Commercial rents must be realistic

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin is calling on landlords and developers to be "realistic" in relation to the level of rents being charged on commercial properties in light of the recession.

Cllr Martin says that Mayo's Landlords are going "to have to be realistic when charging rents as businesses feel the pinch.  Wages are being frozen and even cut in some cases, profits are down and landlords should be prepared to renegotiate rents rather than see these businesses close.  I would suggest that businesses renting properties renegotiate their rents with their landlords and that rents should be reassessed every six months or so until things get better.  

"Many landlords and developers who have mortgages on the properties they rent should pass on the decrease in mortgage rates on to their tenants and should make every effort to lower the rent they charge, less rent is better than no rent!

"Already we are seeing properties lying idle as demand collapses for properties.  Even sadder is the number of businesses which have closed their doors already.  We need everyone to be realistic, we have seen councils like Westport's freeze Commercial Rates, now we need to see landlords and developers freeze and reduce commercial rents.  Things will get better but we need to work together.  We need to keep businesses open and we need to keep people in jobs."

Martin calls for lower voting age for EU and Locals

Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed the campaign "Vote at 16 – A New Age in Voting" by the National Youth Council of Ireland which calls for the voting age for local and European elections to be lowered to 16.

According to Cllr Martin "There are many issues affecting young people that need to be articulated. Who better to do so than young voters of 16 and 17?

"Now is the time to lower the age as 16 and 17 year-olds have a great deal of experience with the democratic process. The teenagers of this generation have far more knowledge of politics through programmes in secondary school and access to information via the internet. They are increasingly engaged in political and charity campaigns and they are heavily impacted on by decisions made at local and European level particularly in the area of education."

Cllr Martin says changing the voting age for local and European elections is simple as while the voting age of 18 for Dáil and Presidential elections in Ireland is provided for under the Constitution, there is no such restriction as far as local and European elections are concerned.

Already a number of countries have reduced the voting age to 17 such as East Timor and Indonesia. Others such as Brazil, Cuba, Nicaragua, the Isle of Man and the Netherlands have reduced the voting age to 16.

Cllr Martin says "There are many compelling reasons why we should lower the vote for example we now have an extremely well educated youth who are an economic power in their own right and people are maturing much earlier now than they were 50 years ago. Most young people are now in full time education at the age of 16 whereas most had left school at the age of 16 fifty years ago.

"Young people are constantly voting and enjoy voting in reality TV programmes, such as Big Brother, the X Factor and You're a Star.  However, they are unable to vote on the real issues that effect their lives.

"Local authorities make decisions on areas such as planning and zoning that will have a major impact on where these young people will live and work in the not-too-distant future, and their views and perspectives should be fully reflected by their democratically elected representatives.

"At a time when the lives of young people are being severely impacted by cutbacks in education, reductions in children's allowance and increases in college 'registration fees' - they deserve to have their voices heard."

"As somebody who became involved in politics long before he was eligible to vote I believe that we should be doing everything possible to make sure that young people become engaged in the democratic process and in civic life. Dropping the voting age would certainly be a step in the right direction in that regard."

086 0691182

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

 

The salaries of Brian Cowen and his Ministers should be linked by a simple formula to both the average national wage and the unemployment register, so that when the nation suffers our leaders feel our pain; and not just at the polling booth, but in their pockets, where it really hurts!

 

Yours sincerely

 

Cllr Keith Martin

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Co. Mayo

Martin condems "inaccurately dire" Irish Independent article

Westport is feeling the recession like the rest of Ireland but an article in Friday's Irish Independent drew "an inaccurately dire picture of Westport's economic status" according to Labour's Cllr Keith Martin, who is also a member of the town's Job Creation Taskforce.

 

According to the article Westport town has a 20% rate of unemployment more than double the national average following an increase in the Live Register of 94% from 627 to 1,154, however, Cllr Martin has dismissed this figure as a misinterpretation of the figures which "paints a 'doom and gloom' picture of our town."

