Mr O’Dowd is in Tipperary to discuss the ongoing, long drawn out, rehabilitation of the Silvermines area. He is expected to be accompanied by a geologist and other Department Officials.

The Minister of State will begin by touring Silvermines Tailings Pond, Gortmore and Garryard, and will have talks later with Mr Karl Cashen, Director of Services NTCC, North Tipperary County Manager Joe McGrath and Michael Leamy, local farmer and Chairperson of Silvermines Environmental Group.

Related posts:

1. Minor Remediation Works To Begin At Silvermines
2. Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan To Visit North Tipperary
3. Visit of Minister Mary Hanafin to Citizens Info Centre, Thurles

Mr Hogan said the anticipated fee for septic tank inspection, will now be reduced from €50 to just €5, for the first three months, while the charge is being introduced. He stated this lower rate was an incentive for septic tank owners to register early, with the deadline for registration being March of next year.

Mr Hogan said that full new guidelines, regarding septic tank standards, will be announced in the coming days. He also stated that this legislation will now ensure that if people’s septic tank systems are working properly, the impact of the new system will be minor.

Phil Hogan’s Presentation On Septic Tanks Clearly Bogus

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a farm sustaining 2,500 cows has the ability to produce the equivalent in waste matter as a city containing 400,000 residents. Animal feeding operations annually produce about 100 times more manure than the amount of human sewage sludge processed in US municipal waste-water plants.

Ireland’s rural human population is numbered at about 1.6 to 1.8 million and these human statistics surely are dwarfed by a rural population of necessary animals which can include Deer, Pigs, Sheep, Poultry and Cattle. Surely any seepage from malfunctioning domestic septic tanks is insignificant, particularly when compared to the amount of animal waste pumped directly onto land as slurry.

I won’t even enter into discussion on the use of pesticides, antibiotics and over use of nitrogen, the rules for which most EU Governments have failed to meet their obligations under existing law, in an effort to protect rural residents and communities.

Farmers in Tipperary and Offaly were allowed “as an exceptional measure,” to spread slurry until the end of October in 2011. This decision was gifted by Minister Hogan, who extending the deadline because “weather conditions were beyond farmers control and this extension will make life easier on farmers in Tipperary and Offaly.”

Perhaps elected representatives in opposition, might waken up and seek proper clarity on where all of this is headed.

Related posts:

1. Reduced Train Fares For Ardscoil Match
2. Ken Hogan Takes Charge Of Tipp Under 21 Hurlers

Cantwell Mobile Water Treatment Plant

The highly reputable and successful sister companies, combining Cantwell Quality Water Services Ltd and Cantwell Electrical Engineering Ltd, yesterday privately unveiled their newest piece of engineering equipment, a Mobile Water Treatment Plant, which is the first such plant ever to come on stream here in Ireland.

This new fully Mobile Water Treatment Unit is capable of treating up to 45,000 litres of water per hour and comes complete with it’s own power supply and electrical generator, thus allowing the unit to start operations on arrival at it’s required destination or environmental emergency.

On arrival, this state of the art treatment unit is ready immediately to begin carrying out the following treatments:- Iron and Manganese removal,  UV treatment, Carbon filtration, Ultra Filtration, pH correction and controlled Chlorine treatment.

The company, Cantwell Electrical Engineering Ltd has been successfully trading since 1978, while it’s sister company, Cantwell Quality Water Services Ltd, began trading in early 2010. Both Companies trade from their own business and engineering unit at Graigue, Urlingford, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, offering a non stop 24 hour service.

Cantwell Quality Water Services Ltd, currently supply an estimated 100,000 litres of quality drinking water per hour, to the towns of Foyne’s, Kilcornan, Askeaton, Shanagolden, Killdimo and Creevey’s Cross. This follows the recent pollution, caused by oil, which leaked into the River Deel in Co Limerick, last week and also includes the pumping of water directly from their tankers to serve a number of nursing homes & schools etc. A total of 7 tankers are involved in this operation with a further 5 tankers on reserve if required.

Cantwell Quality Water Services Ltd also supply water to ocean going ships, such as the heavy cargo ships servicing the Aughinish Alumina Ltd, plant, which take 50,000 litres, pumped directly to on board water supply tanks.

Both companies Managing Directors, Simon Cantwell and Ger Cantwell, stated; “This type of new advance technology will now support and ensure that Ireland, as an island nation, will continue to retain it’s already acknowledged green, clean environmental reputation, well into the years ahead.“

Related posts:

1. Cantwell Quality Water Tipperary Supplied Flora Mini Marathon
2. Drinking Water Being Tested For High Levels Of Nitrogen
3. QWS Represent Tipp At National Emergency Management Summit

The town has risen in the ranks from 49th place (Littered) in 2010, to now 18th place in the league, and deemed “Clean to European Norms” by IBAL.  Nenagh now ranks above Clonmel, latter in 28th place and Tipperary Town, holding 51st position (Littered) .

