Who we are

We are a group of individuals concerned about global warming, living in Nenagh, Co Tipperary and surrounding areas. We believe that all of us in Ireland and other advanced societies must urgently reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in order to avoid catastrophic global warming of more than 2degC. Our aims are: 1st - To support each other in our efforts to reduce our own household’s carbon emissions, and 2nd - to promote in Nenagh and surrounding communities the changes in lifestyle necessary for all of us to flourish in a low-carbon future

Monday, May 25, 2009

Virginia O'Dowd - Response to local election questions

The answer to question 1 is Yes.

Q 2
a. In favour
b. a committed supporter of farmer’s markets and reducing carbon miles for food produce - sell local, buy local
c. chair of Nenagh Rail Partnership which campaigned to have commuter train from Nenagh to Limerick; succeeded in getting cycle lane on Dromin Road and started Nenagh Cycling Routes. Would like to see businesses on the outskirts of Nenagh supplying free bikes to staff if they have to come into town during work hours
d. In favour and should be standard in all house building
e. Agree
f. Agree. Council should encourage more ‘green’ waste recycling through brown bins. The council should encourage people to bring large amounts of garden waste to recycling centre, where there is a need for a shredder. This service should be free and council should use / sell compost derived from this. At present, large amounts of garden waste brought to council dump go straight to landfill. We need to look at methods to recover waste water.

3. I have long sought for the council to exempt solar panels from needing planning permission where these are to be installed on an existing dwelling. There is a case to be made for having small wind turbines installed in medium to large sized estates, which could then supply electricity / community heat and hot water. The visual impact would need to be considered but the council could sell spare capacity back into the national grid. We need to improve our recycling facilities.
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2 comments:

  1. UnknownMay 27, 2009 at 11:54 PM

    Dear Ms. O Dowd, Firstly i wish to congratulate you on a very sucessful year as Mayor of nenagh and your leadership and success in bringing the Cycling Hub and increase in Nenagh - limerich Rail services. I do however worry that a public representative, who has strong Green Credentials, has missed the fact that Minister Gormley through SI 235 of 2008 has exempted planning permission for solar panels (thermal or PV), small scale wind turbines, CHP, Biomass boilers etc.

    Yours Sincerly,
    A concerned Citizen

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  2. UnknownMay 28, 2009 at 12:00 AM

    Dear Ms O'Dowd, As a concerned Citizen of Nenagh, I really hope that your town Council has not been refusing planning permission for solar panels. The minister for the Environment has signed into law an exemption in Statutory instrument 235 of 2008 exempting such developments from planning permission requirements.

    I do have to praise you and your town council for the work on the cycling hub and the Nenagh - Limerick rail service improvements, but i urge you to consider road quality and cycle paths as being necessary to ensure success of the cycling hub.

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