Submissions my foot , What changes have been made that have been influenced by submissions . I made submissions about the changes to the Johns Green and was just dismissed with excuses. There should be an independent body to view and judge the merits of any submission or complaint to the co co's. I asked for,... a pedestrian crossing at the vegetable shop---dismissed,... a ramp to slow down speeding traffic we are subjected to especially from taxis, (I have had two cars written off outside my door ) , ---dismissed ,(ambulance freeway ) .
Looking at the drawings ,I asked for a wider footpath from old tax office to Barrack St., bridge , and for car parking to be changed to lengthways parking beside the footpath . --- dismissed as that it was wide enough. Now when vans reverse up to path, one can barely walk behind it, is this not incompetence ? No one listens to us , Do they ever admit to getting it wrong ? Do the original architects survey these submissions ? If so , they should not . It should be by an external unbiased party with no connection social or personal connections to the original planners.
When my elderly neighbours in their nineties walk up the street now , they get to the end of our dangerous footpath at the entrance to the big car park and are faced with a 9" step when they cross over. We still have traffic signs in concrete barrels, We still have traffic turning in at the centra shop at the vegetable shop which is supposed to be exit only , because of incompetent signage and road layout . traffic arriving at the Johns green end of Wolfe Tone St., often still don't know where to go . I have said this to those responsible in city hall and was told "we checked that , it's fine . But every day I am on that street and see confused people there not knowing where to go .Many times as a motorcyclist I have come around O'Gormans corner and met oncoming traffic in the one way stretch, once having a very narrow escape from a serious crash and injury or death. [sentence removed by admin - inappropriate content].. Even a broken white line in the centre of the road would show drivers the course of the road? .[sentence removed by admin - inappropriate content].
Then we have the inner "RELIEF" road ??? Are you all wearing EAR MUFFS up there ?? Can you not hear the people of Kilkenny ? . WE don't want a bridge or new road there in Wolfe Tone St.,. so stop wasting our money on your pet projects. and finish the ring road with a bridge somewhere on the bleach road. When are you going to publish the returns from on street parking and fines that you imposed on us against our wishes ?
When are you going to move the traffic offices to Maudlin St and away from the ridiculous aspect of having to park in Market yard and traverse up to city hall to do business , (of course you get more money from parking from us , was this a pre conceived idea ? . .
Why, when I cannot get parking in my street, must I pay to park in the next street ? Why do we not have resident parking only, in our street [sentence removed by admin - inappropriate content]. When you brought in street parking charges you effectively narrowed the streets where in some places cars can’t pass each other, You put parking bays where there should be double yellow lines. Pure Greed. Where does that money go.
Why did the Co. co. not buy the Renehan house at the dangerous, and difficult to manoeuvre corner of Greensbridge that was for sale for ages for a pittance. They could have bought and demolished this and opened up the view at this difficult spot., but it seems no one had the foresight , gumption, or common sense to see it.
As a fisherman I am sometimes under Greensbridge and I rang the Borough council last summer to tell of all the broken blue corrugated piping that was broken and hanging down underneath the Greensbridge footpath (whatever it’s purpose was it’s not serving it now) and the seriously rusted piping and girders that I said I’d imagine might need inspecting but it is still the same. I have never since even been asked about it. I expect it was just dismissed and rubbished.
We'd like to thank you for engaging in the process and for your post. The purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county. We do not have the capacity to deal with operational matters of the local authorities or the process around historical developments on this site. Therefore, this website is not the appropriate forum to discuss some of your comments, as they lie outside of the scope of the Development Plans (and this site), but we have tried to address your points as we see them below:
1. Your first comment relates to developments by the Borough Council at John’s Green. This process of approval, which was carried out in 2011, included for public consultation. All submissions received would have been taken into consideration before a final recommendation was made in the subsequent Manager’s report. In this situation the Manager’s report goes to the elected members for approval on the recommendation of the technical staff.
2. The Inner Relief Road, or Central Access Scheme, was subject to extensive public consultation. This development, because of the criteria set down, was an application that was decided by An Bord Pleanála on 12/12/2011 under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. An Bord Pleanála is an independent body. This scheme serves as an example as to how a policy within a Development Plan can come to fruition, as a policy for this scheme was included in a Development Plan in the 1980s (to construct an inner relief road and bridge to improve traffic conditions in the city). By getting involved in the Development plan process, and amending existing policies, citizens can influence the way our city grows into the future.
3. In relation to the parking matter; parking in the city is within the remit of the Borough Council and not the County Council. The Borough Council Offices are located on High Street and therefore all administrative matters are dealt with there.
4. Revenue raised from on-street parking fees is allocated to the maintenance of car parks, provision of smarter travel infrastructure and maintenance and improvement of the public realm.
5. Traffic issues around Greens bridge were addressed in the design of the Central Access Scheme. You could propose this as a potential solution to the problems you identify as part of the Development Plan for Kilkenny City.
6. Regarding piping at Greens bridge, we have forwarded your concern to the relevant technical staff in the Borough Council. Though this website is not the forum for reporting maintenance issues Kilkenny Local Authorities are rolling out an application called “fixmystreet’ this year which will allow the public to easily report public maintenance issues to the relevant personnel within the Local Authority.
Apologies for the delayed response; yes, guidelines and standards for new residential development, and for expansion/extensions in existing residential areas will from part of the plans.
Apologies for the delayed response; a total of seven meetings are being held around the county and city during this phase of public consultation. Each of these meetings will focus on a particular theme for discussion, but there will also be room for general discussion on any other development plan related issues. The topic of Community Development will be the focus of the Callan meeting on the 7th July. In addition, all comments on any of these issues are welcome on this site.
Will the decision by Government to finally ratify the Aarhus Convention affect the overall approach to the plan and in particular in relation to scoping for SEA?
It is a far reaching measure for communities in terms of how planning and environmental issues impact on them and it is positive that it has finally been ratified fourteen years after Ireland signed up to it.
To get involved in the development plans, the best idea is to come along to one of our public meetings, the first of which is on Tuesday 19th June. And/or, you or your organisation may decide to make a submission to the process. If you have a specific query about your area, please feel free to contact the County Council Planning section at 7794010 or the Borough Council at 7794534.
Any Development Plan must be, as far as is practicable, be consistent with such national plans, policies or strategies as the Minister for Environment determines relate to proper planning and sustainable development. The Aarhus Convention is in the final stages of ratification by Ireland. This lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizen’s involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law; its provisions are broken down into three Pillars: Access to Information, Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making and Access to Justice.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (or SEA) is the formal evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan. The SEA process for the Development Plans starts with a scoping exercise, which determines what information should be included in the Strategic Environmental Assessment. Any submissions made by the public during this current (15th June-24th August) consultation phase that relate to environmental issues will be considered for inclusion in the scoping of the SEA. Environmental reports will be published with the Draft Plans in 2013. Further information on the SEA process is available here: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad,1616,en.pdf
This suspension bridge was built by Ellen Countess of Desart to link Talbot’s Inch village to the Greenvale woollen mills on the far bank. The bridge was built to accommodate mill workers crossing the river Nore from their residences at Talbot’s Inch in the early 1900’s. The bridge was swept away in the flood of ’47 and has not been rebuilt since. The footings of the bridge can still be seen today at Linear Park (Bishop’s Meadows) which is now a scenic walkway that stretches from Talbots Inch to Riverside Park. I urge the County Council to construct a replica of this bridge crossing at some point along the river Nore linking the canal walk to the 1.6km Lacken Walk . An ideal part of the river for the bridge to cross would be opposite the county council office so as to link the canal walk to the Lacken walk which would form a circular walk where local’s and tourist’s could stroll down the canal over the new suspension bridge, along the Lacken walk, as far as the ring road where they could then travel to the Bennettsbridge roundabout, down by the Black Quarry and back onto the Canal walk. This bridge was part of Kilkenny’s history and it would be breathtaking to see it back over the river Nore in the 21st century.
Thank you for your comments. The Council are considering various short, medium and long-term possibilities to enhance connectivity across the River Nore as part of the overall plan for the Linear Park. Issues such as pedestrian linkages in the city will be discussed at tomorrow’s public meeting in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle at 7.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.
Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny City Borough Council have purchased the 10.6-acre site St Francis Abbey brewery in Kilkenny city. This is on the location of Saint Francis' Friary, founded in 1232. Back in the 13th century the Franciscans established this Abbey on the banks of the River Nore in Kilkenny with its own well which is dedicated to St Francis, and long held in great veneration. The well is located about 45 metres to the northeast of the friary and is now underneath one of the brewery buildings. It is a site of enormous historical, but also economic development potential in the centre of Kilkenny. The proposal that I am putting forward is a water bottling business be set up on part of the site using water from St Francis' Well. Most people are likely to buy or at least use bottled water on a day to day basis or at least once a week. Despite the recession bottled water brands have grown in value and volume. If done correctly this would be a good way for the Kilkenny County Council to make additional income and “pure “profits that would go directly into the development of the many projects in Kilkenny, and would also create jobs which is badly needed A very appropriate name for this bottled water would be Saint Francis Abbey Spring water.
Thank you for your suggestion. The prospect of water bottling at any location is dependent on a range of factors, and would be subject to detailed examination and analysis. All ideas for the redevelopment of the Brewery site are welcome and will be considered in the Development Plan objectives for the site.
Kilkenny Castle Park is one of the supreme cultural attractions in Europe so it’s about time a permanent Victorian or Contemporary style bandstand was constructed. A simple construction, yet, it creates an ornamental focal point, provides acoustic requirements and shelter from the changeable weather. A bandstand in Kilkenny Castle Park could have numerous types of musical groups performing during the summer months. Lunch time recitals would also go down a treat. Kilkenny has an abundance of talent; brass bands, pipe bands, choirs, chamber orchestra, school bands, community groups etc. It could also be a place for Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Eireann to showcase the music of Ireland. In addition it would be an impressive way for families with young children to be informed and be made aware of different types of music. This would be a unique open air venue that could be used not only for musical recitals but also for poetry reading, yoga, flower arranging, cookery demonstrations and many other activities. The council’s, Board Failte and the Office of Public Works could come together and construct a bandstand and raise the profile of Kilkenny as tourism destination. Funding could also be sourced from public subscription or public fund raising. A bandstand would encourage visits from wider sections of the local communities and would further enhance the tourism potential of the Castle Park.
Thank you for your suggestion. The Castle and the adjacent park are in state ownership and are managed and controlled by the Office of Public Works (OPW). We will be liaising with the OPW and Fáilte Ireland during the preparation of the Development Plan, and will discuss this suggestion with them.
The significance of the opportunity with which we are presented in acquiring the Brewery site cannot be underestimated. We have the chance to facilitate a key development which can decisively shape the future of Kilkenny City and its hinterland. We need to be bold, ambitious and resolute in the pursuit of the best solution for our City.
In considering the future of the Brewery site, we need to be brutally honest about what we don’t need in our city: more shopping centres, a mish-mash of visitor centres/retail/commercial units/apartments etc. We have a 14 acre site that needs to be developed in a unified, cohesive fashion in the best interests of the city, not private development. We need a means of attracting large numbers of people to Kilkenny and keeping them here for a sustained period in a sustainable way.
The establishment of a University in Kilkenny has been one of the city’s great ‘what ifs?’ since the 17th century. We are now presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to make it a reality. There are several options as to how to proceed, depending on resources and aspiration.
Multi-Faculty Partner University
Firstly, let’s be ambitious and consider developing the best possible University campus we can, as an autonomous institution rather than as an adjunct to WIT or a future ‘University of the South East.’ Recognising that current economic realities prohibit its establishment exclusively from public funds, a more realisable alternative would be to do so under the auspices of an established (and wealthy) foreign University.
Many (particularly US Universities) have relationships with European universities for the purposes of expanding their student offering, concentrating expertise and providing a focal point for the University’s work into Europe. Boston College, Lynn University and Champlain College have campuses in Dublin. Mercyhurst has recently opened a campus in Dungarvan. I suggest that an obvious partnership for Kilkenny’s third level college should be University of California Berkeley, named after Kilkenny’s Bishop George Berkeley.
Established in 1868, Berkeley is one of America’s largest and most prestigious Universities, with a student population of over 35,000, one third of which are postgraduate. Berkeley offers more than 7,000 courses in over 350 degree programmes. Berkeley produces more PhDs than any other US University and in 2009 attracted almost €650 million in research funding alone. At present, Berkeley’s overseas commitments are restricted to participation in a distributed Education Abroad Programme in which 150 courses are offered at centres in 35 countries, including Ireland. The programme is administered centrally for all students of the wider University of California.
We should approach potential partner Universities with an ambitious proposal reflective of the value and importance of the site. Ideally, we’d like a multi-faculty, stand alone University that either builds on the city’s unique heritage and recognises the centrality of Kilkenny in philosophical, ecclesiastical, political, architectural and literary history, in Arts, Humanities, Crafts and Sport, and/or focuses on the future.
We could tailor our offering to the realities of the global marketplace and their future development, leaving to Ireland’s existing Universities the more traditional disciplines. Few would argue that a new approach to finance, banking and business is overdue and should be foremost in any new college’s prospectus. Environmental science will become ever more central to all aspects of domestic and commercial life, particularly in the field of renewable energy.
In terms of language skills, Chinese, Arabic and Russian are likely to be more useful than the European languages going forward. Our agricultural heritage provides a rich background for pursuing excellence in agri-science. The pharma/bioscience hub in the South East would benefit greatly from a university supplying top quality graduates, securing employment into the future.
We have a world-class animation studio in Kilkenny and a pioneering youth film school upon which to build a media arts faculty which focuses on animation, games development and online content production taking cognisance of the trends already underway in the global media marketplace and which will be key sectors for the Irish economy in the medium to long term. No modern University can underestimate the centrality of ICT both to economic recovery now and security of employment into the future. The site itself, having already served 400 years as a brewery, provides an unrivalled location for a microbiology/brewing department.
Niche Campus
Subject to funding/resource constraints, it might be possible to pursue partnership initiatives more conservatively, if required. There are two potential approaches:
We can aim to attract foreign students to a Kilkenny campus for courses that feed into wider programmes, and for which they can receive credit in their home University. To do so requires a concentration of emphasis on shorter courses with emphasis on subjects of Irish interest: language, literature, history and politics.
We could follow the model of, for example, NYU Film School or the Salt Institute and identify a niche in which we establish a prestigious centre of excellence. NYU FS is devoted to training a new generation of filmmakers in two centres, New York and Los Angeles. Salt produces exemplary documentary photographers, filmmakers and radio producers. Courses of 9 months to 2 years duration, employing recognised experts, attract students from all over the world and aim to produce the best international exponents of their disciplines.
International Brewing Academy
A third possibility would be to independently establish the St. Francis Abbey International Academy of brewing offering both short courses for interested amateurs in craft brewing to professional degree, graduate and Master Brewer programmes. The Siebel Institute of Technology (US) offers similar programmes at its centres in Chicago, Montreal and Berlin.
