Author: resident

Update, accounts for 2019, and 2020 contributions

Dear Friends & Neighbours,

We hope you and all your family are healthy and are staying safe in these challenging times. As always, thank you for your support in 2019 and indeed a special thanks to those that have already paid their 2020 contributions both via PayPal or by giving directly to a committee member.

Donations collected annually from residents and landlords directly support the upkeep of common areas in the estate. The main expense incurred is the grass cutting in the common green areas

Due to the Covid-19/Corona Virus restrictions, we are not having a physical AGM in 2020. The accounts for 2019 are available below for your review. In 2019 and in previous years we requested €20 per house and indeed some people have again paid this amount already this year.

However, we realise that money is especially scarce in 2020, and for some people more than others. So as always, we will gratefully accept any contribution people can make so that we can continue the work of keeping the grass cut in the common green areas. I am sure you will agree that having these green areas available for the children to play in has been a big help during the lockdown.

Cutting the grass in the common area and other minor expenses cost approximately €1,380 in 2019 (the account details are below).

In order to help contain the spread of Covid-19/Corona Virus we will not be circulating door to door as in previous years. Therefore, contributions may be made securely via the PayPal link on this website or directly to any committee member.

So, thanks once again for your support in 2019 and in 2020 also. Stay safe and hopefully we will have better times to look forward to in 2021.

Kind Regards

Joe Gettings -Chairperson Ashefield Residents Association

Ashefield Residents Association statement of accounts for 2019

2019 Annual General Meeting for Ashefield Residents Association

Agenda:

  • Presentation of the 2018 Accounts
  • Maintenance and remedial works in the coming year.
  • Security and Vacant Houses
  • Dumping in the Laneways between Ashefield and Abbeylands
  • Any other business

Dear Resident

Thanks for your support in 2018 and we hope that you can be as supportive this year. We are holding our 2019 AGM at 8pm on Wed 15 May 2019 in the Newbury Hotel, Mullingar. We welcome your attendance to bring you up to date on the work completed in 2018 and as an opportunity to raise any concerns or suggest ideas for how we can help improve the estate.

Ashefield has a website, email address, Twitter account, and a Facebook page to help you keep up to date and to contact us. We encourage you to use these to stay in touch with both the residents association and other residents. The committee comprises of unpaid volunteers – your neighbours, who are willing to spare some time.

With a view to continuing the work the Resident Association Committee Members will be circulating in the coming weeks. We are requesting a contribution of €20 per household (unchanged from 2018). To make things easier, you can contribute via PayPal on www.ashefield.com

Cutting the grass in the common area and other minor expenses cost approximately €1,265 in 2018. (accounts available at www.ashefield.com).

Your contribution is very important. It falls back on us as a community to maintain and improve the common areas such as the green areas within the estate. We are sure you will agree that the estates green areas provide both a valuable and relatively safe play area for the estates children and their friends.

We realise that time is precious so therefore we appreciate all and any help you can give. This can involve calling on Tesco to collect abandoned shopping trolleys or picking up litter in your area.

Lights Out – Anti-social behavior

We received reports of anti-social behavior over recent weekends. Contributing to the problem are faulty streetlamps that were reported months ago; in fact, over 7 months ago for one particular case. If you wish to ask the council about the status of the streetlamp replacements, options include contacting Cllr. Ken Glynn or the council customer care at +353 44-9332000 or email customercare [at] westmeathcoco.ie .

Please continue to report any instances of anti-social behavior to Mullingar Gardaí at +353 44-9384000.

2018 contribution towards the upkeep of the estate common areas

Dear Residents,
Hope you are enjoying the summer. As you most likely know, funds collected annually from residents and landlords are put to good use to support the upkeep of the common areas in the estate. The main expense incurred is the grass cutting in the common green areas. It cost approximately €1582 to cut the grass and do other minor repairs in 2017. We make all our accounts available on www.ashefield.com. With a view to continuing this work the Resident Association is requesting a contribution of €20 per household; unchanged from 2017. If you have already made your contribution for 2018 via PayPal or by other means we would like to take this opportunity to thank you.

