Important Public Meeting.

A public meeting will be held in Clonfanlough Hall next Monday night 22rd. Sept at 9.00pm. The purpose is to discuss the implications for the local community of Clonmacnoise getting World Heritage Site Status. Issues include planning applications, grave yard restrictions, farming practices, entry to site for local people etc.
Everyone needs to attend and have their opinions heard.

UNESCO World Heritage Site Bid for Clonmacnoise.

A meeting was held in Clonfanlough Hall last Monday 15th Sept as an information and consultation exercise in relation to the above proposals.
Presentations were given by consultants ERA Maptec (who are handling the bid) Dept of Environment, Heritage and Local Gov., OPW and Offaly Co. Council.
Some of the main points include:
A Core Zone stretching from Shannonbridge to North of Long Island, North of Clonmacnoise. The area to include the callows, eskers, Mongan's Bog and Finn Lough.
A larger outer buffer zone would also apply, to protect the vista from Clonmacnoise.
No new restrictive legislation would be put in place. Existing regulations would continue to apply.
A study to establish where a new Visitor Centre should be sited, preferably at some distance from the site, to manage visitor numbers and traffic.
A Question and Answer session followed the presentations.
Some of the concerns raised were:
Lack of adequate notice for the meeting and the extremely tight time scale - Draft submission to UNESCO by end of this month.
Absence of Local Political Reps from the meeting, - apparently they had only received knowledge of the meeting earlier that day.
Absence of a structure that would allow the local community to be formally involved in the decision making process.
Impact on acquisition of a new grave yard.
Impact on planning, farming, roads and access to the site etc.

Adult Education Courses in Shannonbridge.

Dont forget the Open Information Evening in Shannonbridge School next Tuesday 23rd Sept from 7.30 pm to 9.30pm.

Tidy Towns Adjudication Report.

The marks for Shannonbridge for 2008 under each heading

Overall Development Approach Max 50 Awarded 35.

The Built Environment " 50 " 38

Landscaping " 50 " 36

Wildlife /Nat. Amenities " 50 " 24

Litter Control " 50 " 31

Waste Minimisation " 20 " 7

Tidiness " 30 " 18

Resedential Areas " 40 " 29

Roads, streets, back areas " 50 " 33

General Impression " 10 " 7

Total 400 258.

Under general impression the adjudicator said "It is good to see it still retains it's unique charm and that any development has been suitably restrained and respects the town's unique character and charm".
Copies of the report are available in the shops in the village.