 

Cllr Martin says "It is true that Westport is facing difficult times but things are not as bleak as the article presumes, the Irish Independent has made the mistake of thinking that the figure of 1,154 people on the live register refers to Westport town alone when, according to the Department of Social Welfare, the office deals with Westport and the following townlands

Aillemore                      Aghagower Nth
Aghagower Sth                  Bundorrag
Clare Island                   Clogher
Croagh Patrick                 Derryloughan
Drummin                        Emlagh
Erriff                         Glenhest
Inishturk                      Islandeady [part of]
Kilgeever                      Kilmaclasser
Kilmeena                       Killsallagh
Knappagh                       Louisburgh
Newport East                   Newport West [part of]
Owennadornaun                  Slievemahanagh
Shramore                       Westport Urban
Westport Rural
Killavalla (part of)           Tawnyagry (part of).

Re Islandeady: To facilitate the customers they have an option
of going to Westport or Castlebar LOs and there is an almost
even divide.
Newport West: All East of Bunnahowna Bridge (Westport side of
Mulranny) come to Westport LO.  the rest go to Achill LO.
Killavally: customers from west of DED come to Westport. The
rest go to Ballinrobe Branch Office.
Tawnyagry: customers from west of DED come to Westport. The
rest go to Ballinrobe Branch Office.

 

"These areas cover a population of over 20,000 people and it is from this that the figure of 1,154 people on the register is drawn.  So while it is shocking that we have had a 94% increase in the figures it is no-where near the rate of one-in-five unemployed in Westport Town or anywhere in the area as reported in the Irish Independent. 

 

"Also worth noting, is that according to the Central Statistics Office, which publishes the Live Register figures, that the Live Register is not designed to measure unemployment as it also includes part-time workers and seasonal and casual workers, so it is, at best, only a rough indicator of the situation here in Westport.

 

"It is true that we have seen a decline in retail and tourism industries and that businesses are finding things tight but that is the situation nationally and it is important to note what steps have been taken to assist businesses in Westport. 

 

For a start Westport Town Council bit the bullet and froze Commercial Rates on the town's businesses, which is effectively a reduction when inflation is taken into account.  The council's Multi Agency Taskforce, on which I serve, is also pushing very strongly for improved transport infrastructure such as better rail links, an Early-Bird train service and a new N5 to link us to Dublin and the rest of the country.  We are also pushing for a fibre-optic cable which would allow us to offer Broadband at Silicon Valley speeds to businesses and draw new investment and employment into our town.

 

"Yes there is bad news as an increase of 94% in the Live Register is not good news, yes the Government are failing us and we are in a tight spot, but we need to highlight what we have going right for ourselves and not allow our town to be run down at a national level by misleading statistics."

 

"Westport Town Council has taken the first step in helping Westport's businesses by freezing Commercial Rates and, in partnership with Chamber of Commerce and the IDA, we are marketing the town at an international level to investors and it is also up to us to shop local and support local businesses and companies.

 

"Ultimately it is now time for Brian Cowen's Government to invest in Westport, it is true that we received a €500,000 grant to build a new enterprise centre in the IDA park but we have to match the €500,000 locally in order to build the centre.  The government needs to do better than just giving us half the money we need and expecting us to raise the rest ourselves in these economic times.  We need direct government investment in vital infrastructure such as a new N5 road and high speed broadband.  In the meantime we must keep positive, keep fighting our corner and remember that things can only get better!"  

 

http://www.cso.ie/releasespublications/documents/labour_market/current/lregeo.pdf
 (see table 3)

 

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/westport-grits-teeth-as-cuts-take-their-toll-1603941.html

 

 

One step forward, two steps back with Irish Rail's improvements

Cllr Keith Martin has received assurances from the Chief Executive of Irish Rail, Mr Richard Fearn, that the provision of hot food on the Westport line is currently being examined by Irish Rail and their food sub-contractors Rail Gourmet Ltd and that Irish Rail is also reviewing the price differences between the Westport and Galway lines.  Mr Fern was responding to concerns raised by the Labour councillor in December 2008.  Mr Fearn also pointed out that Irish Rail was offering  a €15 fare on the Westport-Dublin line on their website.

