EVENTS

 Johnstown Residents Association Garden Competition winners 2011

 Congratulations to all

EPA reply to the JCA complaint, click here

Johnstown Goal Mile 

 Christmas Morning at 10am

The walk starts from Centra and goes up to the roundabout at exit 8 and back. You can get information on the GOAL mile and the charity at www.GOAL.ie.

There'll be music and refreshments at Jordan's Centra.
Music by Johnny Peters and Co

Tidy Towns weekly work Tuesday evenings 8pm and Saturdays 9am. Meet in the carpark. All help appreciated.

NEWS

Draft County Development Plan 2011-2017 

JOHNSTOWN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION (JCA)

is delighted to invite you to:

An Evening with

                                                               Éamon de Buitléar Irish Wildlife – Closer to You Than You May Think! 

When? 7:00 pm (sharp) to 9:00 pm; Thursday, May 13^th, 2010

Where? Londis Distribution Centre, Johnstown Village

THANKS TO THE GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP OF Pigsback Local; a fantastic new service from Pigsback, supporting Local Businesses and bringing you the best deals in Kildare. Please Visit: www.pigsback.com/kildare and Londis ATTENDANCE IS FREE FOR ALL RESIDENTS.  HOWEVER, AS SPACES ARE RESTRICTED TO 50 ATTENDEES, ADVANCE REGISTERATION BY EMAIL TO SECRETARY@JOHNSTOWNVILLAGE.ORG OR BY PHONE/TEXT TO 086-2554182 IS NECESSARY

Newsletter

www.johnstownvillage.com 

March 2010

In this the first issue of our newsletter for 2010, you will receive an update on the issues the committee has been actively chasing over the last six months.  During this period we have had a few changes to our committee, with the rotation of the chair and other executive roles.  The new committee is listed below and we would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the residents of Johnstown to thank the outgoing committee for their time and efforts over the last 2 years and, in particular, their chairman Mr. Joe O’Carroll for his driving force and enthusiasm, without which the achievement made to date would have been a lot slower and more difficult. 

• Committee Members

Frank Moore, Chairman     chairman@johnstownvillage.org 

Joe O’Carroll, Treasurer                                                     Liz Dinnegan, Secretary

Enda McKeon, Johnstown Manor                                   Brian McCabe, The Village

Angela Brown, Johnstown Gardens                                 Alan Jordan, St. John’s Grove  

Eugene O’Keane, St. John’s Grove                                  Paul Heaney, Johnstown Manor

Martin Egan, Furness Manor                                            Kevin Dunphy, Furness Manor 

• Garden Centre

The JCA Committee submitted the findings of the community survey into the desired use of the Garden centre site to all of the local Councillors and to Kildare County Council.  This led to the matter being discuss at the Naas Area Committee of KCC, which involves all 5 Cllrs in our area, namely, Cllr Tony Lawlor and Cllr Darren Scully (FG), Cllr Paddy MacNamara (Lab), Cllr Willie Callaghan (FF) and Cllr Seamie Moore (Ind). 

Cllr. Paddy McNamara told Monday’s Kildare County Council meeting that the Naas area committee wanted the Johnstown Local Area Plan varied or amended to re-zone the land.  Local people want it to be an amenity area, said Cllr. McNamara.

The land, which was flooded this week, could be sold it is feared as it zoned currently for commercial purposes.

Director of Services, John Lahart, said the area plan did not come up for revision until next year and legally it would be complex to change the plan at this stage.

But councillors fear that a sale of the land by the National Road Authority could defeat their plans for an amenity area.  Cllr. McNamara said they did not want another twenty or thirty houses there on a flood plain or more commercial property. “Stop a mistake happening,” he said.

Cllr. Tony Lawlor seconded the proposal adding the area was under three to four feet or water this week.

Apart from advising against their motion on legal grounds, Mr. Lahart questioned whether the area was suitable for amenity open space seeing as it was so near the motorway.  Mr. Lahart said any planning application for development on the land would be based on its current (commercial) zoning.

Cllr. Lawlor raised the matter of a deal with the previous owners of the site and suggested that the deal with the NRA included the land reverting to amenity use.

Mr. Lahart said there was no deal between the NRA and the landowner.

Cllr. McNamara said it was urgent that the Council use its legal power to get the amenity zoning.

