Friday 7th October

7.00pm Canvass Belarmine estate, Stepaside – meet at “The Market”

Saturday 7th October

12.30pm Canvass Superquinn Ballinteer

Sunday 8th October

Canvassing after the following masses

10.00am Glencullen
10.30am Ballinteer
11.00am Sandyford
11.30am Balally
12.00pm Wayside (Kilternan)

If you’re free to help, call me on: 086-7814514

In a change from previous years, this year the concerts in Marlay Park will be staged in a marquee and there will be a much more limited approach to attendances, with capacity limited to no more than 10,000 people. The concerts will be spread over a two week period but the usual traffic restrictions and security duties will be in force.

The following headline acts will perform on the following evenings:

Friday 22nd July – The Coronas
Saturday 23rd July – The Villagers
Sunday 24th July – Joanna Newson
Tuesday 26th July – Roger Daltrey
Friday 29th July – 2 Many DJ’s
Sunday 31st July – Rodrigo y Gabriella
Saturday 6th August – Bell X1

Back to School Allowance

The Back to School Allowance scheme for 2011 has now opened. Please note that the arrangements for the scheme have changed and in most cases it will not be necessary to apply as most people who qualify will receive a letter before the end of June confirming the amount of payment and how it will be paid. If you do not receive a letter, you must apply in the normal way. Applications are available from the Health Centre, social welfare office or by texting BTSCFA’ followed by your name and address to 51909.

Tree Pruning

Tree pruning season runs from November to March. Last year’s tree pruning schedule was majorly restricted due to the very bad winter. The Council will prune all trees they were unable to get to last year this coming season.

Harolds Grange Road Planning Application

An application to construct 71 residential dwellings consisting of 13 5-bed part three storey, part two storey semi-detached houses, 47 4- houses, a 3-bed three storey detached house, 6 3-bed duplex units, 4 2-bed apartments with 152 surface car parking spaces on a site of 2.6 hectares beside Kingston Hall has been refused planning permission by the County Council.

Junction of Ballinteer Road and College Park

The County Council has indicated that the roundabouts at Wesley College and entering the Dundrum Town Centre should become signalised junctions. As part of this, the Resident Roads Engineer has identified the junction of Ballinteer Road and College Park as also being in need of signalisation as part of a wider scheme that would also incorporate the existing pedestrian crossing on the South end of Ballinteer Road.

The Traffic Section has recently erected two speed indicator signs on Ballinteer Road to encourage drivers to slow down. However, there is no funding currently available to allow the Traffic Section to commit to the works outlined above. I will continue to keep this on the Council’s agenda until such a time as funding does become available.

Ballintyre Pedestrian Crossing

Deputy Olivia Mitchell has been working alongside local residents and the Resident Roads Engineer in relation to the need for pedestrian crossings at the two exits from Ballintyre Hall: one to the church and the second to Superquinn. It is the Council’s view that seeing as there are currently two pedestrian crossings on Ballinteer Avenue, one at the junction with Broadford Road and the second at Ballinteer Court, they are not convinced that the numbers of people crossing the roadway warrant two additional crossing within such a short distance.

However, the Council believes the suggestion that the Management Company provide a new exit from Ballintyre at the Broadford junction would address the issue for a large number of people and increase the use of the existing crossing .

St Tiernan’s Community School

I have recently been appointed to the Board of Management of St Tiernan’s Community School by the County Dublin VEC.

“In order for companies like Eircom to upgrade broadband speeds in our area they must be granted way leaves by the Council to carry out works on communications ducts and cabinets located around the County, replacing old copper wires with new fibre optic cables,” Councillor Richmond explained.

“At the moment it is taking the Council an average of 27 days to process each application, as the application is sent through no less than seven departments, one at a time, for approval.

“This compares to Dublin City Council who process applications in an average of one day. Similiarly South Dublin County Council process the average application in three days, while Fingal County Council processes an application in an average of 20 days.

“These processing days are causing major problems for companies like Eircom when it comes to their ‘Fibre to the Home’ programme which is having a knock-on effect on the speed of broadband available in the south Dublin area.

“High speed broadband is essential for new business and new jobs in places like Sandyford and Leopardstown.

“It is in the Council’s own interest that this investment is made but it is the Council’s own levels of bureaucracy that are forcing costly delays. I am calling on the Manager to address this immediately.”

The bus stops here will be upgraded for wheelchair access, from Friday 17th September to Friday 1st October during the hours 8am to 6pm.

Broadford Road

Traffic lane restrictions will be in place due the installation of a speed ramp on Broadford road. Road marking works will also be carried out on this road between 9.30am and 4pm. All works will be taking place from 27th August 2010 to 17th September 2010. Temporary Traffic lights will be in place.

Grange Road

Cycle track restrictions will be in place to facilitate construction works on the Marley park overflow car park boundary wall from Monday 13th September 2010 for 3 months between 9am and 5pm.

Enniskerry Road

Traffic lane and footpath restrictions will be in place to facilitate the upgrading of bus stops for wheelchair access from Kilternan to The Scalp House, and at The Rectory estate from Wed 25th August to Friday 17th September 2010 from 8am to 6pm. Temporary traffic lights with a shuttle system will be in place around the clock.

Glencullen Crossroads (Johnny Foxes)

A new junction will be constructed from the 6th September to 1st October 2010, from 8am to 6pm.

Clonard Park off Sandyford Road

Footpath restoration work will take place from Monday 30th August 2010 for 6 weeks, from 8am to 6pm, until 8th October 2010.

“Following a number of accidents and incidents I am encouraged that the Council has begun to take action at this increasingly dangerous junction, especially with the schools returning this week.

“The junction in question is extremely busy with road traffic from the m50 exit, traffic exiting the nearby school as well as traffic making their way to Dundrum Town Centre and the LUAS.

“I would hope an audit can improve the layout/signage of the junction so that further accidents can be prevented and traffic congestion relieved.

“In the coming weeks I intend to lobby the Council to improve road safety across our area including the Glenamuck Road and Glencullen Village.”