I think it’s crucial to emphasise the need to recognise the importance and integrity of the site and the significance of the opportunity with which we are presented. If we get this right, the benefits to the local economy are both manifold and sustainable: employment for our citizens, customers for our businesses (crucially, outside of the Summer tourist season), renters for our properties, and a renewed vibrancy and dynamism in the heart of our city.
We thank you for taking the time and effort in posting your comments on our site. It is interesting to see that the idea for a university for the site has come through very strongly from other sources during this consultation exercise.
We’d like to open up a wider discussion on this topic and would welcome responses from anyone to the following points:
The site is approximately 5.6 hectares (14 acres). Should all 14 acres be for university/educational use?
The city is still growing in size (10% increase in last 5 years) so there will be a need for more housing, shopping, employment into the future. Should part of the site accommodate some of these uses?
Can anyone think of towns/cities where large, central brown field sites have been redeveloped, that could be used as an example?
While I advocate the primary use of the site for the development of a third level institution, there are many complementary activities which could benefit from co-location and cooperative thinking. An incubation centre for ICT start-ups, providing office/lab accommodation and on-site mentoring, could both benefit and benefit from sharing space and resources with a University. Similarly, renewable energy projects, rural development enterprises and cultural initiatives could lease space from the University and collaborate across a broad range of activities to their mutual benefit.
If we were to pursue the establishment of a Kilkenny campus of a foreign University either as a stand alone campus or niche college, it is likely that dorm accommodation for students would be an additional attraction/requirement. The accommodation could be leased to visiting tourists during college holiday periods. Recreational spaces, open to all, should also form a central part of the plan.
The followiing is a comment I put on the you tube page of KK coco...
The signage on lighting poles from Dukesmeadows to Castle road is a crazy idea . I went over the centre road line more than once while distracted by these and trying to read them . This will cause a head on crash one of these days if not removed.
This was the response;.........
These signs were erected to advertise the Smarter Travel day, which took place on the 23rd June. They will be removed shortly. If you have any additional comments or feedback on the Ourplan Video presentations we would request that you make them on the ourplan website if possible? ourplan.kilkenny.ie thank you for your comment.
This response just stated the obvious. What I was pointing out was a problem with the signage(content moderated) . Thing is WHO reads these comments or submissions ? , probably the people we complain about .
While I am at it , someday someone will drown in the river nore along St. Johns Quay. About year ago a mans boxer dog was drowning in the river and a passing local lifeguard I was chatting to , had to strip and dive in to it's aid . When he got the panicing dog to the end of an UPRIGHT iron ladder he could not get the dog out of the water . I had to drop a lifebouy rope down and he tied it to the dog , I ran backward pulling the rope over the railing and the lifeguard pushed the dog up from under neath . We got the dog out , If that was a human he would probably be dead . When this flood wall was built t, it seems no one had the foresight to envisage the scenario of any potential accidental drowning or rescue attempt. ......which will occur sometime , be sure of it . (content moderated) The river was put out of use of the public . either swimming , boat access , mooring , low water bank walkway .Those vertical iron ladders are useless . Who will use those ? they at least should be set in the wall at a 45 to 60 degree angle which might be better . I know there's the danger of kids playing on them though. The river could be utilised much more in Summertime too . But anyway something must be done to make any potential rescue possible. How can anyone get a helpless / dying human body from the water ? when time is of the essence when one needs a body lying flat down to attempt resuscitation attempt , Is there an emergency corporation boat / boatmen on emergency call ? like an ambulance ? On a lighter note, I fish on the quay and If I ever hook a big fish I have no hope of landing it. as I don';t have a net with a 18foot handle.But the planners wouldn't have cared about that . I will keep a copy of this mail and hope I never have to say "I told you so ".
Thank you for your comment. We are trying to encourage continued debate by prioritising this as our featured thread, see https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/featured-content
What do other people think of these suggestions?
Dear Kilkennyman, The purpose of putting these presentations online on ourplan.kilkenny.ie and youtube is to invite the public to participate in and collaborate with the Councils in the formulation of the Development Plans. The erection of temporary signage is not a part of this process. Temporary signage is erected according to the relevant regulations and can be used for a multitude of purposes (traffic management, elections, general information).
The ladders along the quay wall were part of the Flood Relief Scheme carried out by the OPW to alleviate flooding within the city. any queries in relation to the adequacy of the scheme should be directed to the OPW directly at info@opw.ie.
While we appreciate all feedback we are hoping for constructive comments (and criticisms) which are related to the formulation of the County Development plans and which are relevant to these plans.
It is intended , before the end of the year, to implement fixyourstreet.ie for Kilkenny, this new service will be the appropriate forum to report problems and issues of day to day concern. In the meantime we would ask that you contact the appropriate department in the Council directly to report or discuss any issues of concern.
Kilkenny international cycle velodrome. Could this be part of the Smithwicks site redevelopment?sounds far fetched, however cycling is becoming an ever increasing past time and sport for many people consider that eight thousand people took part in the Sean Kelly sportive last year and nine thousand participated in the ring of Kerry cycle also Ireland has had international success at the highest levels of cycling including winning the Tour De France.
In 1994 the UK opened the Manchester international Velodrome and cycling centre that has had huge success in developing cycling in the UK and now puts Manchester on the map as one of the cycling capitals of the world resulting in nine gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and the base for the very fine Team Sky cycling team. Large numbers of Irish cyclists travel to Manchester to train and compete and meet with professional coaches on a regular basis.
So i’m wondering could the bottling hall in Smithwicks brewery be developed into a modern and iconic structure that would be big enough to facilitate a 250 meter Olympic standard indoor cycling track including spectator seating, built to the highest standards with private and state finance as part of a varied use development that would cater for may other sports and events in the in-track area such as badminton, tennis. boxing etc. live shows, also basketball could make a return to the brewery! there could be a full-time sports science element to this idea including coaching, sports nutrition, that would be part of any university campus that is proposed for the city. Geographically Kilkenny is in between two of the largest cites in Ireland both reachable by motorway and is surrounded by some of the most cycle passionate counties in Ireland.
There have been plans to build a velodrome in other Irish towns for a number of years now it appears to my that the race is now on Kilkenny could win and become the centre for cycling in Ireland attracting people from home and abroad for national and international events with all the benefits to the local community. People say Kilkenny has a unique opportunity to build something the will help define the city maybe this idea is not so far fetched as it first seems, to bring sport to the heart of the city.
Thank you for your suggestions. We have moved this comment to our Featured Thread on the brewery site as a discussion on this topic is taking place here. Does anyone else have other ideas for the brewery site? Or do you agree with or have any comment on any of the previous suggestions above?
Is there a biodiversity policy for land that the councils control, such as roadside banks on the ring road, traffic roundabouts, parks etc? Planting of local wildflower seeds, and native shrubs and trees would all encourage insects, birds etc.
Some years ago I suggested planting trees such as silver birch on roundabouts to give them a vertical scale. I was told then that they would obstruct drivers' view of traffic on the other side of the roundabout. The present signs on roundabouts are at driver eye level and completely block views across the roundabout (which I would have thought is actually safer). The flower beds are very attractive but they are very regimented and become hackneyed. I note some tree planting on one of the roundabouts at least so maybe views are changing? In France not only are their trees but also small cottage-like structures and large sculpture on bigger roundabouts.
There is no specific written or operational policy for biodiversity on council owned property.
There is merit in the suggestion of having a biodiversity policy and/or objective and having this in the relevant Development Plans. This will be examined in the review process. It is not a straightforward issue in terms of day to day operations and would require staff and financial resources in awareness raising and training across the local authority. This is an issue that can also be raised through fora such as the Heritage Forum which is tasked with implementation of the Biodiversity plan and the Heritage plan for the County, particularly in view of the current review of the Heritage Plan.
The decision by Dublin to ramp up the Dublin Bikes scheme is a wonderful development, and sets a marker for Kilkenny for this development plan. It may not be possible to have a bike scheme as such in Kilkenny city - though I note that the Newpark Hotel has two distinctive looking bikes available for guests, and it could be possible to have a trial with a few bikes which would be accessible by either a creditcard swipe or PIN or some such security feature so that the 'borrower' is identified. However Dublin is making a loud statement that bikes are a major part of their plan for mobility, and with the street signs proclaiming 'smarter travel', Kilkenny must respond appropriately. With the coming of the new pedestrian bridge at Bateman / Johns Quay the possibility will exist to create an off road cycle path link using the linear park etc., and safe cycle routes to schools, if possible off-road, must be a priority
Where can one see a list of Tree Preservation Orders in the present County Development Plan 2008-14? The TPOs in the city are listed at Appendix F of the city plan but I cannot find the location of TPO list for the county, and the search tab brings up only much older (and very few) TPOs.
Many thanks in anticipation.
The list of Tree Preservation Orders for the County is contained in Table 8.3, Chapter 8, Heritage of the County Development Plan 2008-2014, see this link: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/node/47
The trees listed in Appendix F of the City & Environs Plan are identified as ‘Trees worthy of Preservation’, but these are not subject to TPOs. Policies are included in Chapter 7, Heritage, of the City Development Plan for their protection, see Policy H85 https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/node/35
PROPOSAL. To grasp the opportunity offered to feature corn milling which operated on the site for centuries. To erect a simple medieval corn mill. If this cannot be done immediately the necessary plot of land should be preserved and feature the surviving mill race with a history given on storyboards. Milling of grain was the most important manufacturing activity in the city from its very foundation. In the continuing work to preserve and present the medieval city its manufacturing past has been largely ignored. Little has been preserved of mills, forges, tanning, textiles, malting or brewing. There is now an opportunity to record this activity. A mill would add to the the interest of the proposed ‘medieval mile’.
HISTORY
There still exists across the brewery site a water course, largely subterranean, which was previously a mill race, serving a water wheel powered corn mill on the site.
The water comes from the river Bregagh and discharges into the river Nore. Its course is depicted on maps from 1758.
It is believed that the mill was originally called the Town Mill.
In 1425 the Earl of Ormond made a grant of a water mill described as ‘le towyn myle’.
By 1537 it had acquired the name Jenkin’s mill, from a tenant’s name, possibly Jenkin Roth who was the town Sovereign in 1473.
That name continued in use down to 1830. At about that date it became part of the brewery holding and lost its identity as an independent mill though it continued in use under the Smithwicks.
The water wheel was removed in living memory and its exact location can be pointed out by the Smithwick family and ex-brewery employees.
The water wheel has been preserved on a private estate.
A great thing about the Brewery site is that it is big enough to accommodate a number of the proposals here and elsewhere. Having said that, the site offers a huge opportunity for the city and county to address a serious gap in its life and infrastructure- a 3rd-level college. There is a presence in Kilkenny from NUI Maynooth in St. Kieran’s College- and that's to be welcomed in providing an opportunity for local study in a limited range of humanity-based subjects. There is also the welcome proposal that WIT will base some of its innovation-focused modules in the same St Kieran’s building. But while not diminishing the existing and proposed initiatives, it has to be stated plainly that a second campus, is always a ‘second campus’! The main campus gets the attention, prestige projects and attention.
Kilkenny needs a 3rd-level institution that fits with its existing brand in ‘craft-art-design’ and offers to push that on to another level. We need an art and design focused college. In the same way as the creation of Kilkenny Design Workshops in 1965 gave Kilkenny an advantage in craft that it has not lost to this day; a college of art and design would build on that tradition and move the city to another level in terms of developing a creative centre for the county. The Brewery site offers a perfect site for such an initiative.
The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) on the other hand is spread among a number of sites throughout Dublin City. There, the NCAD is very much a ‘small fish in a big pond’ contending with Trinity, UCD, DCU and DIT for profile. In Kilkenny NCAD would be the big fish in a small pond. Furthermore they could help design the pond to their taste. Kilkenny is popular with young people and creative. The Brewery’s riverside setting allows for a great deal of imagination in how you could physically design the campus to link the contemporary, medieval and future aspects of the town together.
The student life that a college would bring would not just help to occupy vacant houses and apartments in the City and county- or enliven the social life of the city- particularly at the ‘west end’ but there will be an inevitable cross-fertilisation with other strengths of non-fine arts in Kilkenny- animation, music, etc. An additional benefit would be to increase the numbers of students using the train and bus services to Dublin and elsewhere. Most arts student will use public transport and with Dublin having the lion’s share to the population, traffic on the train and bus would do much to ensure that the County’s public transport system was secured from cuts in provision.
If we are serious about making Kilkenny a ‘Creative Hub’, the best way to do that is by attracting a critical mass of creative people and facilitate their mixing in a place sympathetic to that creativity, and let them at it! Good stuff will emerge and Kilkenny will benefit. There may be some issues in that most of the major art galleries are based in Dublin, but I don’t see that as being a serious argument against all the benefits that I’ve mentioned. So let’s take the plunge and ask the NCAD on their plans and interests. We may never have a better chance….
Suggest reinstate IE29 from the 2008 - 2014 Development plan: Support the continued development of airport facilities at Kilkenny Aerodrome.
The Aerodrome at Holdesrath three miles west of Kilkenny City has been in operation since 1961 and has held an aerodrome licence since 1965. It is well known Internationally for the Kinair Rally which helped to raise the profile of Kilkenny City as a tourist destination. At this stage the airfield is part of the heritage of Kilkenny County and indeed of the Country.
Having an airfield alongside the City, raises awareness of aviation amongst young people and opens up a range of possible career options. A significant number of local people have learned to fly at Kilkenny and gone on to fly with the Irish Aer Corp and the Airlines.
A licensed airfield is also a significant factor for attracting business to locate in the City and region.
There is also a common misperception that airfields are noisy. In fact, airfields that cater for light aircraft such as Kilkenny airfield, generate very little noise. Any noise generated during the take off phase of flight quickly disapears as the plane leaves the vicinity. On approach, most aircraft are throttled back and generate very little noise. For most local residents, road traffic, agricultural machinery and the neighbours lawnmower etc are far more persistant and noisy than any light aircraft.
In reality the airfield is a large open green space which attracts wildlife.
A licensed airfield is also a 'National' asset in so far as it can be used by the emergency services. Medical evacuation etc. The Irish Coastguard helicopter makes occasional visits to maintain familiarity with the facilities. It can also be used by light aircraft that have to divert from their intended destination due to weather or technical issues.
Of course the airfield is also a recreational facility and although flying is a minority sport, diversity is important. Kilkenny airfield is unique in the State with its long licensed grass runway and uncongested airspace overhead. There is tremendous potential to develop the airfield for sport flying whilst having minimum impact on the surroundings.
Kilkenny airfield is an asset for the City and County and as such should get a positive mention in the development plan.
Whatever goes into the Brewery site I hope it conserves the skyline as it used to be, before the towering monstrosities that were built in and around the brewery and St. Francis abbey. Those towering eyesores went up without a blink from the city "fathers"( probably because of the jobs created). Planners seemed to give the brewery free gratis to build what they liked ., It resembles somewhere in Pakistan. Medieval city my eye, an awful eyesore.