Thurles, previously deemed “Clean to European Norms,” in 2010 by IBAL, did not feature in this round of the league.

The Nenagh litter report, which was carried out by An Taisce, for IBAL, pointed out that Nenagh languished in 49th position last year and that their new ranking goes to demonstrate what can be achieved with a community approach to tackling litter problems.

Martin Langton of Nenagh Tidy Towns Committee, stated that he now looked forward to new Local Authority driven initiatives to tackle existing problems in 2012, and further commented, that this result is a huge tribute to those involved in the towns anti-litter drive.  It was also his fervent hope that this result would encourage people to continue in their efforts.

Related posts:

1. Tipperary Mixed Fortunes In IBAL League
2. IBAL And An Taisce Say Nenagh Litter Blackspot
3. Thurles – Clean To European Norms

Biomass Installation

The project is estimated to cut the cost of the heating necessary for this local state of the art facility by one third, to under €100,000 per year.

Currently this venue costs €150,000 each year to heat, using bulk liquid propane gas, however now this new installation will be fueled using biomass, latter fuel which can be sourced locally.

This new venture should have the impact of retaining large money savings for within the local economy, thus resulting in more money for the support of other commercial purposes within Thurles.

Added to this, Thurles Town Council’s commitment to a reduction of the towns carbon foot print, has meant that the Swimming Pool management have embarked on improving further energy efficiency measures, e.g. installing additional wall insulation and lighting controls at this popular leisure facility.

By undertaking this project, Thurles Town Council now set a prime example to others in the Public Sector, on how they can lead the way, in strengthening other local economies.

You can find full details of Thurles Swimming Pool & Leisure Centre’s Christmas Opening Hours by clicking Here

Related posts:

1. A Modern Day Tour Of Thurles And Surrounding Villages
2. EU Direct Information Centre Opens In Thurles
3. Thurles Shopping Centre Evacuated

Deputy Noel Coonan TD

Noel Coonan TD has welcomed today’s announcement that €105,415 has been allocated to North Tipperary County Council to assist the authority in meeting the costs associated with the operation of their Bring Banks and Civic Amenity Facilities.

Speaking to Thurles.Info this morning, Deputy Coonan said; “It is important to promote recycling now and into the future, especially as most landfills have closed or are about to close. This money will encourage our local authorities to continue to provide necessary waste management infrastructure. We can see that civic amenity facilities are hugely successful, and this funding is an incentive to increase opening hours and facilities throughout the constituency.”

Mr. Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, today  announced the provision of €5 million in funding to assist local authorities in meeting the costs associated with the operation of their Bring Banks and Civic Amenity Facilities for the period January to June 2011.

The funding is provided from the Environment Fund, through which the proceeds of the plastic bag and landfill levies are utilised to provide assistance and support, in respect of a range of waste management, litter and other environmental initiatives.

Related posts:

1. Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan To Visit North Tipperary
2. 30% Drop In Funding For North Tipperary National Roads
3. North Tipperary Businesses Will Save Thousands

It is a place frequented by walkers, photographers, lovers, artists, and sometimes those with heavy hearts.  It is an amazing area for inquisitive children in search of knowledge, where Mother Nature hands to teachers a clean blank blackboard, with which to educate future generations.

I speak of course of Cabragh Wetlands.

However if either North Tipperary Planning (Ref: 10510413) or An Board Pleanala (Ref: PL22.238800) and their elected officials kowtow to business and personal political interests, and as we have seen recently in the case of Two Mile Borris, they go against the advice of their own planning inspectorate, then this rare environmental treasure, will slowly become a disease infected wasteland.

In an article published on this site in April of this year, we highlighted that a proposed Thurles Recycling Centre, was to be located at the old Thurles Sugar Factory site, in Cabragh and had been given the ‘green light,’ after planning permission was granted for the facility by North Tipperary County Council. This decision was subsequently and justifiably appealed by local angry residents, to an Bord Pleanala.

After much delay O’Dwyer Skip Hire Ltd, (T/A Envirobin) have replied to An Board Pleanala’s request of August last, for further planning information. I am reliably informed that An Board Pleanala has not been so generous regarding time constraints, to those objecting to this project, allowing them only 10 days for to prepare any future defence.

Drug dealers, murderers and other major criminals, in this country, can apply successfully for free legal aid / funding, to defend in many cases the indefensible. However persons attempting to protect their local environment against outside events, in this case Cabragh/Ballycurrane Residents Association, must fund their own defence against events totally foisted on them.

