Limit suburban speedThe Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC) is fighting for greater enforcement of speed limits in built-up areas. "The introduction of penalty points is failing to reduce speeds in built-up areas due to lack of enforcement," says David Maher of the DCC.
"The average speed of most cars is 39 m.p.h. in 30 m.p.h. zones and six months into penalty points, only 2 per cent of motorists received penalty points for speeding." Based on these facts, the DCC has been calling for the "scrapping of the National Safety Council and its replacement by a new organisation that will represent the rights of all road users". Neither cyclists nor pedestrians are currently represented on the NSC in spite of the fact that one quarter of all road deaths are cyclists or pedestrians, adds Maher. Pat Costello, of the National Safety Council, says: "Our objective is to increase awareness of road safety and we target all sectors - cyclists, motorcylists, pedestrians and drivers. We are not responsible for the areas of enforcement [of speed limits\] and \ engineering." See also www.connect.ie/dcc
Landmark buildings
The Irish Landmark Trust has added two new properties to its impressive list of restored heritage properties to rent. The first is Drum Gatelodge, a tiny cylindrical lodge in a woodland setting situated on the north-west coastline of Co Antrim. The second is the Blackhead Lightkeepers' Houses, built in 1905 on the cliffs above the Victorian seaside town of Whitehead near Carrickfergus. Both are open to guests in September. The ILT is about to begin work on the recently acquired Annaghmore Schoolhouse, near Collooney in Co Sligo and two former school mistresses' houses on the Castletown Estate in Celbridge, Co Kildare.
Other ILT properties, Ballealy Cottage in Co Antrim and Loop Head Lightkeeper's House in Co Clare, are available at discounted rates from October to February. See also www.irishlandmark.com
Tangled up in green
The proliferation of dense algae blooms on lakes and estuaries is causing great concern to many environmental groups. Lesley Jane Lewis from University College Cork highlights the problem of algal mats in Clonakilty Bay in west Cork in the current issue of Wings magazine. By reducing the oxygen concentration of the estuary bed and surrounding waters, the algal mats kill off many animals that wintering populations of waders and wildfowl species feed on. Proposals to develop the bay (a tidal barrage, a new golf course on Island Strand Intake, etc) will further diminish habitats for such species, according to Lewis. All this in spite of the fact that Clonakilty Bay is a proposed Special Protection Area for birds and a candidate for a Special Area of Conservation.
Seed life
There's a chance to find out about native fruit and vegetable growing at the Irish Seedsavers Association open day tomorrow at Capparoe, Co Clare. Tel: 061 921866 for directions and full schedule of the day's events.