The layout of St. Johns Green is disastrous. In the early stages we in Wolfe Tone Street were invited to look at the plans, and to submit submissions with regards to this. I for one did so, and was basically ignored and fobbed off .
I pointed out that the footpath from Wolfe Tone Street to Barrack street was too narrow, that two pushchairs couldn't pass each other on it, that they should be widened and traffic should be parked alongside the path.
I was later told they were adequate.
Now every time I pass by there's a truck or big car reversed in, back wheel to the kerb , and sometimes not enough room for a pedestrian to get by at the rear of it , Who is responsible for this . [sentence removed by admin - Inappropriate content].
I suggested a pedestrian crossing at the vegetable shop and was told NO.
I suggested a ramp for Wolfe Tone St., to slow speeding traffic that we've had for years .
I was told NO , cannot have one, as " Wolfe Tone Street" is an Ambulance freeway........
What have they done ? ..but built a HIGH RAMP outside the vegetable shop with a crossing on top of it ..…….. Ambulance freeway ? ? ?
The acute corner from W.T.St., is an accident waiting to happen . THE GREED of the borough council for parking income is disgraceful When one turns at this NOW dangerous spot , one is confronted with ;
(a) Meeting oncoming traffic on a narrow roadway at a 90 degree corner
Vehicles reversing out from;
(b) the left hand side ,
(c) the right hand side
(d) Traffic approaching from John St., and the €2 car park.
Two trucks have difficulty passing each other here ,with one often having to reverse,
Approaching Wolfe Tone from Barrack St., you no longer have the right of way , and if you see the "stop " sign which is way too high , and if you can see through the traffic parked in the commercial loading bay to your left , and yield to traffic coming from your right , and from the car park in front of you ,.... then you can cross.
This system has to be changed. ;
As we turn left at the top of Wolfe Tone street , car parking on left hand side , by old Tax offices wall, should be lengthways, and the path widened .
On the right hand side as you turn the parking must be completely removed and the roadway widened to encompass all this space.
If this is not the right place to put this letter , would one of you, who would tell me it's not the relevant dept. or site , and who is more pc literate , please do me a favour and copy and paste to where it might be seen, or forward it there . Thank you .
Thank you for that reply , God , what to make of it .
This is not our dept.
The borough council is onHigh St. . ? ...I live here . I know that.
On the top of this page it says ; The councils of the county and city of Kilkenny .Kilkeny city and enviorns development plan .
IT SEEMS TO BE A WASTE OF MY TIME WRITING HERE , IT'S ALL PASSING THE BUCK.
Jobs for the boys
I recieved a letter from you today and when I went to look at it was told "access denied " ??? ......right !!
Who deleted part of my letter ?
Thank you for engaging in the process. As the submissions period has closed for the pre-draft stage, this comment will be included in the Draft stage of the Plans. The Development Plan will include broad guiding principles for the approach to the site, which may include limits on building heights/scale etc. There has been a significant level of interest in the future of this site, which will inform the content of the Draft Plan. There will be a further opportunity to comment when the Draft Development Plan goes on public display next year.
This website is intended as a collaborative forum for the making of the Development Plans. Not all of your comments (posted on the 28th May 2012) were related to Development Plan issues, but the response set out the factual position to all the issues raised.
Unfortunately, this link was broken. The link has now been rectified, and if you click on the link again: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/sites/default/files/files/Pre-draft%20Managers%20Report%201_11_12.pdf you will be able to read the Manager’s Report on the Pre-draft Consultation process.
All comments on the site are moderated in line with our Moderation Policy, which is available here: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/moderation_policy
These comments relate to developments carried out by the Borough Council at John’s Green. The process of approval, which was carried out in 2011, included for public consultation. All submissions received would have been taken into consideration before a final recommendation was made in the subsequent Manager’s report. In this situation the Manager’s report goes to the elected members for approval on the recommendation of the technical staff.
As the purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county, it is not the appropriate forum to make comments on the John’s Green scheme, but as requested, we have passed your comments on to the Borough Council.
This comment relates to the revised layout implemented by the Borough Council at John’s Green in 2012. The objective of this project was to improve accessibility in the area, especially for pedestrians and also to provide safer driving conditions. The area had suffered from haphazard parking (particularly commercial vehicles) and the exit was blocked on a regular basis. The area was poorly defined which led to inconsiderate and unsafe driving behaviour. Consequently the design included for additional wider footpaths, accessible crossing points, relocation of street lighting and properly designed facilities for commercial activity. All works comply with the Building Regulations.
This is now a properly designed urban space with provision made for all users of the space. Provision has been made for taxis, those with mobility impairment, parking for parents and children, commercial parking, pedestrians, wider paths at the shop and Post Office which facilitates commercial operations and improved linkages to John Street. The pathways now encourage traffic to reverse into their parking space and load/unload their vehicle while standing on a footpath. In addition the entrance/exit at the Wolfe Tone Street Car Park has been modified with additional commercial and disabled parking along the entrance road.
This is a now very low speed environment and the standards of visibility required are greatly reduced.
The purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county. If you have any suggestions for policy changes in relation to parking in the city in general, please feel free to post your suggestions here.
Once again you show your arrogance in your reply . You state "This is now a properly designed urban space" . You state this as it is a matter of fact. This is a farce of a set up where you answer comments with the authority of your own law, . You twist everything to suit your own position . St. Johns green is not a properly designed urban space , it is a disaster .It IS a disaster waiting to happen You should stop clapping yourselves on the back and get it right and use your own money to do it. It seems to me, you invite submissions , just to go through the motions , and throw them in the bin .
Dear Kilkennyman,
The purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county, it is not the appropriate forum to make comments on the John’s Green scheme. In your last comment you raised issues in relation to the design of the scheme and a detailed reply was posted on this site. The process of approval for any scheme carried out by a Local Authority within its administrative area is known as a Part 8 process. The John’s Green Part 8 process was carried out in 2011. This process includes for public consultation and all submissions received under Part 8 must be taken into account before a decision is made. The requirements for all Part 8 processes are set out in legislation. If you have any suggestions as to how the operation of the Part 8 process could be improved then we would welcome that. Any such suggestion will be considered in the context of trying to improve the process for all concerned.
We appreciate all comments regarding the formulation of policy for the Development Plans. All relevant comments received on the site between now and the end of the public consultation period of the Draft Plan, will be collated into a Manager’s Report on the Draft Plans, similar to that report which was published on the pre-draft process, see here. Section 3.3. of this report detailed the response to all relevant comments made on the site, and noted how they will be addressed in the Draft Plans. All submissions received to the Development Plan are considered, firstly by the staff, then by the Councillors, and the Manager’s Report details this consideration.
on Wed, 13/03/2013 - 10:57am by PeterThomson Pl...
Kilkenny City is one of the most attractive large communities in Ireland. It values heritage and has a strong culture of sport, craftsmanship, theatre, art and retail excellence. It has developed critically important amenities and these include an excellent road and rail network, highly regarded institutes of education and high quality, easily accessible health care facilities. The availability of these amenities encourages foreign investment into the city and county and provides highly skilled, well paid employment for the local community.
The ability of Kilkenny City to attract and retain high performing individuals in key positions who can develop and enhance essential facilities and/ or catalyse substantial financial investment in the local community will in large part be determined by its ability to offer them suitable housing opportunities. Such individuals provide leadership, innovation, possess unique talents and have a proven track record of achievement in areas which are of substantial and enduring benefit to the city and county. Their services and expertise will be in demand elsewhere in the State and every effort should be made to afford them the opportunity to settle with their families in Kilkenny.
Kilkenny City has very limited stock of large detached family homes set in substantial grounds. In the past opportunities have arisen for such housing needs to be met by sourcing derelict houses on large sites around the city which can be refurbished or replaced under the current Development Plan rural housing policy. However these opportunities rarely arise.
Given the limited options to meet the housing needs of those referred to above, it is considered that the Development Plan could provide opportunities to assist in attracting and retaining high performing individuals . A further aspect of rural housing policy along the following lines could address the issue:
Within the area of development pressure around Kilkenny City a positive presumption will be given towards building single houses for occupation by applicants who can:
1.Demonstrate an essential requirement for ease of access to work and to live close to the named work place in the city;
2.Demonstrate that alternative housing options for the type and scale of housing sought have been examined and discounted (with reasons) elsewhere in and around the city;
3.Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses have benefited the social and economic fabric of the community and will accrue by retaining them into the future through the provision suitable housing.
4. Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses are in demand elsewhere in the state and/ or overseas.
Thank you for your comment. Has anyone else got any views on this subject?
Please note, as the 24th August 2012 was the cut-off for submissions to the pre-draft stage, we will consider this comment, and any other comments on this issue, during the next (Draft) phase of the process.
Many thanks for that very helpful blog. As you state, it's a difficult issue to find the balance between non-fossil-fuel energy creation and adverse impacts. Another impact is the effect of the infrastructure needed, such as access roads or tracks to the turbines for servicing etc, which can interrupt or act as a barrier to wildlife migration routes. The need for an adequate electricity grid to connect to can involve more impacts on rural roads etc. No easy answers, but it's a very important issue with increasing speed of climate change driving biodiversity loss and increasing prevalence of invasive species.
Submission To Kilkenny Borough Council
On Development of The Diageeo site
Proposal To Name some Kilkenny street after William or Christopher Colles possibly on the Diagio site.
Ecology and The River
The River Nore is a designated area of conservation largely due to the imminent extinction of the Nore Pearl Mussel. Early records tell us that in the medieval period Pearl mussels were being exploited from the Nore not too far north of the City .The Rivers ecology should be paramount in any redevelopment.
Rivers forgotten Industrial development That helped Shape The World
The Earliest to scale detailed map of Kilkenny city was commissioned by none other than John Roque, of London, in 1759. Appointed Cartographer to the Prince of Wales and the most Eminent Urban Cartographer of his time in both the New World of North America and the British Empire this map was commissioned by Lord Ponsonby who was a close associate of City Alderman and Mayor William Colles. William Colles the great industrial magnate was credited with being the first person to use water power to form and shape stone,since Roman Times, and was possibly the first person in Ireland to use steam engines in his industrial endeavours which made him one of the most innovative industrialists of his time. One of his stone cutting machines was recorded as being able to do the work of forty men.
William Colles was also the main proponent of the Nore Navigation which was being built at the time of Roque was mapping Kilkenny and on inspection of that map we can see the New Quay which it would appear was a Lock Linking the river with the Coal Market in what is now Parliament street. This lock would have served as a safe haven for Barges in times of Flood as they would be safe from the torrents of the Nore when in Flood. A Toll House would also have been situated here to charge barges on the New Canal soon to serve New Ross and the rest of the world. Its confluence with the river was between where the tea house and the Toll house are situated.
Recorded in the Cartouche of Roques map are the 3 principal commodities of Kilkennys Commerce. Coal ,Marble and Wool. The rich veins of anthracite from the Colleries of Castlecommer capable of firing the hottest furnaces, the abundance of wool being processed in many of the Rivers 40 mills and the Marble being produced for the first time on an industrial scale would make the Canal viable and Kilkenny and William Colles very prosperous.
Then in 1762 the unthinkable happened, a spring flood of huge proportions descended, every Bridge on the river Nore, except Ballyragget and Norelands were washed away , and the canal by now 3/4s built had to be abandoned as resources from the House of commons were diverted into rebuilding the Bridges .
William Colles nephew Christopher Colles the engineer and surveyor of the Canal project was made redundant and went to Limerick where he over saw the completion of the Shannon Navigation, and the building of the Limerick Customs House. Christopher then emigrated to New York and brought with him his knowledge of canal building and steam engines that he learned from his uncle William in Kilkenny and went on to build Americas first steam engine to supply the city of New York with its first mains water supply. He became the progenitor of Americas largest inland Navigation when he presented to the Governors of New York his survey of what became the Eyrie Canal. He produced and published the first road map and Atlas of North America and is also credited with inventing the first optical telegram.
Kilkenny never became the industrial inland hub of Ireland that Colles envisioned after the great flood and the abandonment of the canal. His industrial endeavours instead were directed into building and is evidenced today in Many of the fine Georgian buildings of Kilkenny City and County.
Let us not continue to forget Willaim Colles , not a street not a building is named after him only an obituary raised to him by his family and ensconced in the east Wall of St Marys Church.
Kilkenny now has an opportunity to resurrect and celebrate the memories of two great men from one Family. This could be done by recreating the New Quay to provide a safe haven for any pleasure Barges could then moor in The Nores flood relief scheme and provide alternative tours of the City and its heritage.
A street could be called after Christopher Colles Americas first Steam Engine Builder and the Toll house where he possibly worked from as surveyor and Engineer of the Canal could house replicas of his many inventions .
Thank you for a very interesting insight to the contribution of William Colles to the history of Kilkenny City & County. These points will be taken into account in the preparation of the urban design framework plan/masterplan for the Smithwick’s site.
Transfer of ownership of the Brewery site from Diageo to Kilkenny County Council presents a unique opportunity development opportuinity to the city of Kilkenny, indeed to the entire country.
A careful, historically respectful, people and environmentally friendly design and planning response is essential. In the near term at least, use of the site will also take place in a financially constrained context.
Development of the Diageo site should compliment and develop Kilkenny's existing strengths in arts, culture and heritage.
The use and development Diageo site should :
(1) Preserve and/or restore medieval street layouts
(2) Be branded as a new urban district within the city, focused on the arts, crafts, culture and heritage sectors, and including hubs for complimentary activities such as social enterprises.
(3) Include a substantial third level college presence. This should NOT be a "me too" activity ; there are already several other centres of excellence elsewhere in Ireland in domains such as information and communications technologies, bio-pharmaceuticals and the likes. The physical, historical and cultural context of the Diageo site (and of the city of Kilkenny as a whole) would make the site an ideal location for a college of performing arts, particularly one that could attract international students.
(4) Reuse the existing buildings on the site to the greatest practical extent.
(5) Be pedestrianised to the greatest possible extent.
(6) Provide greater public access to the river bank, including providing a pedestrian/cycling link under Green's bridge to the linear park.
(7) Faclitate increased amentiy use of the river, e.g. swimming and canoeing.
It is my belief that these objectives can (and should) be achieved without having to procede with the proposed Central Access Scheme.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
You will receive an acknowledgement email shortly. The issues raised will be summarised and addressed in the Manager's Report on Submissions to the Draft, which will be published this Autumn.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
Ritheadh rún a mholas chun coiste logainmneacha a bheith in áit chun go mbeadh ainmneacha nua eastáit rite tríd faoi mar a dhéantar i bPort Láirge. Ba chóir go mbeadh bunú an choiste sin mar phriaracht ag an gcomhairle agus nach mbeadh cead aon ainm sráide nó eastáit i gCill Chainnigh a bheith ceadaithe gan chead an choiste sin. ba chóir go mbeadh aon ainm áite nua bunaithe le dúchas an cheantair agus go mbeadh sé i nGaoluinn nó dá-theangach ar a laghad.
