Greyhound not a winner

There has been a lot of annoyance at Greyhound and their failure to collect green bins in the last few weeks. The company's response to date has been poor. The winner so far was this comment to a Churchtown resident who was told when enquiring as to how he was to know that an extra collection had been put on, "we're telling you now".

Greyhound have taken over from Oxigen as the green bin collectors for the four Dublin councils. They have been in touch with me and the following is an extract from their letter. I have the maps and details, so if anyone wants the information, please email me.

"Over the last 2 of months Greyhound Recycling and Recovery has reviewed the existing collection system and looked at ways to make the collection service more efficent , while improving the overal service to the customer.

A route review was carried out in the DLRCC region where the DLRCC region was divide up into 5 zones ( see attached map ) each zone representing a day of the week (Monday to Friday) . A team of collection crews will be isolated and collect all the green bins in one zone for each of the scheduled collection days. These changes took place on the 9th of March 2009. In the last 2 weeks 65,ooo+ new GRR Green bin recycling Calendars were delivered to the Residents of DLRCC .... Following close consultation and discussion with DLRCC over concerns of non-receipt of calendars in certain areas and confusion over the new collection schedule changes, GRR has committed to re-distribute all Calendars accompanied by a route change information letter to all residents in DLRCC over the coming weeks . You may also consult the website www.greenbin.ie for collection day information .

Greyhound details are:

Tel: 1890 342342
Email : customercare@greenbin.ie
Website : www.greenbin.ie

Gilmore is right on day of strikes.

Eamon Gilmore is right when he calls for the Taoiseach to intervene with the unions to try to avert the proposed national strike next Monday (30 March).

It is far from clear what will be achieved by this day of action, and while the anger of workers may need to vented, it is hard to see what good this strike will do. It is surely clear at this stage that the national pay deal is dead, and that fresh thinking is required. Yes, the agreement has been fulfilled in some companies, but given the shocking state of the economy, and worsening public finances, it is folly to think that a day of strikes will achieve anything meaningful.

There is much in ICTU's Ten-point plan to be commended - and much to be debated - but this is not the way to go about it. IBEC's call for renewed discussion is also to be welcomed.

But it is up to the government to govern. It might sound odd coming from this quarter, but there it is. Next month's budget will be savage. The public knows it, is ready for it, and provided there is some element of fairness, will accept it. There is no point in any half measures at this stage, and the government will reap a far worse harvest, both politically and economically, if they have to go back for more. Maybe social partnership should resume with a view to a plan for recovery, but it's too late now for recriminations over the last pay agreement.

Dundrum Phase 2 Granted Planning Permission

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council today granted permission for Phase 2 of the Dundrum "Town Centre" development, subject to 61 conditions. If anyone is looking for a copy of the grant, please email me. It's 19 pages long, so there's no point posting it.

It is disappointing that more substantial conditions were not put on the development. In particular, the failure to reduce the height of the nine-storey hotel element is to be regretted. Conditions on phasing the development, on insisting that the shops on Main Street cannot turn inwards, and the development levy conditions are all welcome, but the substantive issues have not been addressed.

Dundrum cannot remain the way it is now with a semi-derelict shopping centre dominating an increasingly depressed Main Street. Redevelopment is vital for its future. However, this decision will prolong the agony for the community, as there is now long period of waiting for the almost-certain appeal.

Beyond all this though, is a certain sense of unreality about issues of development on this scale in the current economic climate.

What is needed now is a plan for the short to medium term for the old village. That means putting councillors, residents, the developers, the remaining traders, and other agencies around a table to come up with some ideas on how to manage the place for the next few years, and to look further into the future to find a way forward.