D(ecision)-Day 16 May

Yesterday we took our voter registration forms to first the Garda and then the Tipperary council offices in Nenagh. While in the council offices I noticed a desk for planning inquiries. So, we inquired. We'd been told that our application was incomplete. What was still missing and what should we provide? The incomplete apparently referred to the initial application in December when the site notice blew down in the gales. The current application, lodged for a second time in January is OK - complete. The application is on the planner's desk and will be decided by 16 May. Fingers crossed.

In the evening we went to a presentation on the ecovillage rescue plan, the plan to keep the village solvent. Without it, money to operate would run out. The village is first and foremost an educational charity. Unfortunately the website (www.cloughjordan.ie/ecovillage/) does not market it as such 'The ecovillage in is a new sustainable development of 114 homes and 16 live/work units closely integrated into the town of Cloughjordan.' In the community there is tension between  'ecovillage development' and charitable education. Everyone commits to 100 hours a year of voluntary work. But at present it seems voluntary work is unfocused - people can volunteer to do what they like doing, rather than committing to carry out tasks in a focused plan to carry the educational charity forward. This means that village and charitable work that needs to be done falls through the cracks. The conversation continues.