Please note that Figure 10 .2 in the plan appears to contravene BP order ref 10.HA0014, which makes a condition of approval for CAS phase 1 that the ring road connection from the Castlecomer road to the freshford road must be completed before phases 2 and 3 of the CAS. Figure 10.2 appears to reverse these priorities, giving the CAS priority. Is it the councils intention to contravene the order or is this an error in the map?
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
<p>It would be usefull to have a distinction between zoned lands available for development and zoned lands where development is complete. Does the land zoned for housing for example include lands already constructed and if so how much land is zoned for future development?.</p>
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
Kilkenny Local Authorities have made significant progress in advancing cycle facilities in the City and environs, I would request that the plan would reflect an aspiration to work with a recognised Cycle lobby group affiliated to a network of National Cycle Campaign Groups to improve cycle facilites, increase awareness and develop education programmes for schools and business throughout the city and environs in order to achieve National modal shift targets set out by the NTA and under the Smarter Travel Programme.
Kilkenny has potential to become a model City for cycling both recreational and commuter. The cycle lobby group will be established before this plan is formally adopted and will be called 'Kilkenny City Cycling Campaign' affiliated to a National network under the auspice of cyclist.ie
RE: SUBMISSION TO THE DRAFT KILKENNY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2014-2020
The Port of Waterford Company (POWC) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the review of the Kilkenny County Development Plan and the opportunity to comment on emerging policies and objectives in the Draft Plan 2014-2022. The following are the observations of the POWC in this regard.
Port of National Significance
The Port of Waterford at Belview is seen as a critical piece of infrastructure nationally, regionally and locally and its strategic importance is reflected in a number of national and regional policy documents. The NSS believes there is substantial potential for the enhancement of critical mass through the further expansion of the designated gateway of Waterford including the Port at Belview.
The National Ports Policy 2013 also contributes to that vision and identifies Belview Port as a Port of National Significance (Tier 2). The core objective of the National Ports Policy is to facilitate a competitive and effective market for maritime transport services. The South East Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 also states that Belview Port is a significant access point to the region and it is of regional and national importance for import and export trade. The Guidelines further promote the potential that exists at Belview for the development of an industrial park of regional and national importance that should be exploited by developing it as a flagship location for regional industrial development initiatives.
The POWC welcomes reference to strengthening the role and status of the port nationally and regionally in Section 4.6.2 of the Draft Plan. The POWC also notes and welcomes the commitment outlined in the Draft Plan to deliver high speed broadband and to assist in the provision of natural gas supply to the Belview Port area within the lifetime of the plan.
Land Use Objectives
The POWC notes the commitment outlined in the Draft Plan to review the Ferrybank Belview Local Area Plan (LAP) in 2015 and looks forward to consultation in due course on the review of the LAP having regard to the strategic national and regional importance of Belview Port. The POWC is aware the land use zoning objectives pertaining to Belview Port are almost exclusively regulated by the Ferrybank Belview LAP and that there is very limited scope to influence the zoning objectives of the site during this current review process.
Nonetheless, the POWC is concerned about the policy constraints presented by the extant ‘Belview Residential Amenity’ and ‘Passive Open Space/Green Links and Biodiversity Conservation’ zoning objectives present on the site.
Whilst the POWC accepts that the policy rationale of the ‘Belview Residential Amenity’ zoning objective is to protect existing residences in proximity to Belview Port, the POWC contends that there should be no net increase in residential development in this area. Indeed, the POWC would also argue that regardless of this zoning objective, residential amenity as a material planning consideration would be secured following the assessment of any future planning application in this area.
The POWC contend that in order to meet the core objective of national port policy (i.e. to facilitate a competitive and effective market for maritime transport services), the zoning objectives of the Port need to be flexible in terms of accommodating the expansion of port related development and specialist industries in the area. Whilst the retention and provision of significant amounts of passive open space within the LAP area, where appropriately justified, is commended, the POWC is concerned that the irregular pockets of designated ‘Passive Open Space/Green Links and Biodiversity Conservation’ impedes the development of a coherent masterplan to enable the Port to achieve its full potential. In this regard, the POWC would also wish to have the extant areas of ‘Passive Open Space/Green Links and Biodiversity Conservation’ within the area reconsidered as part of the LAP review process so as to facilitate the future development of Belview Port in a coherent manner.
N29 Traffic Management
The POWC acknowledges that the Council has identified in the Draft Plan the intention to develop and agree a policy response for access to Belview Port from the N29 national route with the NRA.
Section 2.6 of the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines provides for exceptional circumstances, where planning authorities may identify stretches of national roads where a less restrictive speed limit may be applied. Such a less restrictive approach may be adopted in the case of developments of national and regional strategic importance, which by their nature are most appropriately located outside urban areas, and where the locations concerned have specific characteristics that make them particularly suitable for the developments proposed. As set out in the Regional Planning Guidelines, Belview Port is of strategic importance to the region. Given the site’s location and strategic importance, Belview Port satisfies the criteria of exceptional circumstances set out in Section 2.6 of the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines.
The POWC supports the intention of the Planning Authority to develop and agree a less restrictive speed limit policy for the N29 in this location in conjunction with the NRA.
Engaging with the Planning System
The relationship and interaction between the commercial ports sector and the planning system is extremely important in ensuring continued sustainable development of the ports sector. National policy encourages port companies to engage with the relevant planning authorities to ensure that port masterplans and relevant planning and development strategies are complementary and consistent. The POWC confirms its commitment and availability to work collaboratively with the Council to progress the development of a strategic development framework and masterplan for Belview Port.
Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill
The Council will also be aware that the current Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the marine sector and in particular the foreshore consent regime, including the development of an integrated marine and coastal planning process; key elements of which are intended to be advanced by the development of legislation in the form of a Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill.
The main purpose of the proposed Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill will be to modernise the current foreshore consent regime for certain projects and management of development activities on the foreshore. It proposes to do this by integrating the foreshore consent process within the existing consent system under the Planning Acts 2000-2012.
At present the Planning and Development Acts provide for a discretionary development plan objective in relation to “regulating, restricting, and controlling development on the foreshore”. The Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill proposes that any new legislation would require mandatory objectives within the Development Plan relating to managing all aspects of the coastal zone, including both terrestrial and marine elements. POWC supports a plan-led approach to development on the foreshore and as outlined above, the POWC is available to work collaboratively with the Council to develop these objectives for managing the coastal zone, under any new legislation which may emerge in this regard.
It is requested that the foregoing comments and observations are taken into consideration in the review and subsequent adoption of the Kilkenny County Development Plan, 2014 – 2020, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any of the points raised.
Yours sincerely
SLR Consulting Limited
Aislinn O’Brien
Associate
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
Cobh and Midleton in East Cork have provided Motorhome Parking and services close to their Heritage Centres.This has proved very successful in the last year.
I am writing to you to express my serious concern having been alerted to the fact that the protective policy in the current Kilkenny County Development Plan 2008-2014 is to be omitted from the forthcoming County Development plan 2014 - 2020.
The policy in Chapter 9, in the last paragraph of Section 9.8.3.3 Wind Energy, conditions that:
“Wind farm development will not be allowed within 2km of any registered thoroughbred stud farm facility”.
Major wind energy developers have indicated that turbines proposed for the midlands will be 500 ft and 600 ft in height, which for comparison purposes is the height of Dublin’s Spire placed on top of Liberty Hall. The blades are 120m in diameter and are akin to rotating the 120m Spire above communities.
There are approximately 2,500 of these enormously invasive moving structures planned for the Midlands set in amongst communities, which will seriously impact on people and animal health, the landscape and livelihoods.
I am particularly concerned with how the proposed plan will impact on the Irish Equine sector and their livelihood. Both the Irish Thoroughbred and the Irish National Hunt horse are unquestionably a World Leader in the international sector and are an exceptionally important part of Irish indigenous industry. In addition, those working in the industry including Irish horse breeders, trainers, veterinarians, grooms and jockeys are second to none, as is the equine infrastructure including Studs, equine centres, international show arenas, specialist hauliers, Irish Bookmakers and Racecourses.
This proposed project threatens to be detrimental to this industry. The principle (non exhaustive) issues which threaten the industry relate to noise, shadows and shadow flicker, health of equine staff and horses, the natural constitution of horses (prey), spooked horses, handler difficulty in controlling horses with high risk of injury and / or fatality, turbine related accidents (malfunction blade throw, ice throw, collapse, etc. endangering horses and staff), infrasound and vibration (acquired flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joints), electro magnetic field radiation, species loss and affect on the eco system with related disease, and the industrialisation of the natural landscape. The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association held a meeting last month in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly where serious concerns were voiced on the above issues.
Ireland’s natural landscape should not be underestimated as it was and is a very important factor in attracting Foreign Direct Investment in Irish Studs and bloodstock, particularly from Arab investors.
It is imperative for the protection of the equine industry that the forthcoming Kilkenny Development Plan 2014-2020 retains the existing policy condition:
“Wind farm development will not be allowed within 2km of any registered thoroughbred stud farm facility”.
Yours sincerely
_________________
Dara Reid
Shinglis Stud
Additional Information and Sources:
Shadows:
Shadows cast by turbines can extend up to nine kilometres from the source.
Horses are by nature, prey animals. They do not associate the shadow which moves across the ground as something being cast by the turbine, but rather their instinct is to identify it as a predator threat, resulting in being “spooked”.
Shadow flicker:
Shadow Flicker and intermittent noise spook horses and has the potential to put lives in jeopardy. Tony Mc Coy the leading Nation Hunt jockey, who had bought a property and was granted planning permission for a new training yard and having engaged a main contractor for the Sterling £2 Million project, decided to put the entire project on hold on hearing of proposed Wind turbines for his area. Tony McCoy submitted a detailed and planning objection as to the “spook” issue of horses and injury and possible death risks to riders and how it would jeopardise his business. The project remained on hold until planning was denied to the Wind Turbine developer.
As described at a recent national meeting of the Irish thoroughbred Breeder’s Association (ITBA), Professor Alun Evans a leading retired Cardiac consultant from Northern Ireland whose specialist research on the effects of wind turbine noise on humans is published in the British Medical Journal, referred definitively to the adverse effect of Industrial Wind Turbines on humans and animals. See Appendix A below.
It was also stated at the meeting that 1500 accidents in the UK have occurred involving Wind Turbines. This figure excludes injuries and death to animals.
The British Horse Society:
A report was carried out by the British Horse Society in 2012. The main points arising from the analysis were:
• Nearly 30 percent of horses reacted adversely on approach to one or more
Turbines, and 22per cent of riders had difficulty controlling the reaction. This was
not related to temperament of the horse or competence of the rider.
• There was correlation between the increased severity of reaction of horses and
proximity to turbines, particularly within 200m.
• Main sources of disturbance were considered to be the visible movement of the
blades, the movement of shadows cast by the blades and the noise of the
blades through the air.
• Some horses do not become accustomed to turbines even with skilful handling
and repeated exposure.
• Nearly 50 percent of respondents said that erection of turbines near where they
ride would adversely affect their access. The majority perceived the risk as too
great to continue riding in the vicinity.
Equine Staff within Prohibited Zone of Exposure:
The wind turbine manufacturer Vestas in their documented instructions to their employees, prohibits staff working within 400mtrs from an operational wind turbine (800m diameter) unless the work is an emergency. However, landowners and equine staff are expected to work routinely under an operational wind turbine within that zone. This means that the equine staff are working within the prohibited zone and are exposed to the electro magnetic field radiation and other environmental conditions emitted by the turbines, with horses more permanently located within the prohibited zone of exposure.
Turbine Manufacturer Retexo RISP
The turbine manufacturer Retexo RISP in their appraisal of a suitable turbine site state that;
“Buildings, particularly housing, should not be nearer than 2km to the windfarm”
High Voltage 400 KV Powerlines and Pylons should not be permitted in high amenity areas of the County due to the visual impact. They should also not be permitted in populated areas of the county. If the lines have to go through these areas then the lines should go underground.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
The closing date for submissions to the Draft County Development Plan has now passed. Of the 73 submissions received, two relate to your topic: submissions D16 and D47. A report (referred to as the Manager’s Report) addressing all the submissions received will be prepared, listing the persons or bodies who made submissions, summarising the issues raised and giving the opinion of the manager on the issues raised having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and statutory obligations of the Planning Authority. The report will be issued to the Council Members in November for consideration by the Councils up until the 24th January 2014. A further round of public consultation on the proposed amendments only to the Draft Plan will take place following these dates. Updates on the Development Plan process will be published on this website. Observations in relation to the route selection process for the Grid Link Project may be made to Eirgrid on or before the 26th of November 2013. For further details please see www.eirgridprojects.com/projects/gridlink or lo-call 1890 422 122.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
Wind energy is dealt with in Section 10.5 of the Draft County Development Plan. Noise, flicker and visual impact are referred to in Section 10.5.3 (Development Management Guidance). Appendix J of the Draft Plan sets out the methodology used for the Wind Energy Development Strategy. All wind farm applications are assessed in accordance with the Wind Energy Development Guidelines for Planning Authorities: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/Fil...
The closing date for submissions to the Draft County Development Plan has now passed. Of the submissions received, nine relate to your topic: submissions D16, D36, D37, D38, D39, D48, D57, D60 and D61. A report (referred to as the Manager’s Report) addressing all the submissions received will be prepared, listing the persons or bodies who made submissions, summarising the issues raised and giving the opinion of the manager on the issues raised having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and statutory obligations of the Planning Authority. The report will be issued to the Council Members in November, for consideration by the Councils up until the 24th January 2014. A further round of public consultation on the proposed amendments only to the Draft Plan will take place following these dates. Updates on the Development Plan process will be published on this website.
Plan has closed for submissions. Any comments will not now be considered Submissions to the plan:
Wolfe Tone Street
Submissions my foot , What changes have been made that have been influenced by submissions . I made submissions about the changes to the Johns Green and was just dismissed with excuses. There should be an independent body to view and judge the merits of any submission or complaint to the co co's. I asked for,... a pedestrian crossing at the vegetable shop---dismissed,... a ramp to slow down speeding traffic we are subjected to especially from taxis, (I have had two cars written off outside my door ) , ---dismissed ,(ambulance freeway ) .
Looking at the drawings ,I asked for a wider footpath from old tax office to Barrack St., bridge , and for car parking to be changed to lengthways parking beside the footpath . --- dismissed as that it was wide enough. Now when vans reverse up to path, one can barely walk behind it, is this not incompetence ? No one listens to us , Do they ever admit to getting it wrong ? Do the original architects survey these submissions ? If so , they should not . It should be by an external unbiased party with no connection social or personal connections to the original planners.
