Minutes of a Meeting with Manor Park Homes on 7th May, 2009 at 9.30 am.

Present: Marcia D’Alton, Frank Thorne
(Pembroke Wood Residents Association)
Fred Sweeney (Manor Park Homes)

Frank and Marcia presented Fred with a list of issues outstanding in the estate which the Residents Association wants to see addressed before the taking in charge process begins. The list was accompanied with photographs illustrating each issue and the locations where action needs to be taken were marked on an A1 plan of the estate.

Fred said that the grass in the estate is being cut today and would be cut every 4 – 5 weeks thereafter throughout the rest of the growing season.

Speed ramps will be provided, including a table top ramp to provide a pedestrian crossing point. Fred thought that the most natural crossing point is on the roundabout side of Doodlebugs.

Road markings/signage will be provided throughout the estate so as to indicate who has right of way at junctions. The road markings/signage proposed will need to be run by Cork County Council, who will ultimately have responsibility for the roads in the estate.

Drop kerbs (wheelchair ramps) will be provided at all the junctions throughout the estate. Marcia explained how those retrofitted by Supple lead the user out onto the carriageway of Pembroke Park Drive rather than directly across from kerb to kerb. Fred agreed that these would be addressed.

The hedge and ditch running along the main green will be removed and the ground will be levelled so as to provide visibility.

The concrete panels at the end of Pembroke Heights have been removed on several occasions, providing a hang-out zone behind the back gardens of houses in Pembroke Row. This causes great distress to residents in Pembroke Row. Fred said that the fencing will be reinstated and Marcia asked for a more permanent solution than that which has been provided to date such that the problem won’t arise again.

Fred explained that the street lighting has been taken in charge by the ESB. Any lights which are not operational are now the responsibility of the ESB. Marcia is to contact Donal Aherne of the ESB.

Frank explained how youngsters coming down the hill from the high road are jumping up on the gabions and running down the side walls between the houses to get out into the estate, causing great distress to affected residents. Fred suggested that if residents of the house closest have an interest in incorporating the ESB wayleave into their property, that would not be an issue with Manor Park and should alleviate the short-cutting problem. He explained that the wayleave must be left but is unlikely to be used by the ESB. Frank and Marcia to discuss this with the residents in question.

During its first meeting with the Residents Association, Manor Park suggested that the issue of the no-man’s land between Pembroke Heights and the back gardens of houses in Pembroke Crescent could be solved were the land to be incorporated as part of the back gardens of the houses it adjoins. Fred will discuss same with the solicitor acting on behalf of Manor Park.

Neither Frank, Fred or Marcia has seen the new Pembroke Wood nameplate, although we believe it to be ready for erection. Marcia asked that Fred contact Kieran McCoy so as to demonstrate good faith with regard to payment. Fred will speak to Kieran McCoy today and will contact Marcia should he not be happy with the quality of the nameplate.

A photograph of the internal directional signage in Heronswood was given to Fred. The signage in Heronswood was provided by Highway Safety. Fred will contact the Manor Park sign providers so as to compare design and cost with that provided by Highway Safety.

A new nameplate will be provided for Pembroke Crescent.

Ivy will be planted at the base of the retaining wall between Pembroke Crescent and the apartments. This will be done as soon as possible.

The green area at Pembroke Crescent will be drained so that it will become usable all year round. The main green will also be drained properly.

The land to the rear of Pembroke Heights/Hillcrest has been sold and so Manor Park has no further obligations in that regard. The land in front of Doodlebugs has also been sold and the purchaser, Paul Hanlon, is using it as a depot for the finishing work in the estate he is undertaking on behalf of Manor Park. Although Manor Park has no obligations with regard to this land either, they have asked that it be reinstated when the taking in charge work is complete.

A low railing will be provided along the bottom of the green at Pembroke Crescent. Gaps will be left for children to access the green safely. The natural pathways used by children should become evident over time once the area has been drained properly.

Cork County Council has advised Manor Park that the correct course of action with regard to substituting the play areas and the railings and electric gate at the apartments with additional landscaping, speed ramps, etc. is to apply for planning permission for their removal. Fred asked that, should Manor Park take this course of action, the Residents Association would write in support of the planning application. Marcia and Frank agreed that they would.

The issue of parking on both sides of the road on Pembroke Crescent was discussed. Manor Park will provide footpaths from Pembroke Crescent to the car park to the rear of the apartments where possible, so as to make the car park more accessible to apartment residents. However, there is a significant difference in level between the rear of some of the apartments and the car park. Steps may have to be provided. Fred agreed that the problem might be alleviated by removing a strip of the green so as to provide parking parallel to the road, but off the carriageway. He will investigate this further and perhaps include it in the planning application for removal of the play areas.

Marcia and Frank had obtained a quotation from The Garden Pavilion, Ballygarvan, for proper landscaping throughout the estate. They illustrated the type of landscaping required with photographs from Heronswood and Mount Oval. Particular attention needs to be paid to the main green, the main Pembroke Park Drive road and the slopes of the green at Pembroke Crescent. Landscaping is also needed along the wall running the length of Pembroke Heights. Marcia said that there is a letter on the planning file indicating a commitment from Supple to landscape this wall. Manor Park has a preference for using its own contractor for landscaping. Fred will request that the Manor Park landscaping contractor should prepare a detailed drawing outlining landscaping proposals for discussion. This should be ready in two weeks. Marcia asked that the way trees have been planted at regular intervals around the edge of green areas is addressed in the landscaping plan. Fred agreed that it is very difficult to cut grass when trees are planted individually this way. He said that the landscaping plan will look at grouping them, with mulch and low-level planting beneath. The issue of mature trees on the main green was discussed. Fred said that a couple of these are dead at the top and need to be trimmed. Because accommodating these old trees has created difficulties with regard to maintenance and landscaping, Frank and Marcia suggested that if a lower quality mature tree cannot be incorporated into the landscaping plan to be drawn up for the estate, then they should be removed.