Harry Barrett's Campaign Launch

Harry Barrett's campaign was launched on Saturday March 24 at the Imperial Hotel in Castlebar.

Achill Pipe Band

The Achill Pipe Band put on a great show in front of the reviewing stand of the 2007 Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

Mother approves!

A picture of my mother (in red, of course) watching the bands go by at the 2007 Saint Patrick's Day Parade. (I took the picture from up on the reviewing stand.)

Movie Clips of the Achill Pipe band which took part in our parade

Notice: Amendment of South Westport Local Area Plan

WESTPORT TOWN COUNCIL

COMHAIRLE AN BHAILE CATHAIR NA MART

Amendment of South Westport Local Area Plan

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 20 (3) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 that Westport Town Council proposes to amend the South Westport Local Area Plan as follows:

Townland Address: Carrownalurgan

Existing Zoning: B “To provide for the maintenance and enhancement of existing agricultural lands”.

Proposed Zoning: D “To provide for new mixed use development”


A copy of the proposal to amend the Local Area Plan may be inspected at Westport Civic Offices during normal office hours between Wednesday 7th March 2007 and Friday 20th April 2007. Westport Town Council invites submissions/observations in writing with regard to the proposed amendment to the undersigned before 5.00pm on 20th April 2007.

Submissions or observations can also be made by e mail to amoore@mayococo.ie before 5.00pm on 20th April 2007

Town Manager responds to my call for bins to be relocated

Westport town Manager Peter Hynes has responded to my calls for the relocation of the recycling bins at Westport Quay.

He told the Mayo News that he is aware of the issue and that the council were open to considering alternative sites.

Mr Hynes said "We are willing to take alternative suggestions on board. However, the biggest issue is the availability of alternative sites. If sites are available and are brought to our attention we will definitely consider a relocation."

What a cop out! The manager has a staff of 40 and a full office at his disposal and he expects people (ie Me) to approach him with alternative sites! I think it is outrageous.

He then goes on to talk about how important recycling is. I don't think there is a councillor or citizen who doesn't know how important recycling is. The manager says "we cannot forget that they are a vital part of the whole green movement and integral to recycling in the Quay area."

Yes but what has that got to do with sticking them in the middle of a beauty spot? Nothing.

The Mayo News - Power to the people

The Mayo News - Power to the people

This is a very interesting article that I contributed to about reforming local government and introducing directly elected mayors to end the muggins turn system of civic leadership and to rebalance powers back to councillors.

Today Eamon Gilmore TD, Labour's Local Government Spokesperson released details of the reforms Labour will bring about when in government.

ICTU closure protest by Labour in Westport

 
Westport Branch and concerned citizens protest at the closure of the Westport Resource Centre by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

My photo album!

Cllr Keith's photos

These are the four storey high tower blocks that are proposed for the Railway Line Walk development. I have objected to this aspect of the development as I feel the towers are too high and as they are to be built on the side of a hill will dominate the housing either side of them and tower over the Railway Line Walk itself.

I have also objected to their overall design as I feel this flat roofed towers are unsuitable in a Georgian town like Westport. I also made a number of observations under community facilities.

Dangerous crossing as cars run amber lights

This is the crossing on the Newport Road where due to the short time allowed by the system many pedestrians are crossing the road are in danger of being struck by cars which are running the amber and red lights on the Mall side of the junction.

I have experience of this myself on the way to the post office from work. The green man started beeping and flashing and I started to cross only to have cars coming at me running the amber lights and coming through the junction.

This is potentially lethal situation and I will be raising it at our council meeting on Thursday night.

Health Survey in Westport

 

We had a great responce to our health survey in Westport and we have sent the results up to Party HQ to be studied and the results of both the local and national survey should be back to us shortly.

Briefly Breastcheck, MRSA and Trollies are among the great concerns of the people of Westport. The A&E crisis and the state of the health service in general are also very high on the citzens' minds in Westport.

I think there is a mood for change and I believe the the electorate see Labour as the best pair of hands for Health and Education and our track record is very strong on delivery.

I will post the results of the survey here when I get them.

Call for recycling bins to be re-sited

 

Unsightly, inappropriate and out of place the only way to describe the recycling bins in place at the Pond at Westport Quay. I have made repeated calls on the council to remove the bins from the car park at the Pond because they are out of place in an area of scenic beauty like the Quay.

I am frustrated that after all the hard that the Quay residents and the Town Council have put into making the Pond an attractive area that the council have dumped these bins slap bang in the middle of it. They are completely out of place at the Pond and detract from the area and the ambience of the Quay. They can be seen from every point of the Pond and I have had numerous representations about them.

I asked the council to remove these bins to a more suitable location at the February meeting of Westport Town Council and I will be repeating this call on Thursday night. I can’t understand why in the year we won the Tidy Towns award we have spoiled the Pond. I know the President is coming next month and I would hope these bins are in a more appropriate location.

I know I have the support of my fellow councillors, the residents of the Quay and all those who value the integrity of the Quay in my call for the removal of these bins.”

Campaign to reopen the Westport Resource Centre

I am continuing my campaign to have the Westport Resource Centre reopened in Westport. I believe the centre has a huge role to play in Westport's society.

The centre is a tool for social inclusion and an aid to the marginalised in Westport. Despite unprecedented prosperity we still have a huge gap between the haves and have nots and between those with easy access to knowledge and those who don't.

In a town without a FAS office, without a Citizen's Advise Centre, without Trade Union offices, Legal Aid or a Money, Advice and Budgeting Service the centre acted as a starting point for people in need of help or futher information.

The centre provided information on workers rights, on the rights of tenants of public and private landlords of consumer rights and the details of the Ombudsmen.

The centre provided information on available accomodation, job and career opportunities and skills, training and further education possibilities.

The centre also provided those with the skills and or access to PCs with CV, typing, letter writing and form filling in addition to fax facilities.

The Westport Resource Centre did all this and more and despite its central role there was no consultation or notice of its closure and it was closed overnight and its offices stripped of all facilities and equipment by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in Mayo.

Westport needs this resource centre reopened and I have been contacting and meeting with all those who can help me reopen this centre. I am currently investigating these proposals and I am confident that we can reopen the centre.

If you can help or would like to help just e-mail me at kmartin@cllr.westporttc.ie or give me a call on 086 0691182.