While I totally support the theory of Waste Management and the building of Waste Transfer Stations, the erection of such a facility in a rural town, in the centre of a populated residential area, within metres of the River Suir, latter which crosses county Tipperary from north to south, and close to a National Heritage Site, defies all logical reasoning.

Both those funding this venture and those elected representatives responsible for directing North Tipperary’s Planning also display total disregard for all persons living in this area. With the drop in house prices all residents have already lost 5o%, at least on the values of their homes as at the date of purchase. If this venture succeeds, residential housing in the immediate area will remain unsellable in the future.

Politicians of all political persuasions have failed in their duty of care to Thurles, a duty they need reminding, which was bestowed on them by a local trusting electorate.

Residents of Thurles, your support is now needed to defend us against those with greedy private interests, who are intent on introducing ‘Dirty Industry,’ into our town, in the name of ‘Job Creation.’

Silence is no longer an option for all Thurles residents, so do please express your views by commenting either on this site or by contacting the following elected representatives:-

Michael Lowry T.D. Abbey Road, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Telephone: 0504 – 22022 – Email:  michael.lowry@oireachtas.ie

Noel Coonan T.D. Bank Street, Templemore, Co Tipperary. Telephone: 0504 – 32544 – Email: noel.coonan@oir.ie

Alan Kelly T. D. No 1 Summerhill, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary: Telephone: 067 – 34190 – Email: office@alankelly.ie

Mayor Councillor Micheal Lowry, Civic Offices, Limerick Road, Nenagh, Tipperary: Telephone: 067 – 44500 – Email: secretary@northtippcoco.ie

Do of course request them to clarify, in writing, if or not, they continue to hold any financial or other interest in O’Dwyer Skip Hire Ltd, (T/A Envirobin) or subsidiaries of this company. Remind all County Councillors, you may bump into, of their own Mission Statement “We commit ourselves, in partnership with all stakeholders, to improve the quality of the economic, social and cultural life of our communities.”

We need no reminder and have learned, through expensive past lessons, one cannot ever again be sure of loyalties expressed by our public representatives, especially where finances are concerned.

It is pointless writing to Local Councillors, firstly you will not get a reply and secondly, as local representatives they have little or no power to influence such proceedings.

Related posts:

1. Public Apology To Colm McCarthy
2. Decentralisation – 5,000 Public Servants Deferred
3. Public Order Arrests Increasing In Tipperary

Oakfield Drive bonfire remains after local celebrations.

Numerous Residents living in the Oakfield Drive, Stradavoher, area of Thurles claim they were intimidated by youths, who threw fireworks and bangers, deliberately targeting  private homes in this area.

Just one of many emails received today, sums up the torment experienced during the night by residents in this area.

Dear sir, 

It is just past midnight and I am sitting on my hall stairs waiting for the next banger to come at my house. Steadily since 8pm there has been bangers and screamers aimed at my home, the third one blew the letter box both inside and out from my door, and blew the curtain from its hooks on the inside of the front door. I have literally been sick with fright since then.

There is a bonfire built in the middle of our green, latter which was looking lovely up till now, and there is a gang of between 10 and 25 young boys and girls hanging around it. Every now and again they go off as if like commandos in different directions and pelt bangers/screamers at 3 specific houses, mine included.

Why? I do not know,I was in my kitchen baking when the banger hit my door, so its not as if I was out haranguing them about the noise. The gardai have been called and they have called up to the estate not once, not twice, but at least 6 times since 8.00pm, they are understaffed and its a bad night to be on call.

I understand this, but every year for the past 4 years the same behaviour has gone on in this estate and there is nothing being done about it. One of the boys mothers is actually standing  watching while her “pride and joy” harasses and terrorises his neighbours, and no I am not joking.

I am sick to my stomach at the blatant lack of respect shown to neighbours here tonight but what can I expect any more? I have to be up for work in 6 hours and there is no way I am sleeping tonight with my letterbox gone, I have no way of covering it till the morning and I am terrified of what they will put through it next. This is 2011 and Thurles town, not the 1970′s in Belfast.

Yours, just one of many frightened resident. (Authors name withheld.)

We examined this complaint earlier today, and were amazed to see that amongst the contents used in the bonfire were old carpets, and other property owned by Thurles Town Council.