Cllr. Catherine Murphy said that it used to be more difficult to vary a plan but since the Planning and Development Act 2000, it has got easier. Now they were being told it is difficult.

Mr. Lahart advised them they could not pass their motion there and then.

Acting County Secretary, Charlie Talbot, said it would be illegal to pre-empt the planning process.

The Council agreed a proposal by Cllr. Willie Callaghan to amend the motion to start the Local Area Plan process during which they could vary or amend the plan to keep the area as open space.

©Leinster Leader,  03 December 2009

The JCA Committee will be meeting with the Naas Area Committee to advance this matter.

• Flood Scheme

After a number of meetings with Kildare County Council, we finally got confirmation of a flood relief scheme for the Johnstown area.  You can see, from the note below of our recent meeting with the Flood Scheme Manager that a lot of thought has gone into the work required and indeed a lot more work needs to be done to ensure this project is completed as early as possible. 

After the recent flood in November 2009 a number of flood committees have been organised within the individual Residents’ Associations in Johnstown and until the Flood Scheme is complete these flood committees will act as an early warning system and have prepared practical steps to ensure if we have a flood again minimum damage will be done to property in the area. 

Present: Alan Dunney KCC. , Michael O’Connell Kilgallen & Partners.

Frank Moore & Joe O’Carroll (in Part) JCA. 

Reference: 
Flood Scheme Johnstown.

Michael explained the idea of the scheme is to divert the rivers around Johnstown on both sides for the event of a 1 in 100 year flood and at the same time leaving a low level flow of the rivers through the village when rainfall were at normal levels. 

Areas of concern:

 Bridge into Johnstown Manor: the bridge will have to be raised and they are aware of the problems of the sewer pipe, further detail on the height etc will be available when the movement of this pipe has been finalised. 

ESB sub-station: with the diversion of the flow prior to the station this problem should be solved. A more detailed look at some of the culvert along this stretch into the village will be done when work commences. The position of the diverted Annagall stream through Tony Lawlor’s land has not yet been agreed but will be done within the next 4 or 5 weeks, at which stage Alan will confirm this to the JCA and arrange another meeting if necessary. 

Old Bridge: The three culverts which at present are hidden will be opened and the surrounding land required for the additional flow will be cut out and landscaped. The old bridge will remain undamaged and the area around the bridge and culverts will be completed in a manner that can be used when waters are at normal heights. 

Johnstown Gardens: the area between the bridge at Johnstown Manor to the Old Bridge is one of the most important areas in the scheme and high point for the flow of water during heavy falls of rain. The protecting walls around Johnstown Gardens backing on to Johnstown Manor will be designed to take any increased pressure. 

John’s Grove : some work has been done already to clear a way for the Hartwell river to flow through the culverts, but this area will only be corrected when the river widening works up stream is complete , which will allow a natural flow directly through the culvert under the slip road off the N7. The area between the slip road and the N7 will also be cleaned out to relieve any obstruction caused. If during the works it becomes obvious that the culvert under the road at the Fox Covert needs to be widen, then this will be done 

Furness Road opposite Borans: flood waters coming from behind the houses should be stopped when the work behind John’s Grove is complete as the water is coming from the overflow at the corner of the field and flowing down the ditch to the lowest point.  
 

We discussed the reason why we brought Hanley Pepper on board and it was agreed that they could contact Alan to arrange a meeting if required to go over the scheme with a view to report to resident on how the scheme will work technically and not to second guess Kilgallen or the County Council. It was also agreed that if there are any questions residents would like answered if they could put a list together and the JCA would forward same to Alan he would detail answers or arrange a further meeting on same. 

Commencement, due to various problems with the fish and wild life in the area the major work can not begin till May’10. However, most of the necessary meeting of land owners and residents have now begun and will be complete in a short time assuming agreement can be reached and the OPW are available to do the work. Some of the work which is not prohibited will go ahead as soon as possible.  

The flooding in Sallins will take priority over Johnstown; however, the funding is available for this scheme and some work will be done in conjunction with Sallins. 

€1.4m has been allocated to the Johnstown works and it is clear that KCC and OPW will carry out the works in a manner and to a standard that ensures no reoccurrence of the ongoing flooding problems.  The desire is there to get this sorted once and for all. 