If you would still like to make your contribution to the 2018 collection you may do so via committee members who will be visiting homes in the coming days or by contacting a committee member. In either case, they will issue you with a receipt. If you prefer, you can also make your contribution via the residents association PayPal account on the front page of the website. Please note the house number on the payment form if possible.

Thanking you for your contribution,

Ashefield Residents Association

2017 Accounts Summary

Residents,

We would like to make you aware of the 2017 accounts statement for Ashefield Residents Association. In 2017, a net figure of €1,612.85 was received and the overall expenditure was €1,582.07. At the end of December, 2017, the closing balance in the Ulster Bank account was €2,165.20 and the closing balance in the Credit Union account was €2,106.59. Details of the individual transactions are as follows:

2017 Accounts Statement

Thanks to all the residents and Westmeath County Council for the continued support; it’s greatly appreciated

Updates – tree pruning, roadsweeper, and fly-tipping

Following initial tree-pruning work by Westmeath Co. Co., which focused on lower branches only, they have told us that the branches obstructing lights will be pruned before the end of February 2018.

A request for a roadsweeper to visit the estate to clear storm-related debris on the roads was passed to the council. Please let us know if you spot it in the coming days – if not, we will follow-up.

Yet another fly-tipping incident in the laneway connecting Ashefield and Abbeylands occurred. This was reported to the council who are investigating. If you happen to spot further incidents, the fastest method to report it to the council directly:

Many thanks to Cllr. Ken Glynn for his time and effort ensuring these issues are being addressed.

Tree pruning in the estate

One of the action items from our 2017 AGM was to ask Westmeath Co. Co. to prune the trees in the estate; particularly those that were blocking streetlights. This measure would help improve safety and security at night.

Now that it is tree pruning season, Ashefield has been scheduled for this work thanks to Cllr. Ken Glynn. Work is expected to commence within the coming days.

Dogs fouling, barking, and strays

We regularly get asked what can be done about dogs in the estate – either stray ones, barking dogs, or fouling the area. Here is some information that may be of help:

The Council operates a dog pound and it is located in Zone B, Mullingar Business Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath N91 XE08.

Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10.00am – 12noon.
Contact number: 044 93 43934 / 044 93 32226

From Westmeath County Council’s website:

Dog owners have the following responsibilities:

Dog fouling, registration, and walking:

  • A person in charge of a dog must clean up when the dog fouls in a public place. Owners who fail to do so are liable to an ‘on-the-spot’ of €150
  • Keep their dog/s under control in a public place. If your dog has been seized by the dog warden there is a €100 fee to re-claim your dog and boarding fees/other fees may apply. Evidence of having a licence for your dog is also required.
  • Dogs must wear a collar and tag bearing the name and address of the owner. A fine of €100 can be imposed for non compliance.
  • Certain breeds of potentially dangerous dogs must be kept on a leash and muzzled and be controlled by a person over 16 years, who is capable of controlling the dog, when in a public place. An on-the-spot fine of €100 can be imposed for non compliance.
  • All dogs over four months must have a licence. A dog licence costs €20 and can be purchased at your local Post Office or on line at: www.westmeathcoco.ie/doglicences/

Dogs barking:
Citizen’s Information provide additional guidelines

  • Excessive dog barking that causes a nuisance is an offence. You may be able to solve such problems by talking to the dog owner.
  • If you don’t get a satisfactory response, you may complain to the District Court and seek a hearing. When you have received a court date, you must inform the dog owner of your complaint by using the form prescribed for this purpose under Section 25 of the Control of Dogs Act 1986. These forms are available from the District Courts and from local authorities.
  • However, if you prefer not to confront the owner, consider contacting the council dog warden for advice.

The residents association is planning on installing additional dog fouling notices in the estate to further increase awareness.