According to their website:

General rubbish collected only on weeks in white. Day of collection has not changed. Recycle bin collected only on weeks marked blue. Day of [...]]]> Tweet

Wallace Recycling recently moved to fortnightly refuse/recycling collections.  This means they won’t collect green (refuse) and blue (recycling) on the same week anymore.  Their updated calendar can be found here

According to their website:

General rubbish collected only on weeks in white. Day of collection has not changed. Recycle bin collected only on weeks marked blue. Day of collection has not changed. For further information contact 044 9347177

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bin collection, recycling, refuse, resource recovery, wallace recycling

Products that has/had a battery or plug can be brought e.g.

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: streetlights, westmeath [...]]]> Tweet

Streetlights #7 and #12 at the first junction within the estate are faulty.  Westmeath Co. Co. has been notified.

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: streetlights, westmeath county council

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink [...]]]> Tweet

The Gardaí have been notified regarding incidents of egg-throwing at houses near the front of the estate.  If you have witnessed this, happen to spot this occurring, or may have CCTV footage, please contact Mullingar Gardaí (preferably). You can also send an email info@ashefield.com and this information will be passed on.

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: antisocial behavour, gardai

Dear Resident,

I am writing to you further to my attendance at your recent residents association AGM.  Following this meeting I requested my two colleague’s  Cllr. Bill [...]]]> Tweet

The following letter from Robert Troy T.D.,  dated  8th May 2011, was delivered to all houses in Ashefield and addresses a number of issues raised at the recent Residents Association AGM:

Dear Resident,

I am writing to you further to my attendance at your recent residents association AGM.  Following this meeting I requested my two colleague’s  Cllr. Bill Collentine and Cllr. Ken Glynn to raise the issues of concern to the residents at the next Mullingar Town Council meeting. Please see on reverse of this letter a comprehensive list of questions they asked and the replies given. We will continue to pursue these issues on your behalf.

I am enclosing a card with all our contact details for your information.  Please do not hesitate in contacting any of us should you feel we can be of any assistance to you, your family or friends in the future.

Best wishes,

Robert Troy T.D.

 

Cllr. Glynn:             That Westmeath County Council would maintain the green area at the entrance to Ashefield estate, similiar to the green strip across the road.

Reply:  This is a matter for the Ashefield Residents Association.

 

Cllr. Collentine:              Can Westmeath County Council advise what responsibility it has to ensure that the communal areas of the apartment block in Ashefield are maintained in good order, in the absence of a management company?

Reply:  It is a matter for the residents of the Ashefield apartments to make arrangements for the upkeep of any communal areas.

 

Cllr. Collentine:              Can Westmeath County Council advise that assistance it can provide to the residents of Ashefield under the National Spring Clean competition towards the removal of graffiti?

Reply:   Graffiti removal would not be covered by the National Spring Clean campaign. Westmeath County Council is currently awaiting details of the 2011 Anti Litter and Anti Graffiti Grants Scheme from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. When details are received, an application form will be forwarded to Ashefield Residents Association.

 

Cllr. Collentine:             Can Westmeath County Council advise it it has a schedule in place for the roadsweeper to come into the Ashefield estate and if possible to ensure that laneways are swept out as well?

Reply:  This estate is included in the road sweeping schedule and is swept once every three months.

 

Cllr. Glynn:             To ask Westmeath County Council to provide a litter bin at the entrance to Ashefield.

Reply: There is a litter bin at the entrance to the Ashefield. Mullingar Area Office will examine locating another bin at the entrance to TESCO. However, stopping the bin collection vehicle in this area is problematic from a safety view point.

 

Cllr. Glynn:              To ask Westmeath County Council if it will carry out extensive remedial works on the green area between Ashefield and Abbeylands.

