “Keep Shannonbridge Tidy”
- Involve the young people through the youth clubs and the school

Names were then sought to be part of the tidy towns group. The following are a list of interested people:
- Daragh Moran
- Declan Price
- Caitriona Slattery
- Colette Quinn
- Olive Costello
- Greg Nugent

It was recognised that others may be interested in the Tidy Towns but were not present at the meeting. Anyone interested was invited to attend the meeting with Amanda Pedlow from Offaly Co. Co.

A number of dates were agreed as possible meeting dates with Amanda Pedlow. Monday nights at 8.30pm were identified as the best nights – Monday April 11th, Monday April 18th, and Monday April 25th.

2. Meeting with Local Representatives

Speeding/traffic, water quality, emptying of recycling bins, development of a walkway and investigating enterprise development at the power station offices had been identified as issues for discussion with the local representatives. Two further issues were identified: the Post Office has remained closed for 6-8 weeks, and the investigation of getting a group broadband scheme in place.

Volunteers were then sought to research each one of the areas –

- Speeding/Traffic Colette Quinn and Caitriona Slattery

- Water Quality Daragh Moran

- Recycling Bins Declan Price and Greg Nugent – A skip that is used by people on the boats was added for investigation.

- Walkways Derry Kileen’s name was put forward although he was not there. Céline Grennan pointed that there was no transport system and that the were not many amenities for people in Shannonbridge.

- Enterprise/Broadband Kerrill Thornhill – Kerrill noted that in relation to use of old ESB offices there was an issue with overhead power lines. He also noted that there would need to be a demand for use the offices)

- Post Office Céline Grennan – West Offaly Partnership agreed to try and get
some information on the matter)