• ·         Tidy Towns

May I begin by thanking everyone who gave of their time in helping Johnstown do so well in last year’s TT competition. Martin Egan from Furness Manor deserves a special mention, cutting all the green areas from one end of the village to the other- throughout the summer.  One could have taken him as our own private Council worker with the amount of time he put in. Thank you, Martin.

We earned an extra thirteen points in the Village category of the Competition in 2009, coming in at fifth place, and more importantly adding an extra €750 to the kitty!

This year we will be starting our Tidy Town’s work-nights after the An Taisce’s National Clean-up week in April.  We would love your help and more importantly your ideas on how to improve the village. We usually designate a Tuesday evening as the weekly work night, and if you would like to help by giving a few hours of your time, it would certainly be appreciated.

You can give your contact details to any member of JCA or directly to me, Angela Brown, at (087 2245574) and pending on the reply, I will organize a meeting sometime in early April to hear your views on village improvements. I will also be able to email or text you as to where and when the work-party is going to meet on a particular night.

In giving an hour or two of your time occasionally would help keep Johnstown looking well for us all.

JCA have registered for the National Spring Clean event, Ireland’s largest Anti Litter Campaign. This year’s clean up event will take place in Johnstown on the Saturday 27^th March.

Dog Owners

We wish to remind all dog owners that it is an offence to allow your dog to be loose in a public place. It is also an offence to allow your dog litter in a public place. It is the owners’ responsibility to pick up their dog’s litter and dispose of it in the local waste bins or in their own waste bins.

The village paths and bridges are being fouled by dogs owned by careless owners and it is the duty of residents to ensure that dog owners are corrected or reported if necessary. 

• ·         Kerdifftown Landfill  

Following a successful campaign by local residents, including Kerdiffstown Resident Association and the JCA, it can be seen from the recent Court Case a great victory was achieved by the EPA in getting a High Court Injunction preventing the operator from accepting further waste deposits (see article below). 

The JCA and Residents Association in Johnstown have over recent months been complaining to the EPA and the Company.  In January 2010 an official statement was taken from our Chairman and lodged as part of the evidence required by the EPA to achieve this injunction.  The official complaints form and the procedure required to follow was distributed to most residents in Johnstown over the last month or two and a number of them also submitted their complaint (form can be got if you log into EPA www.epa.ie/downloads/forms/pollution). 

Landfill site halted from taking more deposits 

For full report please follow link below

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0223/1224265035848.html

•  ·         Proposed Bio-Energy Facility Ref. M&M Coldstores

The JCA and its members’ residents associations have filed objections against the recent planning application by M&M Coldstores for the construction of a new bio-energy facility. Our objection outlined our serious concerns about the importation of 45,000 tonnes of food waste and the storage and processing of this huge quantity of waste and the negative impact it will have on the residents due to odour, gas emissions, noise, pathogens, dust and vermin. The JCA and the other residents committees will continue to actively resist the construction of any such facility.We recommend that all residence put in an objection, even though the JCA will be forwarded an objection on behalf of the community.  ·        

 Neighbourhood Watch

Due to a small number of criminal incidences in the local area, it has been decided by the JCA to re- establish the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Volunteers are needed for a sub committee, please contact any member of the committee if you are available. Neighbourhood Watch is a crime prevention programme aimed at getting local communities actively involved in observing and reporting suspicious activities. The programme involves creating a partnership between the Gardai and the community, which is designed to prevent crime and to help create a better environment in which to live.·        

• Councillors/TDs Details

• Emergency Numbers

Kill Garda Station                 045 877555

Naas Garda Station             045 884300

Dog Wardens                        0598623388

EPA                                        01 2680100  

• Local Interest

Kill Musical & Dramatic Society

The Kill Singers, who are an award-winning choir within the Kill Musical and Dramatic Society (from the Kill and Johnstown area), are always looking for new singing talent. 

If you have choir experience, or if you think you might be a budding tenor, please contact Niall Mc Donald 087-2561252 

The choir, which meets for practice every Wednesday night at 8 p.m in the primary school, has an interesting programme of events lined up for the year, including a trip to sunny Italy in October. 