When my elderly neighbours in their nineties walk up the street now , they get to the end of our dangerous footpath at the entrance to the big car park and are faced with a 9" step when they cross over. We still have traffic signs in concrete barrels, We still have traffic turning in at the centra shop at the vegetable shop which is supposed to be exit only , because of incompetent signage and road layout . traffic arriving at the Johns green end of Wolfe Tone St., often still don't know where to go . I have said this to those responsible in city hall and was told "we checked that , it's fine . But every day I am on that street and see confused people there not knowing where to go .Many times as a motorcyclist I have come around O'Gormans corner and met oncoming traffic in the one way stretch, once having a very narrow escape from a serious crash and injury or death. [sentence removed by admin - inappropriate content].. Even a broken white line in the centre of the road would show drivers the course of the road? .[sentence removed by admin - inappropriate content].
Then we have the inner "RELIEF" road ??? Are you all wearing EAR MUFFS up there ?? Can you not hear the people of Kilkenny ? . WE don't want a bridge or new road there in Wolfe Tone St.,. so stop wasting our money on your pet projects. and finish the ring road with a bridge somewhere on the bleach road. When are you going to publish the returns from on street parking and fines that you imposed on us against our wishes ?
When are you going to move the traffic offices to Maudlin St and away from the ridiculous aspect of having to park in Market yard and traverse up to city hall to do business , (of course you get more money from parking from us , was this a pre conceived idea ? . .
Why, when I cannot get parking in my street, must I pay to park in the next street ? Why do we not have resident parking only, in our street [sentence removed by admin - inappropriate content]. When you brought in street parking charges you effectively narrowed the streets where in some places cars can’t pass each other, You put parking bays where there should be double yellow lines. Pure Greed. Where does that money go.
Why did the Co. co. not buy the Renehan house at the dangerous, and difficult to manoeuvre corner of Greensbridge that was for sale for ages for a pittance. They could have bought and demolished this and opened up the view at this difficult spot., but it seems no one had the foresight , gumption, or common sense to see it.
As a fisherman I am sometimes under Greensbridge and I rang the Borough council last summer to tell of all the broken blue corrugated piping that was broken and hanging down underneath the Greensbridge footpath (whatever it’s purpose was it’s not serving it now) and the seriously rusted piping and girders that I said I’d imagine might need inspecting but it is still the same. I have never since even been asked about it. I expect it was just dismissed and rubbished.
Response to Wolfe Tone Street
We'd like to thank you for engaging in the process and for your post. The purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county. We do not have the capacity to deal with operational matters of the local authorities or the process around historical developments on this site. Therefore, this website is not the appropriate forum to discuss some of your comments, as they lie outside of the scope of the Development Plans (and this site), but we have tried to address your points as we see them below:
1. Your first comment relates to developments by the Borough Council at John’s Green. This process of approval, which was carried out in 2011, included for public consultation. All submissions received would have been taken into consideration before a final recommendation was made in the subsequent Manager’s report. In this situation the Manager’s report goes to the elected members for approval on the recommendation of the technical staff.
2. The Inner Relief Road, or Central Access Scheme, was subject to extensive public consultation. This development, because of the criteria set down, was an application that was decided by An Bord Pleanála on 12/12/2011 under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. An Bord Pleanála is an independent body. This scheme serves as an example as to how a policy within a Development Plan can come to fruition, as a policy for this scheme was included in a Development Plan in the 1980s (to construct an inner relief road and bridge to improve traffic conditions in the city). By getting involved in the Development plan process, and amending existing policies, citizens can influence the way our city grows into the future.
3. In relation to the parking matter; parking in the city is within the remit of the Borough Council and not the County Council. The Borough Council Offices are located on High Street and therefore all administrative matters are dealt with there.
4. Revenue raised from on-street parking fees is allocated to the maintenance of car parks, provision of smarter travel infrastructure and maintenance and improvement of the public realm.
5. Traffic issues around Greens bridge were addressed in the design of the Central Access Scheme. You could propose this as a potential solution to the problems you identify as part of the Development Plan for Kilkenny City.
6. Regarding piping at Greens bridge, we have forwarded your concern to the relevant technical staff in the Borough Council. Though this website is not the forum for reporting maintenance issues Kilkenny Local Authorities are rolling out an application called “fixmystreet’ this year which will allow the public to easily report public maintenance issues to the relevant personnel within the Local Authority.
Residential estates
Will residential areas be included in your development plans?????
Meetings
Will there be any meetings on development of housing estates etc?
Meetings
Will there be meetings to discuss community development within estates in the City?
Response to Residential estates
Apologies for the delayed response; yes, guidelines and standards for new residential development, and for expansion/extensions in existing residential areas will from part of the plans.
Response to Meetings
Apologies for the delayed response; a total of seven meetings are being held around the county and city during this phase of public consultation. Each of these meetings will focus on a particular theme for discussion, but there will also be room for general discussion on any other development plan related issues. The topic of Community Development will be the focus of the Callan meeting on the 7th July. In addition, all comments on any of these issues are welcome on this site.
Aarhus Convention
Will the decision by Government to finally ratify the Aarhus Convention affect the overall approach to the plan and in particular in relation to scoping for SEA?
It is a far reaching measure for communities in terms of how planning and environmental issues impact on them and it is positive that it has finally been ratified fourteen years after Ireland signed up to it.
Thanks for the reply creilly,
Thanks for the reply creilly, what do we as a residents association need to do now?
Response to residents association
To get involved in the development plans, the best idea is to come along to one of our public meetings, the first of which is on Tuesday 19th June. And/or, you or your organisation may decide to make a submission to the process. If you have a specific query about your area, please feel free to contact the County Council Planning section at 7794010 or the Borough Council at 7794534.
Response to Aarhus Convention
Any Development Plan must be, as far as is practicable, be consistent with such national plans, policies or strategies as the Minister for Environment determines relate to proper planning and sustainable development. The Aarhus Convention is in the final stages of ratification by Ireland. This lays down a set of basic rules to promote citizen’s involvement in environmental matters and improve enforcement of environmental law; its provisions are broken down into three Pillars: Access to Information, Public Participation in Environmental Decision-making and Access to Justice.
Strategic Environmental Assessment (or SEA) is the formal evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing a plan. The SEA process for the Development Plans starts with a scoping exercise, which determines what information should be included in the Strategic Environmental Assessment. Any submissions made by the public during this current (15th June-24th August) consultation phase that relate to environmental issues will be considered for inclusion in the scoping of the SEA. Environmental reports will be published with the Draft Plans in 2013. Further information on the SEA process is available here: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/FileDownLoad,1616,en.pdf
Suspension Bridge over the river Nore at Talbot’s Inch:
This suspension bridge was built by Ellen Countess of Desart to link Talbot’s Inch village to the Greenvale woollen mills on the far bank. The bridge was built to accommodate mill workers crossing the river Nore from their residences at Talbot’s Inch in the early 1900’s. The bridge was swept away in the flood of ’47 and has not been rebuilt since. The footings of the bridge can still be seen today at Linear Park (Bishop’s Meadows) which is now a scenic walkway that stretches from Talbots Inch to Riverside Park. I urge the County Council to construct a replica of this bridge crossing at some point along the river Nore linking the canal walk to the 1.6km Lacken Walk . An ideal part of the river for the bridge to cross would be opposite the county council office so as to link the canal walk to the Lacken walk which would form a circular walk where local’s and tourist’s could stroll down the canal over the new suspension bridge, along the Lacken walk, as far as the ring road where they could then travel to the Bennettsbridge roundabout, down by the Black Quarry and back onto the Canal walk. This bridge was part of Kilkenny’s history and it would be breathtaking to see it back over the river Nore in the 21st century.
Response to Suspension Bridge
Thank you for your comments. The Council are considering various short, medium and long-term possibilities to enhance connectivity across the River Nore as part of the overall plan for the Linear Park. Issues such as pedestrian linkages in the city will be discussed at tomorrow’s public meeting in the Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle at 7.30 p.m. and all are welcome to attend.
Bottled water business on brewery site:
Kilkenny County Council and Kilkenny City Borough Council have purchased the 10.6-acre site St Francis Abbey brewery in Kilkenny city. This is on the location of Saint Francis' Friary, founded in 1232. Back in the 13th century the Franciscans established this Abbey on the banks of the River Nore in Kilkenny with its own well which is dedicated to St Francis, and long held in great veneration. The well is located about 45 metres to the northeast of the friary and is now underneath one of the brewery buildings. It is a site of enormous historical, but also economic development potential in the centre of Kilkenny. The proposal that I am putting forward is a water bottling business be set up on part of the site using water from St Francis' Well. Most people are likely to buy or at least use bottled water on a day to day basis or at least once a week. Despite the recession bottled water brands have grown in value and volume. If done correctly this would be a good way for the Kilkenny County Council to make additional income and “pure “profits that would go directly into the development of the many projects in Kilkenny, and would also create jobs which is badly needed A very appropriate name for this bottled water would be Saint Francis Abbey Spring water.
Response to Bottled water on brewery site
Thank you for your suggestion. The prospect of water bottling at any location is dependent on a range of factors, and would be subject to detailed examination and analysis. All ideas for the redevelopment of the Brewery site are welcome and will be considered in the Development Plan objectives for the site.
Victorian or contemporary style bandstand in the Castle Park:
Kilkenny Castle Park is one of the supreme cultural attractions in Europe so it’s about time a permanent Victorian or Contemporary style bandstand was constructed. A simple construction, yet, it creates an ornamental focal point, provides acoustic requirements and shelter from the changeable weather. A bandstand in Kilkenny Castle Park could have numerous types of musical groups performing during the summer months. Lunch time recitals would also go down a treat. Kilkenny has an abundance of talent; brass bands, pipe bands, choirs, chamber orchestra, school bands, community groups etc. It could also be a place for Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Eireann to showcase the music of Ireland. In addition it would be an impressive way for families with young children to be informed and be made aware of different types of music. This would be a unique open air venue that could be used not only for musical recitals but also for poetry reading, yoga, flower arranging, cookery demonstrations and many other activities. The council’s, Board Failte and the Office of Public Works could come together and construct a bandstand and raise the profile of Kilkenny as tourism destination. Funding could also be sourced from public subscription or public fund raising. A bandstand would encourage visits from wider sections of the local communities and would further enhance the tourism potential of the Castle Park.
Response to bandstand in Castle Park
Thank you for your suggestion. The Castle and the adjacent park are in state ownership and are managed and controlled by the Office of Public Works (OPW). We will be liaising with the OPW and Fáilte Ireland during the preparation of the Development Plan, and will discuss this suggestion with them.
Brewery Site Suggestions
The significance of the opportunity with which we are presented in acquiring the Brewery site cannot be underestimated. We have the chance to facilitate a key development which can decisively shape the future of Kilkenny City and its hinterland. We need to be bold, ambitious and resolute in the pursuit of the best solution for our City.
In considering the future of the Brewery site, we need to be brutally honest about what we don’t need in our city: more shopping centres, a mish-mash of visitor centres/retail/commercial units/apartments etc. We have a 14 acre site that needs to be developed in a unified, cohesive fashion in the best interests of the city, not private development. We need a means of attracting large numbers of people to Kilkenny and keeping them here for a sustained period in a sustainable way.
The establishment of a University in Kilkenny has been one of the city’s great ‘what ifs?’ since the 17th century. We are now presented with a once in a lifetime opportunity to make it a reality. There are several options as to how to proceed, depending on resources and aspiration.
Firstly, let’s be ambitious and consider developing the best possible University campus we can, as an autonomous institution rather than as an adjunct to WIT or a future ‘University of the South East.’ Recognising that current economic realities prohibit its establishment exclusively from public funds, a more realisable alternative would be to do so under the auspices of an established (and wealthy) foreign University.
Many (particularly US Universities) have relationships with European universities for the purposes of expanding their student offering, concentrating expertise and providing a focal point for the University’s work into Europe. Boston College, Lynn University and Champlain College have campuses in Dublin. Mercyhurst has recently opened a campus in Dungarvan. I suggest that an obvious partnership for Kilkenny’s third level college should be University of California Berkeley, named after Kilkenny’s Bishop George Berkeley.
Established in 1868, Berkeley is one of America’s largest and most prestigious Universities, with a student population of over 35,000, one third of which are postgraduate. Berkeley offers more than 7,000 courses in over 350 degree programmes. Berkeley produces more PhDs than any other US University and in 2009 attracted almost €650 million in research funding alone. At present, Berkeley’s overseas commitments are restricted to participation in a distributed Education Abroad Programme in which 150 courses are offered at centres in 35 countries, including Ireland. The programme is administered centrally for all students of the wider University of California.
We should approach potential partner Universities with an ambitious proposal reflective of the value and importance of the site. Ideally, we’d like a multi-faculty, stand alone University that either builds on the city’s unique heritage and recognises the centrality of Kilkenny in philosophical, ecclesiastical, political, architectural and literary history, in Arts, Humanities, Crafts and Sport, and/or focuses on the future.
We could tailor our offering to the realities of the global marketplace and their future development, leaving to Ireland’s existing Universities the more traditional disciplines. Few would argue that a new approach to finance, banking and business is overdue and should be foremost in any new college’s prospectus. Environmental science will become ever more central to all aspects of domestic and commercial life, particularly in the field of renewable energy.
In terms of language skills, Chinese, Arabic and Russian are likely to be more useful than the European languages going forward. Our agricultural heritage provides a rich background for pursuing excellence in agri-science. The pharma/bioscience hub in the South East would benefit greatly from a university supplying top quality graduates, securing employment into the future.
We have a world-class animation studio in Kilkenny and a pioneering youth film school upon which to build a media arts faculty which focuses on animation, games development and online content production taking cognisance of the trends already underway in the global media marketplace and which will be key sectors for the Irish economy in the medium to long term. No modern University can underestimate the centrality of ICT both to economic recovery now and security of employment into the future. The site itself, having already served 400 years as a brewery, provides an unrivalled location for a microbiology/brewing department.
Subject to funding/resource constraints, it might be possible to pursue partnership initiatives more conservatively, if required. There are two potential approaches:
A third possibility would be to independently establish the St. Francis Abbey International Academy of brewing offering both short courses for interested amateurs in craft brewing to professional degree, graduate and Master Brewer programmes. The Siebel Institute of Technology (US) offers similar programmes at its centres in Chicago, Montreal and Berlin.
I think it’s crucial to emphasise the need to recognise the importance and integrity of the site and the significance of the opportunity with which we are presented. If we get this right, the benefits to the local economy are both manifold and sustainable: employment for our citizens, customers for our businesses (crucially, outside of the Summer tourist season), renters for our properties, and a renewed vibrancy and dynamism in the heart of our city.
Response to Brewery site suggestions
We thank you for taking the time and effort in posting your comments on our site. It is interesting to see that the idea for a university for the site has come through very strongly from other sources during this consultation exercise.
We’d like to open up a wider discussion on this topic and would welcome responses from anyone to the following points:
Brewery Site
While I advocate the primary use of the site for the development of a third level institution, there are many complementary activities which could benefit from co-location and cooperative thinking. An incubation centre for ICT start-ups, providing office/lab accommodation and on-site mentoring, could both benefit and benefit from sharing space and resources with a University. Similarly, renewable energy projects, rural development enterprises and cultural initiatives could lease space from the University and collaborate across a broad range of activities to their mutual benefit.