While welcoming the special online fares and the review of catering facilities and ticket prices Cllr Keith Martin says that the improvements made over the last year by Irish Rail have raised more concerns than they have solved.  

According to the Cllr Martin "The new trains have no hot food buffet cars, the trolley car service is not up to the job, you can't move from carraige to carraige without disembarking, they have no space for bicycles and this week Irish Rail announced that they were canceling their parcel service as well.  In addittion to this Irish Rail have started charging for parking and have begun clamping cars.  

"Even more disappointingly we now we learn that the promised Early-Bird Train service to Dublin is on hold.  It has been a case of one step forward two steps back over the last year."

Cllr Martin has called for a united campaign by Mayo's local authorities, businesses interests and community groups to campaign for a quality train service and, in particular, an Early-Bird train service which will allow passengers to reach Dublin before 9am.  The campaign already has the support of Castlebar Town Council and Castlebar Chamber of Commerce and at the January meeting of Westport Town Council Cllr Martin called on the Town Clerk to contact Mayo's other local authorities and chambers of commerce to enlist their support.

According to Cllr Martin "a quality train service is an issue for all of Mayo as a population of over 125,000 is served by the Westport to Dublin line and an Early Bird train is a vital piece of infrastructure which will remove cars from the roads and facilitate businesses and holiday makers coming to and from the county."

"We need to work together to call for buffet cars, bicycle spaces, Early-Bird services, free parking and fair fares.  We cannot do it as individual councils or towns but we can do it as a county-wide campaign."

086 0691182

A New Year’s Message from Cllr Keith Martin

Dear Friends,

Our Community will face many challenges in the coming year.

We do not need reminding of those challenges now but we do need to remind ourselves that we have seen bad times before and that, working together, we will see even better times to come.

As your representative I am working hard to ensure that we meet each challenge head-on. 

I have raised the issue of the N5 with the chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, I have raised the issue of the stalled water and sewerage schemes with members of the EU Parliament and I have called for all Mayo's local authorities and Chambers of Commerce to support the call for an Early-Bird train service to Dublin.

As a member of the Job Creation Task Force I am working to ensure a fibre optic broadband link to attract industries to our Industrial and Enterprise estates.

I am also working hard to promote film-making in Mayo, which attracts investment and showcases our community to the world as a beautiful place to visit.

But there is much more that needs to be done and  I promise that in 2009 I will offer solutions, not problems, and that I will not point the finger of blame, but instead offer leadership and encouragement. 

For 2009 my priorities will be; the retention and creation of jobs, affordable and social housing, and support for the vulnerable in our community.

In this New Year we should remember Christopher Reeve when he said "Once you choose hope, anything's possible."

 

-Cllr Keith Martin

Keith Martin's campaign video and song

'Things can only get better!' is the message and theme of Cllr Keith Martin's bid for a seat on Mayo County Council. The Labour Councillor is an avid blogger and keeps his constituents informed via regular updates on his blog councillorkeithmartin.com and his Facebook page. In addition to these Cllr Martin has launched his own Youtube channel and his own campaign video entitled "Things can only get better."

The 33-year-old librarian is the youngest candidate in the field for the Westport Electoral Area and was the first candidate to be nominated by any party way back in March 2008.

Martin has a Diploma in Journalism and a Honours Degree in Management and Production in Media and is a passionate believer in directly elected Mayors for towns like Westport to replace the current Town Manager system.

The Labour Councillor is also a local historian and his 5,000 word piece on the Mayo War Graves of HMS Mashona was recently published in the Cathair Na Mart Historical Journal 2008/2009.

Cllr Martin is starting 2009 with his Youtube video to highlight his candidacy for a seat on Mayo County Council with a theme of hope.  

According to Cllr Martin "There is too much bad news out there. Politics is the art of the possible and it is time to start highlighting what's possible and not what's wrong. Labour is the only party with a clearly defined solution to our current situation. Eamon Gilmore has outlined how we can work our way out of this current mess and his message to the country is 'Yes, we can!'
"My message is 'Things can only get better!"