Reply: Mullingar Area Office plans to cut the grass in this large open space this year with a heavy duty mower so that it can be maintained by the residents association. Mullingar Area Office also intends to commence a multi-annual programme of landscaping works along the Western By-Pass R394 this year. This section of the R394 will be included in the programme

 

 

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: apartments, bill collentine, ken glynn, management committee, refuse, robert troy, upkeep, westmeath county council

It is good to see the evenings getting longer and also the warmer weather arriving. However, it is now the grass growing season and that means more maintenance and grass cutting requirements. As most of you already know, Ashefield estate was taken in charge by the council in 2007. This means that the County Council have [...]]]> Tweet

Dear residents,

It is good to see the evenings getting longer and also the warmer weather arriving. However, it is now the grass growing season and that means more maintenance and grass cutting requirements.
As most of you already know, Ashefield estate was taken in charge by the council in 2007. This means that the County Council have taken responsibility for the estate’s upkeep and maintenance in a number of areas. The chief areas of the county council’s responsibility include

• Maintenance of the Roads and Footpaths.
• Public/Street Lighting
• Water mains
• Mainline Sewers.

Most other areas are outside the county councils area of responsibility. The most obvious one is grass cutting and general upkeep of the common areas.  Ashefield has some large open grassy areas and I am sure you will agree these offer a valuable amenity and play area for the estate’s children. The downside is that that the grass needs cutting to maintain these areas; and this is now the residents’ responsibility.

The cost of cutting the grass and general upkeep of the grass covered areas came to €1680 last year . There were other sundry expenses like waste removal, bin tags etc., that accounted for a further €100. The full accounts for last year are available online on this website.

 
To cover to the cost of the residents association have been collecting €30 per household.  The association also received a donation from the Mullingar Credit Union.  Thanks to the residents and other groups for their support in maintaining the estate. As you can see online, the income meets the outgoings with a small surplus carried forward to the following year.

 
In order to continue the grass cutting the residents from the association will be circulating around the estate in the coming weeks with a view to collecting a contribution of €30 per household. We realises that times are hard and living costs are climbing but your support is being requested once again this year. When broke down this €30 is approximately 60 cents per week, which I am sure you will agree is a modest sum considering the work it achieves.  This request is being made to all residents; either renting their home or as owners.  However if those renting their home feel that this request is better directed to their landlord, we would appreciate if they forwarded this message to them.

 
We would also like to thank Ms. Margaret Cavanagh for her work on the residents association over the last 11 years. Margaret has decided to step down after her years of hard work.  It is a challenging task that she has left us because Margaret handled most of the day to day stuff involved in the residents association. However, I am sure that we will be able to continue the work she has started.

 
So once again, sincere thanks to all the residents and community groups for their contributions and support.  We are sure that you will do your best to support us in our efforts to maintain our estate.

 
With Kind Regards;
Joe Gettings (Treasurer). J.gettings@ymail.com

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

Ms. Margaret Kavanagh (Treasurer/Secetary) Mr. David Conroy (Committee Member) Ms. Maria Colvert (Committee Member)

Residents – their attendance was recorded on a sign-in sheet

Also in Attendance: Councillor Ruth Illingworth (Town Councillor) Mr. Robert Troy T.D. Mr. Jonathan Darcy (AES)

Meeting was opened by Ms. Margaret Kavanagh and all those in [...]]]> Tweet

Date/Time: April 07, 2011, 20:00

Note: these are draft minutes and may be updated

In Attendance:

Ms. Margaret Kavanagh (Treasurer/Secetary)
Mr. David Conroy (Committee Member)
Ms. Maria Colvert (Committee Member)

Residents – their attendance was recorded on a sign-in sheet

Also in Attendance:
Councillor Ruth Illingworth (Town Councillor)
Mr. Robert Troy T.D.
Mr. Jonathan Darcy (AES)

Agenda:

Meeting opening:

Meeting was opened by Ms. Margaret Kavanagh and all those in attendance were welcomed.

Role of the residents association:

The role of the Residents Association was discussed by Ms. Margaret Kavanagh.