If we were to pursue the establishment of a Kilkenny campus of a foreign University either as a stand alone campus or niche college, it is likely that dorm accommodation for students would be an additional attraction/requirement. The accommodation could be leased to visiting tourists during college holiday periods. Recreational spaces, open to all, should also form a central part of the plan.
Signage on Castle road .
The followiing is a comment I put on the you tube page of KK coco...
The signage on lighting poles from Dukesmeadows to Castle road is a crazy idea . I went over the centre road line more than once while distracted by these and trying to read them . This will cause a head on crash one of these days if not removed.
This was the response;.........
These signs were erected to advertise the Smarter Travel day, which took place on the 23rd June. They will be removed shortly. If you have any additional comments or feedback on the Ourplan Video presentations we would request that you make them on the ourplan website if possible? ourplan.kilkenny.ie thank you for your comment.
This response just stated the obvious. What I was pointing out was a problem with the signage(content moderated) . Thing is WHO reads these comments or submissions ? , probably the people we complain about .
While I am at it , someday someone will drown in the river nore along St. Johns Quay. About year ago a mans boxer dog was drowning in the river and a passing local lifeguard I was chatting to , had to strip and dive in to it's aid . When he got the panicing dog to the end of an UPRIGHT iron ladder he could not get the dog out of the water . I had to drop a lifebouy rope down and he tied it to the dog , I ran backward pulling the rope over the railing and the lifeguard pushed the dog up from under neath . We got the dog out , If that was a human he would probably be dead . When this flood wall was built t, it seems no one had the foresight to envisage the scenario of any potential accidental drowning or rescue attempt. ......which will occur sometime , be sure of it . (content moderated) The river was put out of use of the public . either swimming , boat access , mooring , low water bank walkway .Those vertical iron ladders are useless . Who will use those ? they at least should be set in the wall at a 45 to 60 degree angle which might be better . I know there's the danger of kids playing on them though. The river could be utilised much more in Summertime too . But anyway something must be done to make any potential rescue possible. How can anyone get a helpless / dying human body from the water ? when time is of the essence when one needs a body lying flat down to attempt resuscitation attempt , Is there an emergency corporation boat / boatmen on emergency call ? like an ambulance ? On a lighter note, I fish on the quay and If I ever hook a big fish I have no hope of landing it. as I don';t have a net with a 18foot handle.But the planners wouldn't have cared about that . I will keep a copy of this mail and hope I never have to say "I told you so ".
What do others think of these suggestions for the brewery site?
Thank you for your comment. We are trying to encourage continued debate by prioritising this as our featured thread, see https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/featured-content
What do other people think of these suggestions?
Reply to signage on Castle Road
Dear Kilkennyman, The purpose of putting these presentations online on ourplan.kilkenny.ie and youtube is to invite the public to participate in and collaborate with the Councils in the formulation of the Development Plans. The erection of temporary signage is not a part of this process. Temporary signage is erected according to the relevant regulations and can be used for a multitude of purposes (traffic management, elections, general information).
The ladders along the quay wall were part of the Flood Relief Scheme carried out by the OPW to alleviate flooding within the city. any queries in relation to the adequacy of the scheme should be directed to the OPW directly at info@opw.ie.
While we appreciate all feedback we are hoping for constructive comments (and criticisms) which are related to the formulation of the County Development plans and which are relevant to these plans.
It is intended , before the end of the year, to implement fixyourstreet.ie for Kilkenny, this new service will be the appropriate forum to report problems and issues of day to day concern. In the meantime we would ask that you contact the appropriate department in the Council directly to report or discuss any issues of concern.
Please also see our moderation policy.
Brewery Site - Velodrome
Kilkenny international cycle velodrome. Could this be part of the Smithwicks site redevelopment?sounds far fetched, however cycling is becoming an ever increasing past time and sport for many people consider that eight thousand people took part in the Sean Kelly sportive last year and nine thousand participated in the ring of Kerry cycle also Ireland has had international success at the highest levels of cycling including winning the Tour De France.
In 1994 the UK opened the Manchester international Velodrome and cycling centre that has had huge success in developing cycling in the UK and now puts Manchester on the map as one of the cycling capitals of the world resulting in nine gold medals at the Beijing Olympics and the base for the very fine Team Sky cycling team. Large numbers of Irish cyclists travel to Manchester to train and compete and meet with professional coaches on a regular basis.
So i’m wondering could the bottling hall in Smithwicks brewery be developed into a modern and iconic structure that would be big enough to facilitate a 250 meter Olympic standard indoor cycling track including spectator seating, built to the highest standards with private and state finance as part of a varied use development that would cater for may other sports and events in the in-track area such as badminton, tennis. boxing etc. live shows, also basketball could make a return to the brewery! there could be a full-time sports science element to this idea including coaching, sports nutrition, that would be part of any university campus that is proposed for the city. Geographically Kilkenny is in between two of the largest cites in Ireland both reachable by motorway and is surrounded by some of the most cycle passionate counties in Ireland.
There have been plans to build a velodrome in other Irish towns for a number of years now it appears to my that the race is now on Kilkenny could win and become the centre for cycling in Ireland attracting people from home and abroad for national and international events with all the benefits to the local community. People say Kilkenny has a unique opportunity to build something the will help define the city maybe this idea is not so far fetched as it first seems, to bring sport to the heart of the city.
Response to Brewery site - Velodrome
Thank you for your suggestions. We have moved this comment to our Featured Thread on the brewery site as a discussion on this topic is taking place here. Does anyone else have other ideas for the brewery site? Or do you agree with or have any comment on any of the previous suggestions above?
Biodiversity
Is there a biodiversity policy for land that the councils control, such as roadside banks on the ring road, traffic roundabouts, parks etc? Planting of local wildflower seeds, and native shrubs and trees would all encourage insects, birds etc.
Some years ago I suggested planting trees such as silver birch on roundabouts to give them a vertical scale. I was told then that they would obstruct drivers' view of traffic on the other side of the roundabout. The present signs on roundabouts are at driver eye level and completely block views across the roundabout (which I would have thought is actually safer). The flower beds are very attractive but they are very regimented and become hackneyed. I note some tree planting on one of the roundabouts at least so maybe views are changing? In France not only are their trees but also small cottage-like structures and large sculpture on bigger roundabouts.
Response to Biodiversity
There is no specific written or operational policy for biodiversity on council owned property.
There is merit in the suggestion of having a biodiversity policy and/or objective and having this in the relevant Development Plans. This will be examined in the review process. It is not a straightforward issue in terms of day to day operations and would require staff and financial resources in awareness raising and training across the local authority. This is an issue that can also be raised through fora such as the Heritage Forum which is tasked with implementation of the Biodiversity plan and the Heritage plan for the County, particularly in view of the current review of the Heritage Plan.
Bikes
The decision by Dublin to ramp up the Dublin Bikes scheme is a wonderful development, and sets a marker for Kilkenny for this development plan. It may not be possible to have a bike scheme as such in Kilkenny city - though I note that the Newpark Hotel has two distinctive looking bikes available for guests, and it could be possible to have a trial with a few bikes which would be accessible by either a creditcard swipe or PIN or some such security feature so that the 'borrower' is identified. However Dublin is making a loud statement that bikes are a major part of their plan for mobility, and with the street signs proclaiming 'smarter travel', Kilkenny must respond appropriately. With the coming of the new pedestrian bridge at Bateman / Johns Quay the possibility will exist to create an off road cycle path link using the linear park etc., and safe cycle routes to schools, if possible off-road, must be a priority
TPOs
Where can one see a list of Tree Preservation Orders in the present County Development Plan 2008-14? The TPOs in the city are listed at Appendix F of the city plan but I cannot find the location of TPO list for the county, and the search tab brings up only much older (and very few) TPOs.
Many thanks in anticipation.
Response to TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders)
The list of Tree Preservation Orders for the County is contained in Table 8.3, Chapter 8, Heritage of the County Development Plan 2008-2014, see this link: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/node/47
The trees listed in Appendix F of the City & Environs Plan are identified as ‘Trees worthy of Preservation’, but these are not subject to TPOs. Policies are included in Chapter 7, Heritage, of the City Development Plan for their protection, see Policy H85 https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/node/35
Corn mill
PROPOSAL.
To grasp the opportunity offered to feature corn milling which operated on the site for centuries.
To erect a simple medieval corn mill.
If this cannot be done immediately the necessary plot of land should be preserved and feature the surviving mill race with a history given on storyboards.
Milling of grain was the most important manufacturing activity in the city from its very foundation.
In the continuing work to preserve and present the medieval city its manufacturing past has been largely ignored. Little has been preserved of mills, forges, tanning, textiles, malting or brewing.
There is now an opportunity to record this activity.
A mill would add to the the interest of the proposed ‘medieval mile’.
HISTORY
There still exists across the brewery site a water course, largely subterranean, which was previously a mill race, serving a water wheel powered corn mill on the site.
The water comes from the river Bregagh and discharges into the river Nore. Its course is depicted on maps from 1758.
It is believed that the mill was originally called the Town Mill.
In 1425 the Earl of Ormond made a grant of a water mill described as ‘le towyn myle’.
By 1537 it had acquired the name Jenkin’s mill, from a tenant’s name, possibly Jenkin Roth who was the town Sovereign in 1473.
That name continued in use down to 1830. At about that date it became part of the brewery holding and lost its identity as an independent mill though it continued in use under the Smithwicks.
The water wheel was removed in living memory and its exact location can be pointed out by the Smithwick family and ex-brewery employees.
The water wheel has been preserved on a private estate.
Brewery Site- New campus for National College of Art & Design
A great thing about the Brewery site is that it is big enough to accommodate a number of the proposals here and elsewhere. Having said that, the site offers a huge opportunity for the city and county to address a serious gap in its life and infrastructure- a 3rd-level college. There is a presence in Kilkenny from NUI Maynooth in St. Kieran’s College- and that's to be welcomed in providing an opportunity for local study in a limited range of humanity-based subjects. There is also the welcome proposal that WIT will base some of its innovation-focused modules in the same St Kieran’s building. But while not diminishing the existing and proposed initiatives, it has to be stated plainly that a second campus, is always a ‘second campus’! The main campus gets the attention, prestige projects and attention.
Kilkenny needs a 3rd-level institution that fits with its existing brand in ‘craft-art-design’ and offers to push that on to another level. We need an art and design focused college. In the same way as the creation of Kilkenny Design Workshops in 1965 gave Kilkenny an advantage in craft that it has not lost to this day; a college of art and design would build on that tradition and move the city to another level in terms of developing a creative centre for the county. The Brewery site offers a perfect site for such an initiative.
The National College of Art and Design (NCAD) on the other hand is spread among a number of sites throughout Dublin City. There, the NCAD is very much a ‘small fish in a big pond’ contending with Trinity, UCD, DCU and DIT for profile. In Kilkenny NCAD would be the big fish in a small pond. Furthermore they could help design the pond to their taste. Kilkenny is popular with young people and creative. The Brewery’s riverside setting allows for a great deal of imagination in how you could physically design the campus to link the contemporary, medieval and future aspects of the town together.
The student life that a college would bring would not just help to occupy vacant houses and apartments in the City and county- or enliven the social life of the city- particularly at the ‘west end’ but there will be an inevitable cross-fertilisation with other strengths of non-fine arts in Kilkenny- animation, music, etc. An additional benefit would be to increase the numbers of students using the train and bus services to Dublin and elsewhere. Most arts student will use public transport and with Dublin having the lion’s share to the population, traffic on the train and bus would do much to ensure that the County’s public transport system was secured from cuts in provision.
If we are serious about making Kilkenny a ‘Creative Hub’, the best way to do that is by attracting a critical mass of creative people and facilitate their mixing in a place sympathetic to that creativity, and let them at it! Good stuff will emerge and Kilkenny will benefit. There may be some issues in that most of the major art galleries are based in Dublin, but I don’t see that as being a serious argument against all the benefits that I’ve mentioned. So let’s take the plunge and ask the NCAD on their plans and interests. We may never have a better chance….
Kilkenny Aerodrome
Suggest reinstate IE29 from the 2008 - 2014 Development plan: Support the continued development of airport facilities at Kilkenny Aerodrome.
The Aerodrome at Holdesrath three miles west of Kilkenny City has been in operation since 1961 and has held an aerodrome licence since 1965. It is well known Internationally for the Kinair Rally which helped to raise the profile of Kilkenny City as a tourist destination. At this stage the airfield is part of the heritage of Kilkenny County and indeed of the Country.
Having an airfield alongside the City, raises awareness of aviation amongst young people and opens up a range of possible career options. A significant number of local people have learned to fly at Kilkenny and gone on to fly with the Irish Aer Corp and the Airlines.
A licensed airfield is also a significant factor for attracting business to locate in the City and region.
There is also a common misperception that airfields are noisy. In fact, airfields that cater for light aircraft such as Kilkenny airfield, generate very little noise. Any noise generated during the take off phase of flight quickly disapears as the plane leaves the vicinity. On approach, most aircraft are throttled back and generate very little noise. For most local residents, road traffic, agricultural machinery and the neighbours lawnmower etc are far more persistant and noisy than any light aircraft.
In reality the airfield is a large open green space which attracts wildlife.
A licensed airfield is also a 'National' asset in so far as it can be used by the emergency services. Medical evacuation etc. The Irish Coastguard helicopter makes occasional visits to maintain familiarity with the facilities. It can also be used by light aircraft that have to divert from their intended destination due to weather or technical issues.
Of course the airfield is also a recreational facility and although flying is a minority sport, diversity is important. Kilkenny airfield is unique in the State with its long licensed grass runway and uncongested airspace overhead. There is tremendous potential to develop the airfield for sport flying whilst having minimum impact on the surroundings.
Kilkenny airfield is an asset for the City and County and as such should get a positive mention in the development plan.
Regards
Peter Tawse
CFI
Recreational Flying Club
Whatever goes into the
Whatever goes into the Brewery site I hope it conserves the skyline as it used to be, before the towering monstrosities that were built in and around the brewery and St. Francis abbey. Those towering eyesores went up without a blink from the city "fathers"( probably because of the jobs created). Planners seemed to give the brewery free gratis to build what they liked ., It resembles somewhere in Pakistan. Medieval city my eye, an awful eyesore.
Manager's Report Now
Manager's Report Now Available
Pre-draft Manager's Report
When I tried to look at this , I was told "Access denied" ...Why is this ?
St. Johns green layout and submissions.
The layout of St. Johns Green is disastrous. In the early stages we in Wolfe Tone Street were invited to look at the plans, and to submit submissions with regards to this. I for one did so, and was basically ignored and fobbed off .
I pointed out that the footpath from Wolfe Tone Street to Barrack street was too narrow, that two pushchairs couldn't pass each other on it, that they should be widened and traffic should be parked alongside the path.
I was later told they were adequate.