Spring & Summer 2010                          

Monday 22^nd March:  Early Kildare Motoring              Bob Webster 

Monday 26^th April:     The Curragh Plain                        Hugh Crawford 

Monday 24^th May:   ‘From the Civil War to the Emergency’ Newsreels 1922-1941

Adrian Mulldowney

  All meetings take place in the Parish Meeting Room at 8.30 p.m.

(unless otherwise indicated) 

• Kill / Johnstown GAA

Web address: - www.kill.kildare.gaa.ie/ 

The on-going support from the people of Johnstown for your club is very much appreciated. 

Lotto

Weekly draw tickets available from the club and post office. Top prize is now in excess of €9,000. Draw takes place every Monday night at 10.30pm. 

Bingo

Bingo in the Hall every Thursday 8.30pm – 10pm, All welcome.

Football & Hurling

The club has 2 Adult football teams that play in Div 2 & 5 of the Senior Football league. If you are interested in joining please contact Clive Byrne 086 8169265. While the Hurling team play in the intermediate league, please contact Christy McDonald on 086 8717177 for more details. 

Juvenile Club

Many boys and girls from Johnstown, some as young as five, are members of the Club. They are enjoying learning the skills of one or more of: football, hurling and / or camogie. If you are interested in registering your child / children please contact Paul Heaney 087 9141 768, John McCormack           086 232 0044 or drop down to the club any Sunday morning at 10.00 a.m. 

Upcoming Events

Details of other events may be viewed on the clubs website:www.kill.kildare.gaa.ie/ 

Parties / Functions

The club has excellent facilities for parties and functions for the young and not so young. You are welcome to view the Club’s excellent facilities.  Leo Durnin (Bar Manager)  tel: 087-270 3117 will be pleased, at your request, to arrange a booking or viewing. 

Christmas Draw Results

The Club wishes to thank the people of Johnstown for your support of this key fundraising activity. The €5,000 top prize was won by Sylvia Lawlor with the ticket sold by M. Devine. S Donohoe won the second prize of €1,000, this ticket was also sold by M Devine. Christy Kelly from Johnstown won ninth prize, a bottle of brandy, seller P. Heaney. The full list of prize winners are published on the club notice board. Come down and have a look … you might like what you see!

• ·         Other Events

Éamon de Buitléar  

This year is International Year of Biological Diversity and we have asked Éamon de Buitléar to come to Johnstown to give an evening talk of Ireland’s Wildlife.We think there will be a general interest amongst villagers in going along to hear/meet him.  As soon as we have confirmed a date/venue we will circulate more details.  
 
 Scoil Bhríde, Kill

New School New contractors have been appointed to complete the building of the new school and it is hoped they will be back on site before the end of March. It is expected that the school will be ready to move into after Christmas next year.   

• General

• Funding

As the JCA has become more established over the last 2 years, it has become necessary to request some funding to cover insurance, maintenance and sundry items which the committee have to pay from time to time. At present we would like to thank the residents who do contribute i.e. paid up members of the John’s Grove and Johnstown Manor Residence Association who contribute €5 membership and €5 Tidy Towns.

We would ask a fee of €10, €5 membership and €5 Tidy Towns contribution.

Please forward cheque made payable to Johnstown Community Association to our, Treasurer Mr. Joe O’ Carroll, Unit 4, Old Mill, Johnstown, Co Kildare. (NO CASH PLEASE)

Please complete, so a receipt can be forwarded to you

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Name____________________________________________

Address__________________________________________

Email____________________________________________

Would you like to be part of the Committee Y/N

Firstly, occasionally due to staff holidays or staff sickness the crèche can find itself operating a busy day with less than the usual amount of employees.  It would be very helpful for us to have a panel of local people that might come and help out in the morning on those particular days. Usually 9.30 to 12.30. If you are interested please contact Peter at the above number to find out more. It might just suit you and it’s a way to earn some extra cash. 

Secondly, We do have a playschool with some spaces available for September and also 1 or 2 spaces in the Montessori class, so if you want to get the kids out of the house and grab a bit of time for yourselves give us a call.

I am also trying to get a pilates course started in the evenings at the crèche, if you are interested or know of a good trainer let me know and I will start arranging it for those Autumn and Winter evenings. Again call me at the above number.

August 21st, 2008:  Planning Permission Granted for New School at Kill