Cllr. Terence Slowey’s report to the March Meeting of Ardara Parish Council
Cllr. Terence Slowey began by outlining a list of Road Improvements Works which will be carried out in the Ardara Parish in 2013 under the Roads Programme. He said the Loughros Point Road at Cloughboy would have around 1 km of road upgraded at a cost of approximately €46500. He also said that around 1 km of roadway from Owenteskiny to Strafinn Bridge would also be improved under the Restoration Programme at a cost of just over €52,000. Cllr. Slowey said that the remainder of the Kenaughty to Crumlin road would be upgraded in 2013 at a cost of €37500 and the Derryness (Carn) road would also be improved at a cost of €37500 which would facilitate a general upgrade of this road. In addition Cllr. Slowey said the 1.3 km of the Stravalley from Meenabull road would be improved this year at a cost of approximately €53000.
Cllr. Slowey said he was very pleased that he had secured €80000 for the upgrading of the car park at the Narin Blue Flag beach. He went on to say that he had requested that a concrete plinth would be put in position for the bottle banks and possibly for the fixing of a bicycle rack to facilitate cyclists.
Under the Surface Dressing Programme for 2013 a section of the Glenconwal road of about 1 km will be surface dressed at a cost of €12600 and around 2 km of the Largybrack road to the border will be surface-dressed, costing €36000. The Tape road in Meentinadea will be resurfaced, with a little over €11000 coming from the Surface Dressing Programme of Donegal County Council and some additional funding under the new “cycleway” initiative. A section of the Loughros Point road of approximately 1 km from the junction of the N56 will be resurfaced at a cost of approximately €19000 and a section of the Ardaghey road will be resurfaced, costing approximately €23000. 1km of the Loughros road at Liskerraghan will be resurfaced in 2013 at a cost of €12600, while a similar amount will be spent on the Meengilcarry road. A 1 km section of the Lagunna road from the quarry will be resurfaced in 2013, at a cost of €12600.
Regarding Ardara village the National Roads Authority has allocated €60000 for traffic calming measures south of the village at Hugh Gerard Maloney’s new filling station and shop. Some remedial works were carried out here at the end of 2012, but further work is required in 2013. The NRA also provided €55000 for repair work to the road surface on the Front Street, Ardara.
Regarding the condition of the Ardara footpaths and the surface water drainage, Cllr. Slowey said that he had put down a Motion to have this matter discussed at the March Meeting of Donegal County Council, which takes place on March 25th.
Cllr. Slowey went on to say that he was pleased that a new public light had been erected on Pearse Road (Back Road). This was funded from Cllr. Slowey’s own Lighting Budget for 2012.
Under the Surface Dressing Programme Cllr. Slowey said that a small section of the Doon Lough road would be re-surfaced in 2013 at a cost of €12,600.
Cllr. Slowey said that he was pleased that the new section of piping from the N56 at Maas to Narin was now complete and this would improve the quality and pressure of water along the complete stretch serviced by this new water main.
The Councillor said that in 2013 upwards of 1 km of the Glenties/Ballybofey road will be upgraded from Fintown towards the Dry Arch at a cost of €81000.
In addition, Cllr. Slowey said that €22,500 would be spent on the Glen road at a section known locally as the “Lab”, which is prone to flooding, and in addition that 1 km of the Meenavale road would be upgraded at a cost of €42,000.
He went on to say that the road to Kilkenny school would be surface-dressed at a cost of €12,600, while 1 km of the Cleengort to Derryloaghan road would be surface-dressed at a cost of €12,600. He also said that 700 m of the Lacklea road in the Glen of Glenties would be re-surfaced at a cost of approximately €12,000.
The Councillor said that a small section of the Tullyard road, close to the bottom, which is in poor condition would get re-surfaced in 2013 at a cost of around €9,000.
The Councillor completed his report by saying that he was looking forward to St. Patrick’s weekend where all roads would lead to Ardara and Glenties for the annual International Walking Weekend and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ardara and the Leprechaun World Record attempt and Parade in Glenties.