Now every time I pass by there's a truck or big car reversed in, back wheel to the kerb , and sometimes not enough room for a pedestrian to get by at the rear of it , Who is responsible for this . [sentence removed by admin - Inappropriate content].
I suggested a pedestrian crossing at the vegetable shop and was told NO.
I suggested a ramp for Wolfe Tone St., to slow speeding traffic that we've had for years .
I was told NO , cannot have one, as " Wolfe Tone Street" is an Ambulance freeway........
What have they done ? ..but built a HIGH RAMP outside the vegetable shop with a crossing on top of it ..…….. Ambulance freeway ? ? ?
The acute corner from W.T.St., is an accident waiting to happen . THE GREED of the borough council for parking income is disgraceful When one turns at this NOW dangerous spot , one is confronted with ;
(a) Meeting oncoming traffic on a narrow roadway at a 90 degree corner
Vehicles reversing out from;
(b) the left hand side ,
(c) the right hand side
(d) Traffic approaching from John St., and the €2 car park.
Two trucks have difficulty passing each other here ,with one often having to reverse,
Approaching Wolfe Tone from Barrack St., you no longer have the right of way , and if you see the "stop " sign which is way too high , and if you can see through the traffic parked in the commercial loading bay to your left , and yield to traffic coming from your right , and from the car park in front of you ,.... then you can cross.
This system has to be changed. ;
As we turn left at the top of Wolfe Tone street , car parking on left hand side , by old Tax offices wall, should be lengthways, and the path widened .
On the right hand side as you turn the parking must be completely removed and the roadway widened to encompass all this space.
If this is not the right place to put this letter , would one of you, who would tell me it's not the relevant dept. or site , and who is more pc literate , please do me a favour and copy and paste to where it might be seen, or forward it there . Thank you .
Thank you for that reply ,
Thank you for that reply , God , what to make of it .
This is not our dept.
The borough council is onHigh St. . ? ...I live here . I know that.
On the top of this page it says ; The councils of the county and city of Kilkenny .Kilkeny city and enviorns development plan .
IT SEEMS TO BE A WASTE OF MY TIME WRITING HERE , IT'S ALL PASSING THE BUCK.
Jobs for the boys
I recieved a letter from you today and when I went to look at it was told "access denied " ??? ......right !!
Who deleted part of my letter ?
Response to "Whatever goes into Brewery site"
Thank you for engaging in the process. As the submissions period has closed for the pre-draft stage, this comment will be included in the Draft stage of the Plans. The Development Plan will include broad guiding principles for the approach to the site, which may include limits on building heights/scale etc. There has been a significant level of interest in the future of this site, which will inform the content of the Draft Plan. There will be a further opportunity to comment when the Draft Development Plan goes on public display next year.
Response to Manager's Report Now
Unfortunately, this link was broken. The link has now been rectified, and if you click on the link again: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/sites/default/files/files/Pre-draft%20Managers%20Report%201_11_12.pdf you will be able to see the Manager’s Report on the Pre-draft Consultation process.
Response to Thank you for that reply
This website is intended as a collaborative forum for the making of the Development Plans. Not all of your comments (posted on the 28th May 2012) were related to Development Plan issues, but the response set out the factual position to all the issues raised.
Unfortunately, this link was broken. The link has now been rectified, and if you click on the link again: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/sites/default/files/files/Pre-draft%20Managers%20Report%201_11_12.pdf you will be able to read the Manager’s Report on the Pre-draft Consultation process.
All comments on the site are moderated in line with our Moderation Policy, which is available here: https://ourplan.kilkenny.ie/archive/moderation_policy
Response to St. John's Green
These comments relate to developments carried out by the Borough Council at John’s Green. The process of approval, which was carried out in 2011, included for public consultation. All submissions received would have been taken into consideration before a final recommendation was made in the subsequent Manager’s report. In this situation the Manager’s report goes to the elected members for approval on the recommendation of the technical staff.
As the purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county, it is not the appropriate forum to make comments on the John’s Green scheme, but as requested, we have passed your comments on to the Borough Council.
St. John's Green
Parking is more difficult now with the recent changes.
The acute corner is an accident waiting to happen.
Response to St. John's Green
This comment relates to the revised layout implemented by the Borough Council at John’s Green in 2012. The objective of this project was to improve accessibility in the area, especially for pedestrians and also to provide safer driving conditions. The area had suffered from haphazard parking (particularly commercial vehicles) and the exit was blocked on a regular basis. The area was poorly defined which led to inconsiderate and unsafe driving behaviour. Consequently the design included for additional wider footpaths, accessible crossing points, relocation of street lighting and properly designed facilities for commercial activity. All works comply with the Building Regulations.
This is now a properly designed urban space with provision made for all users of the space. Provision has been made for taxis, those with mobility impairment, parking for parents and children, commercial parking, pedestrians, wider paths at the shop and Post Office which facilitates commercial operations and improved linkages toJohn Street
This is a now very low speed environment and the standards of visibility required are greatly reduced.
The purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county. If you have any suggestions for policy changes in relation to parking in the city in general, please feel free to post your suggestions here.
Once again you show your
Once again you show your arrogance in your reply . You state "This is now a properly designed urban space" . You state this as it is a matter of fact. This is a farce of a set up where you answer comments with the authority of your own law, . You twist everything to suit your own position . St. Johns green is not a properly designed urban space , it is a disaster .It IS a disaster waiting to happen You should stop clapping yourselves on the back and get it right and use your own money to do it. It seems to me, you invite submissions , just to go through the motions , and throw them in the bin .
Response to Once again
Dear Kilkennyman,
The purpose of this website is to influence the formulation of policy and to encourage discussion on the future direction and development of the city and county, it is not the appropriate forum to make comments on the John’s Green scheme. In your last comment you raised issues in relation to the design of the scheme and a detailed reply was posted on this site. The process of approval for any scheme carried out by a Local Authority within its administrative area is known as a Part 8 process. The John’s Green Part 8 process was carried out in 2011. This process includes for public consultation and all submissions received under Part 8 must be taken into account before a decision is made. The requirements for all Part 8 processes are set out in legislation. If you have any suggestions as to how the operation of the Part 8 process could be improved then we would welcome that. Any such suggestion will be considered in the context of trying to improve the process for all concerned.
We appreciate all comments regarding the formulation of policy for the Development Plans. All relevant comments received on the site between now and the end of the public consultation period of the Draft Plan, will be collated into a Manager’s Report on the Draft Plans, similar to that report which was published on the pre-draft process, see here. Section 3.3. of this report detailed the response to all relevant comments made on the site, and noted how they will be addressed in the Draft Plans. All submissions received to the Development Plan are considered, firstly by the staff, then by the Councillors, and the Manager’s Report details this consideration.
Modification of rural housing policy around the City
Kilkenny City is one of the most attractive large communities in Ireland. It values heritage and has a strong culture of sport, craftsmanship, theatre, art and retail excellence. It has developed critically important amenities and these include an excellent road and rail network, highly regarded institutes of education and high quality, easily accessible health care facilities. The availability of these amenities encourages foreign investment into the city and county and provides highly skilled, well paid employment for the local community.
The ability of Kilkenny City to attract and retain high performing individuals in key positions who can develop and enhance essential facilities and/ or catalyse substantial financial investment in the local community will in large part be determined by its ability to offer them suitable housing opportunities. Such individuals provide leadership, innovation, possess unique talents and have a proven track record of achievement in areas which are of substantial and enduring benefit to the city and county. Their services and expertise will be in demand elsewhere in the State and every effort should be made to afford them the opportunity to settle with their families in Kilkenny.
Kilkenny City has very limited stock of large detached family homes set in substantial grounds. In the past opportunities have arisen for such housing needs to be met by sourcing derelict houses on large sites around the city which can be refurbished or replaced under the current Development Plan rural housing policy. However these opportunities rarely arise.
Given the limited options to meet the housing needs of those referred to above, it is considered that the Development Plan could provide opportunities to assist in attracting and retaining high performing individuals . A further aspect of rural housing policy along the following lines could address the issue:
Within the area of development pressure around Kilkenny City a positive presumption will be given towards building single houses for occupation by applicants who can:
1.Demonstrate an essential requirement for ease of access to work and to live close to the named work place in the city;
2.Demonstrate that alternative housing options for the type and scale of housing sought have been examined and discounted (with reasons) elsewhere in and around the city;
3.Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses have benefited the social and economic fabric of the community and will accrue by retaining them into the future through the provision suitable housing.
4. Demonstrate that the unique work/ employment talents which the applicant possesses are in demand elsewhere in the state and/ or overseas.
Response to Rural housing policy
Thank you for your comment. Has anyone else got any views on this subject?
Please note, as the 24th August 2012 was the cut-off for submissions to the pre-draft stage, we will consider this comment, and any other comments on this issue, during the next (Draft) phase of the process.
windfarms
Many thanks for that very helpful blog. As you state, it's a difficult issue to find the balance between non-fossil-fuel energy creation and adverse impacts. Another impact is the effect of the infrastructure needed, such as access roads or tracks to the turbines for servicing etc, which can interrupt or act as a barrier to wildlife migration routes. The need for an adequate electricity grid to connect to can involve more impacts on rural roads etc. No easy answers, but it's a very important issue with increasing speed of climate change driving biodiversity loss and increasing prevalence of invasive species.
Submission to Kilkenny
Submission To Kilkenny Borough Council
On Development of The Diageeo site
Proposal To Name some Kilkenny street after William or Christopher Colles possibly on the Diagio site.
Ecology and The River
The River Nore is a designated area of conservation largely due to the imminent extinction of the Nore Pearl Mussel. Early records tell us that in the medieval period Pearl mussels were being exploited from the Nore not too far north of the City .The Rivers ecology should be paramount in any redevelopment.
Rivers forgotten Industrial development That helped Shape The World
The Earliest to scale detailed map of Kilkenny city was commissioned by none other than John Roque, of London, in 1759. Appointed Cartographer to the Prince of Wales and the most Eminent Urban Cartographer of his time in both the New World of North America and the British Empire this map was commissioned by Lord Ponsonby who was a close associate of City Alderman and Mayor William Colles. William Colles the great industrial magnate was credited with being the first person to use water power to form and shape stone,since Roman Times, and was possibly the first person in Ireland to use steam engines in his industrial endeavours which made him one of the most innovative industrialists of his time. One of his stone cutting machines was recorded as being able to do the work of forty men.
William Colles was also the main proponent of the Nore Navigation which was being built at the time of Roque was mapping Kilkenny and on inspection of that map we can see the New Quay which it would appear was a Lock Linking the river with the Coal Market in what is now Parliament street. This lock would have served as a safe haven for Barges in times of Flood as they would be safe from the torrents of the Nore when in Flood. A Toll House would also have been situated here to charge barges on the New Canal soon to serve New Ross and the rest of the world. Its confluence with the river was between where the tea house and the Toll house are situated.
Recorded in the Cartouche of Roques map are the 3 principal commodities of Kilkennys Commerce. Coal ,Marble and Wool. The rich veins of anthracite from the Colleries of Castlecommer capable of firing the hottest furnaces, the abundance of wool being processed in many of the Rivers 40 mills and the Marble being produced for the first time on an industrial scale would make the Canal viable and Kilkenny and William Colles very prosperous.
Then in 1762 the unthinkable happened, a spring flood of huge proportions descended, every Bridge on the river Nore, except Ballyragget and Norelands were washed away , and the canal by now 3/4s built had to be abandoned as resources from the House of commons were diverted into rebuilding the Bridges .
William Colles nephew Christopher Colles the engineer and surveyor of the Canal project was made redundant and went to Limerick where he over saw the completion of the Shannon Navigation, and the building of the Limerick Customs House. Christopher then emigrated to New York and brought with him his knowledge of canal building and steam engines that he learned from his uncle William in Kilkenny and went on to build Americas first steam engine to supply the city of New York with its first mains water supply. He became the progenitor of Americas largest inland Navigation when he presented to the Governors of New York his survey of what became the Eyrie Canal. He produced and published the first road map and Atlas of North America and is also credited with inventing the first optical telegram.
Kilkenny never became the industrial inland hub of Ireland that Colles envisioned after the great flood and the abandonment of the canal. His industrial endeavours instead were directed into building and is evidenced today in Many of the fine Georgian buildings of Kilkenny City and County.
Let us not continue to forget Willaim Colles , not a street not a building is named after him only an obituary raised to him by his family and ensconced in the east Wall of St Marys Church.
Kilkenny now has an opportunity to resurrect and celebrate the memories of two great men from one Family. This could be done by recreating the New Quay to provide a safe haven for any pleasure Barges could then moor in The Nores flood relief scheme and provide alternative tours of the City and its heritage.
A street could be called after Christopher Colles Americas first Steam Engine Builder and the Toll house where he possibly worked from as surveyor and Engineer of the Canal could house replicas of his many inventions .
Response to Colles Suggestion
Thank you for a very interesting insight to the contribution of William Colles to the history of Kilkenny City & County. These points will be taken into account in the preparation of the urban design framework plan/masterplan for the Smithwick’s site.
Development of the Brewery Site
Transfer of ownership of the Brewery site from Diageo to Kilkenny County Council presents a unique opportunity development opportuinity to the city of Kilkenny, indeed to the entire country.
A careful, historically respectful, people and environmentally friendly design and planning response is essential. In the near term at least, use of the site will also take place in a financially constrained context.
Development of the Diageo site should compliment and develop Kilkenny's existing strengths in arts, culture and heritage.
The use and development Diageo site should :
(1) Preserve and/or restore medieval street layouts
(2) Be branded as a new urban district within the city, focused on the arts, crafts, culture and heritage sectors, and including hubs for complimentary activities such as social enterprises.
(3) Include a substantial third level college presence. This should NOT be a "me too" activity ; there are already several other centres of excellence elsewhere in Ireland in domains such as information and communications technologies, bio-pharmaceuticals and the likes. The physical, historical and cultural context of the Diageo site (and of the city of Kilkenny as a whole) would make the site an ideal location for a college of performing arts, particularly one that could attract international students.
(4) Reuse the existing buildings on the site to the greatest practical extent.
(5) Be pedestrianised to the greatest possible extent.
(6) Provide greater public access to the river bank, including providing a pedestrian/cycling link under Green's bridge to the linear park.
(7) Faclitate increased amentiy use of the river, e.g. swimming and canoeing.
It is my belief that these objectives can (and should) be achieved without having to procede with the proposed Central Access Scheme.
Thank you for your submission
You will receive an acknowledgement email shortly. The issues raised will be summarised and addressed in the Manager's Report on Submissions to the Draft, which will be published this Autumn.
Polasaí Gaeilge
Ritheadh rún a mholas chun coiste logainmneacha a bheith in áit chun go mbeadh ainmneacha nua eastáit rite tríd faoi mar a dhéantar i bPort Láirge. Ba chóir go mbeadh bunú an choiste sin mar phriaracht ag an gcomhairle agus nach mbeadh cead aon ainm sráide nó eastáit i gCill Chainnigh a bheith ceadaithe gan chead an choiste sin. ba chóir go mbeadh aon ainm áite nua bunaithe le dúchas an cheantair agus go mbeadh sé i nGaoluinn nó dá-theangach ar a laghad.