The law is quite clear on this matter. Relevant legislation on this issue includes Section 32 of the Waste Management Act 1996 to 2005 and Section 4 of the Air Pollution Act 1987.  The main objective of this legislation is to prevent environmental pollution and the creation of nuisance emissions respectively.  Section 32 of the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2005 states a “person shall not hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes or is likely to cause environmental pollution“.  Section 4 of the Air Pollution Act, 1987 defines air pollution as “a condition of the atmosphere in which a pollutant is present in such a quantity as to be liable to:-
(i) be injurious to public health, or
(ii) have a deleterious effect on flora or fauna or damage property, or
(iii) impair or interfere with amenities or with the environment.”

If the burning results in any of the three points above, in particular cause a nuisance as in point (iii,) then air pollution would be considered to have been caused. We have advised the residents who contacted us that they should contact the Environment Section of their County Council, as some county and local authorities have made bye-laws to regulate this matter.

The question now remains “Has Thurles Town Council implemented bye-laws to protect, not just humans, but also wildlife and pets.”  If not then when do they intend to implement same, in an effort to protect frightened town residents.

Related posts:

1. Mullinahone Residents Communicate With The Dead
2. Thurles Residents Rightly Demand Respect
3. Changes To Mobile Phone Drive Tests

The areas affected are Leugh road, Racecourse road to the Hospital of the Assumption, Killinan to Ballycahill, Ballycahill to Knockalough.

This notice confirms that Water must be boiled before any consumption e.g. Drinking, Drinks made with water, Food preparation, Brushing of teeth, Making of ice and the Preparation of baby feeds (cooled boiled water may be used)

Consumers are asked to exercise caution when using boiled water and water from hot taps is not considered safe to drink, even where domestic water filters are installed. Consumers are asked to discard all ice cubes/filtered water from fridges/freezers and to renew ice stocks using freshly cooled boiled water.

Unboiled water can be used for personal hygiene (except brushing teeth), bathing and flushing toilets.  Caution should be taken when bathing children to ensure they do not ingest bath water.

Every effort has been made to bring this notice to the attention of those consuming water in the affected area.  If you know of consumers who are unaware of this notice, please bring it to their attention or else advise North Tipperary County Council.

This procedure will continue until further notice and further information can be had by contacting Tel: 067-44867 or Mobile Tel 087-2789541 from 9.00am to 5.00pm Mon-Fri inclusive.

The Council has been forced to issue this “Boil Water Notice,” following tests on this water supply, which showed contaminants in the system. Details regarding which contaminants were found, are as yet not revealed.

Related posts:

1. North & South Tipp Implementation Group Named
2. Drinking Water Being Tested For High Levels Of Nitrogen
3. Finally Tipperary Schools Can Get Water Grants

Thurles Chamber, had called the meeting with a view to deciding what direction their submission should take, with reference to Tipperary’s Planning Section decision on the development of a further proposed shopping centre at the old Erin Foods site at Slievenamon Road, Thurles.

Thurles Chamber Meeting

Very quickly it became evident, from the mood of those gathered, that such a proposed venture was not welcome in the town in the foreseeable future.

Speakers from the floor, referred mainly to advice, commissioned and contained, in the Thurles and Environs Development Plan 2009-2015, regarding future Commercial and Retail Development.

While it was pointed out that the location of new retail or indeed other proposed development, is crucial to the long-term vitality of Thurles, proposals for any new retail development, that is located outside the central town area, must be assessed against the following criteria:-

(a) Does it undermine or have an adverse impact on the quality of the town centre?
(b) Does it diminish the future range of shops in the town centre?
(c) Does it link effectively with the commercial life currently existing in Thurles town centre?

It was unanimously agreed that any such decision must also take into account all potential social costs and benefits, not only the most obvious ones, which are easily measured in economic terms, but also be careful not to impose disproportional costs elsewhere, when pursuing a single objective of this magnitude. The cannibalization of existing jobs from within the town centre, was considered to be a cause for major concern in this instance.

As stated, the location of new retail development is crucial to the long term vitality, life and viability of Thurles Town and the preferred location for new retail development, where practicable and viable, should always be in the town centre.

The meeting called on the Tipperary Planning Authority, in future, to only permit development in the outer areas of Thurles, that would enhance rather than detract from the town centre, as indeed recommended in the Thurles Environmental Development Plan for 2009-2015.

Speakers strongly voiced the opinion that town centre development should be the future policy of those involved with local planning, to strengthen the town centre function of Thurles as a viable commercial, cultural and living centre, in accordance with the County Retail Strategy 2003 and the Retail Planning guidelines for Planning Authorities and the Town Centre Strategy.

A submission to this effect will now be forwarded to the Planning Authority, by Thurles Chamber in the next few days, strongly conveying the wishes of those assembled, at this evenings meeting.

Related posts:

1. Another Shopping Centre Planned for Thurles
2. Thurles Chamber Invite Submissions
3. Supermarket Opening Times In Thurles