Council urged to ‘kick on’ with Killaloe clean-up efforts

EFFORTS to coordinate all of the agencies responsible for cleaning up Killaloe are ongoing, local councillors have been assured. 

The matter was raised, for the second time in three months, by Councillor Tony O’Brien when the Killaloe Municipal District meeting took place last week. Previously, the Fianna Fáil member had called for a clean-up and facelift for Killaloe, particularly along the bridge into Ballina and on the pedestrian bridge over the canal. 

Last Wednesday, the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council asked for an update on engagement with statutory bodies responsible for the enhancement of lower end of Killaloe. 

In response, Senior Executive Officer (SEO), Morgan Lahiffe said progress is being made.

“There have been a number of conversations with our engineer, and emails to Waterways Ireland asking for meeting. I suggested last Monday morning, but didn’t work out. Our intention is that, before end of week, we would set date for that meeting.

“We will move on separately to a conversation about the bridge with Tipperary County Council, in relation to maintenance. There has been a little bit of difficulty with contacting the ESB. A conversation with ESB should follow our meeting with Waterways Ireland and Tipperary County Council.

“I expect to have a date by the end of the week for a meeting with Waterways Ireland and we will take it from there.”

Responding, Councillor O’Brien said: “We would want to be kicking on. I would be very concerned that the ESB are not coming on board. In relation to the area they control, there are difficulties with access for emergency services, particularly for the Coastguard. Resurfacing work needs to be done and parking needs to be controlled. We need all of the bodies involved.”

In July, Councillor O’Brien tabled a motion calling for a major clean-up, saying the Killaloe-Ballina Town Enhancement and Mobility Plan gave an added impetus for a facelift in the lakeside villages.