Responsibilities of each resident:

Ms. Margaret Kavanagh reminded those present that grass cutting currently carried out by the contractor only extends to the large green areas. It remains the responsibility of the residents to cut the strip of grass in front of their own house.

Annual contribution for upkeep-of green areas:

Mr. David Conroy proposed that the contribution per house be continued at the current rate of €30 per annum. This was agreed by all those present.  However the possibility of using a raffle to raise funds in the future was discussed. Ms. Margaret Kavanagh said that she had got a two quotes for the cutting of the grass and while the exact cost had not been agreed finally with the tendering parties it was expected that this would be approximately €1400. The large green area adjacent to the C-Link road was discussed and was felt this area needed remedial works. Mr Robert Troy T.D. undertook to write to the County Council and request that these works be carried out.

Ashefield resident and professional fitness instructor,  Eamonn offered to hold a series of fitness classes using one of the green areas within the estate. It was proposed that any revenue generated would be contributed to the estate funds.

Tenants/landlords responsibilities:

It was discussed that as some of the houses are rented there is an issue as to who has the responsibility for the upkeep.  It was decided that the residents should forward the request to the landlord if they were unprepared to pay.

Apartment block:

Ms. Margaret Kavanagh said that the apartment block in Ashefield did not have a management company.  Therefore it was unclear as to who had responsibility for the upkeep of the area around the apartments.

Laneways/anti-social behaviour:

The issue of litter in the laneways and the congregation of people in laneways was discussed.  Councillor Ruth Illingworth stated that it was currently proposed to close off some of the laneways in neighbouring estate Abbeylands. However it was decided that this course of action would not be pursued.  Other deterrent methods were proposed and discussed.

Ashefield website

Ms. Margaret Kavanagh reminded residents that a lot of information regarding the estate and the residents association is currently available on the estate’s website.

http://ashefield.com/

Financial statement for 2010:

Ms. Margaret Kavanagh presented the financial statement for 2011 (see below).

Election of new committee:

Mr. David Conroy and Ms. Maria Colvert agreed to stay on in their current position. This was unopposed.  Ms. Margaret Kavanagh stated that she no longer wished to remain in the position of treasurer and asked if anyone was willing to go forward.  Mr. Joe Gettings offered to take over this role.
He was accepted into this position unopposed.  Ms. Margaret Kavanagh then handed over the folder containing the financial details of Ashefield Residents Association and undertook to assist in the smooth handover of the accounts to Mr. Joe Gettings.  Ms. Margaret Kavanagh also presented Mr. Joe Gettings with the Associations Petty Cash which amounted to €120.

Closing of meeting:

The meeting was then concluded.

Record of Ashefield Residents’ Association accounts for year ending 2010

Due to new Credit Union rules with regards to withdrawing cash, the present committee has decided to keep a certain amount of money in the kitty for miscellaneous expenses as it is not always convenient for members to get to the credit union.

Notes:

1. Accounts statement as presented to new treasurer Mr. Joe Gettings on 08 April 2011.
2. Cash in kitty had not been recently updated and was €120 on 08 April 2011. The possibility of opening a current account is currently being investigated with a view to removing the need to hold cash.

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: apartments, estate upkeep, meeting, minutes, Residents association

This appears [...]]]> Tweet

A lawnmower was stolen from a shed at the rear of a house in Ashefield between Friday and Saturday. If you noticed anything suspicious during Friday or Saturday, April 22-23, 2011 in the vicinity of houses #156-164, please do contact Mullingar Gardaí at 044 9384000 or using their confidential line at 1800 666 111

This appears to be the latest instance in a rise in burglaries in the Mullingar area. It would be a good idea to check that your sheds and gates are securely locked, all valuable items are out of sight, and tools or implements that could be used to gain entry to houses or sheds are not left lying around. If you do spot anyone or persons behaving suspiciously in the area, please contact the Gardaí and don’t assume someone else has.

Read more about helping to make your home less attractive to thieves.

© keith for Ashefield, 2011. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: gardai, lawnmower, mullingar, Security, theft