Response to Polasaí Gaeilge
Go raibh maith agat as do nóta tráchta.
10.4.6. Road Objectives
Core strategy & zoning
<p>It would be usefull to have a distinction between zoned lands available for development and zoned lands where development is complete. Does the land zoned for housing for example include lands already constructed and if so how much land is zoned for future development?.</p>
Cycling
Kilkenny Local Authorities have made significant progress in advancing cycle facilities in the City and environs, I would request that the plan would reflect an aspiration to work with a recognised Cycle lobby group affiliated to a network of National Cycle Campaign Groups to improve cycle facilites, increase awareness and develop education programmes for schools and business throughout the city and environs in order to achieve National modal shift targets set out by the NTA and under the Smarter Travel Programme.
Kilkenny has potential to become a model City for cycling both recreational and commuter. The cycle lobby group will be established before this plan is formally adopted and will be called 'Kilkenny City Cycling Campaign' affiliated to a National network under the auspice of cyclist.ie
Malcolm Noonan
on behalf of Kilkenny City Cycling Campaign
PORT OF WATERFORD SUBMISSION TO THE DRAFT KILKENNY CDP 2014-20
23rd August 2013
Our Ref:
Your Ref:
Dear Sir/ Madam,
RE: SUBMISSION TO THE DRAFT KILKENNY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2014-2020
The Port of Waterford Company (POWC) welcomes the opportunity to participate in the review of the Kilkenny County Development Plan and the opportunity to comment on emerging policies and objectives in the Draft Plan 2014-2022. The following are the observations of the POWC in this regard.
Port of National Significance
The Port of Waterford at Belview is seen as a critical piece of infrastructure nationally, regionally and locally and its strategic importance is reflected in a number of national and regional policy documents. The NSS believes there is substantial potential for the enhancement of critical mass through the further expansion of the designated gateway of Waterford including the Port at Belview.
The National Ports Policy 2013 also contributes to that vision and identifies Belview Port as a Port of National Significance (Tier 2). The core objective of the National Ports Policy is to facilitate a competitive and effective market for maritime transport services. The South East Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 also states that Belview Port is a significant access point to the region and it is of regional and national importance for import and export trade. The Guidelines further promote the potential that exists at Belview for the development of an industrial park of regional and national importance that should be exploited by developing it as a flagship location for regional industrial development initiatives.
The POWC welcomes reference to strengthening the role and status of the port nationally and regionally in Section 4.6.2 of the Draft Plan. The POWC also notes and welcomes the commitment outlined in the Draft Plan to deliver high speed broadband and to assist in the provision of natural gas supply to the Belview Port area within the lifetime of the plan.
Land Use Objectives
The POWC notes the commitment outlined in the Draft Plan to review the Ferrybank Belview Local Area Plan (LAP) in 2015 and looks forward to consultation in due course on the review of the LAP having regard to the strategic national and regional importance of Belview Port. The POWC is aware the land use zoning objectives pertaining to Belview Port are almost exclusively regulated by the Ferrybank Belview LAP and that there is very limited scope to influence the zoning objectives of the site during this current review process.
Nonetheless, the POWC is concerned about the policy constraints presented by the extant ‘Belview Residential Amenity’ and ‘Passive Open Space/Green Links and Biodiversity Conservation’ zoning objectives present on the site.
Whilst the POWC accepts that the policy rationale of the ‘Belview Residential Amenity’ zoning objective is to protect existing residences in proximity to Belview Port, the POWC contends that there should be no net increase in residential development in this area. Indeed, the POWC would also argue that regardless of this zoning objective, residential amenity as a material planning consideration would be secured following the assessment of any future planning application in this area.
The POWC contend that in order to meet the core objective of national port policy (i.e. to facilitate a competitive and effective market for maritime transport services), the zoning objectives of the Port need to be flexible in terms of accommodating the expansion of port related development and specialist industries in the area. Whilst the retention and provision of significant amounts of passive open space within the LAP area, where appropriately justified, is commended, the POWC is concerned that the irregular pockets of designated ‘Passive Open Space/Green Links and Biodiversity Conservation’ impedes the development of a coherent masterplan to enable the Port to achieve its full potential. In this regard, the POWC would also wish to have the extant areas of ‘Passive Open Space/Green Links and Biodiversity Conservation’ within the area reconsidered as part of the LAP review process so as to facilitate the future development of Belview Port in a coherent manner.
N29 Traffic Management
The POWC acknowledges that the Council has identified in the Draft Plan the intention to develop and agree a policy response for access to Belview Port from the N29 national route with the NRA.
Section 2.6 of the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines provides for exceptional circumstances, where planning authorities may identify stretches of national roads where a less restrictive speed limit may be applied. Such a less restrictive approach may be adopted in the case of developments of national and regional strategic importance, which by their nature are most appropriately located outside urban areas, and where the locations concerned have specific characteristics that make them particularly suitable for the developments proposed. As set out in the Regional Planning Guidelines, Belview Port is of strategic importance to the region. Given the site’s location and strategic importance, Belview Port satisfies the criteria of exceptional circumstances set out in Section 2.6 of the Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines.
The POWC supports the intention of the Planning Authority to develop and agree a less restrictive speed limit policy for the N29 in this location in conjunction with the NRA.
Engaging with the Planning System
The relationship and interaction between the commercial ports sector and the planning system is extremely important in ensuring continued sustainable development of the ports sector. National policy encourages port companies to engage with the relevant planning authorities to ensure that port masterplans and relevant planning and development strategies are complementary and consistent. The POWC confirms its commitment and availability to work collaboratively with the Council to progress the development of a strategic development framework and masterplan for Belview Port.
Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill
The Council will also be aware that the current Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the marine sector and in particular the foreshore consent regime, including the development of an integrated marine and coastal planning process; key elements of which are intended to be advanced by the development of legislation in the form of a Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill.
The main purpose of the proposed Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill will be to modernise the current foreshore consent regime for certain projects and management of development activities on the foreshore. It proposes to do this by integrating the foreshore consent process within the existing consent system under the Planning Acts 2000-2012.
At present the Planning and Development Acts provide for a discretionary development plan objective in relation to “regulating, restricting, and controlling development on the foreshore”. The Foreshore and Marine Area Development Bill proposes that any new legislation would require mandatory objectives within the Development Plan relating to managing all aspects of the coastal zone, including both terrestrial and marine elements. POWC supports a plan-led approach to development on the foreshore and as outlined above, the POWC is available to work collaboratively with the Council to develop these objectives for managing the coastal zone, under any new legislation which may emerge in this regard.
It is requested that the foregoing comments and observations are taken into consideration in the review and subsequent adoption of the Kilkenny County Development Plan, 2014 – 2020, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any of the points raised.
Yours sincerely
SLR Consulting Limited
Aislinn O’Brien
Associate
Motorhome Parking
Cobh and Midleton in East Cork have provided Motorhome Parking and services close to their Heritage Centres.This has proved very successful in the last year.
Thoroughbred Equine Industry and Industrial Wind Turbines
A Chara,
I am writing to you to express my serious concern having been alerted to the fact that the protective policy in the current Kilkenny County Development Plan 2008-2014 is to be omitted from the forthcoming County Development plan 2014 - 2020.
The policy in Chapter 9, in the last paragraph of Section 9.8.3.3 Wind Energy, conditions that:
“Wind farm development will not be allowed within 2km of any registered thoroughbred stud farm facility”.
Major wind energy developers have indicated that turbines proposed for the midlands will be 500 ft and 600 ft in height, which for comparison purposes is the height of Dublin’s Spire placed on top of Liberty Hall. The blades are 120m in diameter and are akin to rotating the 120m Spire above communities.
There are approximately 2,500 of these enormously invasive moving structures planned for the Midlands set in amongst communities, which will seriously impact on people and animal health, the landscape and livelihoods.
I am particularly concerned with how the proposed plan will impact on the Irish Equine sector and their livelihood. Both the Irish Thoroughbred and the Irish National Hunt horse are unquestionably a World Leader in the international sector and are an exceptionally important part of Irish indigenous industry. In addition, those working in the industry including Irish horse breeders, trainers, veterinarians, grooms and jockeys are second to none, as is the equine infrastructure including Studs, equine centres, international show arenas, specialist hauliers, Irish Bookmakers and Racecourses.
This proposed project threatens to be detrimental to this industry. The principle (non exhaustive) issues which threaten the industry relate to noise, shadows and shadow flicker, health of equine staff and horses, the natural constitution of horses (prey), spooked horses, handler difficulty in controlling horses with high risk of injury and / or fatality, turbine related accidents (malfunction blade throw, ice throw, collapse, etc. endangering horses and staff), infrasound and vibration (acquired flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joints), electro magnetic field radiation, species loss and affect on the eco system with related disease, and the industrialisation of the natural landscape. The Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association held a meeting last month in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Co Offaly where serious concerns were voiced on the above issues.
Ireland’s natural landscape should not be underestimated as it was and is a very important factor in attracting Foreign Direct Investment in Irish Studs and bloodstock, particularly from Arab investors.
It is imperative for the protection of the equine industry that the forthcoming Kilkenny Development Plan 2014-2020 retains the existing policy condition:
“Wind farm development will not be allowed within 2km of any registered thoroughbred stud farm facility”.
Yours sincerely
_________________
Dara Reid
Shinglis Stud
Additional Information and Sources:
Shadows:
Shadows cast by turbines can extend up to nine kilometres from the source.
Horses are by nature, prey animals. They do not associate the shadow which moves across the ground as something being cast by the turbine, but rather their instinct is to identify it as a predator threat, resulting in being “spooked”.
Shadow flicker:
Shadow Flicker and intermittent noise spook horses and has the potential to put lives in jeopardy. Tony Mc Coy the leading Nation Hunt jockey, who had bought a property and was granted planning permission for a new training yard and having engaged a main contractor for the Sterling £2 Million project, decided to put the entire project on hold on hearing of proposed Wind turbines for his area. Tony McCoy submitted a detailed and planning objection as to the “spook” issue of horses and injury and possible death risks to riders and how it would jeopardise his business. The project remained on hold until planning was denied to the Wind Turbine developer.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8982541/jockey-tony-mccoy-scraps-plans-for-racing-stable-over-fears-windfarm-will-spook-horses.html
Noise:
As described at a recent national meeting of the Irish thoroughbred Breeder’s Association (ITBA), Professor Alun Evans a leading retired Cardiac consultant from Northern Ireland whose specialist research on the effects of wind turbine noise on humans is published in the British Medical Journal, referred definitively to the adverse effect of Industrial Wind Turbines on humans and animals. See Appendix A below.
It was also stated at the meeting that 1500 accidents in the UK have occurred involving Wind Turbines. This figure excludes injuries and death to animals.
The British Horse Society:
A report was carried out by the British Horse Society in 2012. The main points arising from the analysis were:
• Nearly 30 percent of horses reacted adversely on approach to one or more
Turbines, and 22per cent of riders had difficulty controlling the reaction. This was
not related to temperament of the horse or competence of the rider.
• There was correlation between the increased severity of reaction of horses and
proximity to turbines, particularly within 200m.
• Main sources of disturbance were considered to be the visible movement of the
blades, the movement of shadows cast by the blades and the noise of the
blades through the air.
• Some horses do not become accustomed to turbines even with skilful handling
and repeated exposure.
• Nearly 50 percent of respondents said that erection of turbines near where they
ride would adversely affect their access. The majority perceived the risk as too
great to continue riding in the vicinity.
Equine Staff within Prohibited Zone of Exposure:
The wind turbine manufacturer Vestas in their documented instructions to their employees, prohibits staff working within 400mtrs from an operational wind turbine (800m diameter) unless the work is an emergency. However, landowners and equine staff are expected to work routinely under an operational wind turbine within that zone. This means that the equine staff are working within the prohibited zone and are exposed to the electro magnetic field radiation and other environmental conditions emitted by the turbines, with horses more permanently located within the prohibited zone of exposure.
Turbine Manufacturer Retexo RISP
The turbine manufacturer Retexo RISP in their appraisal of a suitable turbine site state that;
“Buildings, particularly housing, should not be nearer than 2km to the windfarm”
http://www.retexo.de/english/wind/seite5a.htm
http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/2013/horses-get-wind-turbine-syndrome-portugal/
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/wuthering-heights-the-dangers-of-wind-power-a-500902.html
http://www.safesetbacks.com/styled-6/styled-9/files/turbines0026bats.pdf
Appendix A
http://www.westashton.org.uk/2km%20limit%20wiltshire.pdf
High Amentiy Areas--Visual impact of Powerlines and Pylons
High Voltage 400 KV Powerlines and Pylons should not be permitted in high amenity areas of the County due to the visual impact. They should also not be permitted in populated areas of the county. If the lines have to go through these areas then the lines should go underground.
Windstrategy/Windfarms
Windfarms should not be permitted in densely populated areas due to noise and flicker.
Windfarms should not be permitted in high amenity areas due to visual impact of the windfarms.
Reply to 'High Amenity Areas'
The closing date for submissions to the Draft County Development Plan has now passed. Of the 73 submissions received, two relate to your topic: submissions D16 and D47. A report (referred to as the Manager’s Report) addressing all the submissions received will be prepared, listing the persons or bodies who made submissions, summarising the issues raised and giving the opinion of the manager on the issues raised having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and statutory obligations of the Planning Authority. The report will be issued to the Council Members in November for consideration by the Councils up until the 24th January 2014. A further round of public consultation on the proposed amendments only to the Draft Plan will take place following these dates. Updates on the Development Plan process will be published on this website. Observations in relation to the route selection process for the Grid Link Project may be made to Eirgrid on or before the 26th of November 2013. For further details please see www.eirgridprojects.com/projects/gridlink or lo-call 1890 422 122.
Reply to 'Wind Strategy/ Windfarms'
Wind energy is dealt with in Section 10.5 of the Draft County Development Plan. Noise, flicker and visual impact are referred to in Section 10.5.3 (Development Management Guidance). Appendix J of the Draft Plan sets out the methodology used for the Wind Energy Development Strategy. All wind farm applications are assessed in accordance with the Wind Energy Development Guidelines for Planning Authorities: http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Planning/Fil...
The closing date for submissions to the Draft County Development Plan has now passed. Of the submissions received, nine relate to your topic: submissions D16, D36, D37, D38, D39, D48, D57, D60 and D61. A report (referred to as the Manager’s Report) addressing all the submissions received will be prepared, listing the persons or bodies who made submissions, summarising the issues raised and giving the opinion of the manager on the issues raised having regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area and statutory obligations of the Planning Authority. The report will be issued to the Council Members in November, for consideration by the Councils up until the 24th January 2014. A further round of public consultation on the proposed amendments only to the Draft Plan will take place following these dates. Updates on the Development Plan process will be published on this website.