Water Charges for homes will be resisted

Cllr Keith Martin of the Labour Party has condemned remarks made by the Environment Minister John Gormley in which the Minister said that the reintroduction of domestic water charges was inevitable.

 

According to Cllr Martin Minister Gormley's remarks "will cause alarm among hard-pressed householders who are already under the financial cosh.

"If the reintroduction of water charges is 'inevitable', it is only because Fianna Fail and the John Gormley's Greens are in office. Domestic water charges were scrapped by the Labour Party in 1997 and Labour have consistently opposed their reintroduction ever since.

"I have no doubt that Minister Gormley's remarks will reverberate around the country and that it will come up at local level as council election candidates go knocking on doors.

"Labour councillors and candidates will be assuring voters that at national and at local level, we will resist, come what may, the reintroduction of domestic water charges.

"Labour believes that everyone has the right to free, clean, safe drinking water. In addition we believe that any move to privatise the public water supply should be opposed."

 

Keith Martin

086 0691182

Photos of Sod being mailed to Minister O'Keefe

Please find attached photos of Cllr Keith Martin posting the recently turned sod of earth for Westport's Gaelscoil back to the Minister for Education.

 

Keith Martin

086 0691182

Sod off as sod returned

Sod Off! as Minister sent sod by registered mail

 

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has told the Minister for Education Batt O'Keffee TD "to keep his sod until he presents the pupils of Westport's Gaelscoil na Cruaiche with a contract for their new school."

 

Cllr Martin has taken the unusual step of posting the actual sod turned by Batt O'Keeffe at the school's site last week to the Minister's office in Dublin with a letter asking him to return the sod only when he has secured a contract for the building work.

 

"It is most unusual that a sod turning ceremony should take place without a contact being in place to begin the building.  I think the sod turning by the Minister has more to do with the upcoming local elections than with the provision of a school building.

 

"The problem is that this school was given the go-ahead in 2006 and the question is why are the pupils and their parents still waiting for their much promised building and why was it only Fianna Fail councillors and the Cathaoirleach who were invited to the ceremony and not all nine members of the council?"

"You only have to look to Davitt College in Castlebar who have had so many false starts to their sports hall to see where this kind of empty gesture gets you.  No sod should be turned until a contract is in place.  Anything else is just for show.

 

"I have been involved in the campaign for a new school building since my election in 2004, I attended every rally and protest for the school here in Westport and I met with the parents and management when they presented the petition to the council looking for a site and at that meeting promised them my full support.

 

"As Chairman of the Pairc na Coille residents association and as the only councillor on the Golf Course Road I facilitated the proposal to find a site on the Golf Course Road for the school and as a councillor I voted to sell the site to the Dept of Education for the school when Westport Town Council granted full planning permission for the site.

 

"I have also made numerous representations on behalf of the school and the Parliamentary Labour party, have at my request, asked several Parliamentary Questions on the issue.

 

"I welcome the news that the school is once again back on the agenda after three years of no action what-so-ever but the school has been waiting 14 years for a new building and I think it is just a joke that Minister can swing into my area and turn a sod for a building without a contractor being appointed. 

 

"I only hope that there will be real action on the school but in the meantime the Minister can keep his sod until he delivers a contract.  Then he can have his ceremony and I hope everyone will be invited this time!"

 

 

Letter to the Editor-Mayo needs a wizard

Dear Editor,

Since his elevation to Junior Minister status Dara Calleary has repeatedly stated, in relation to the challenges facing us here in Mayo, for example, job losses, lack of rural broadband, no decent N5 to Dublin, terrible drinking water quality, etc etc, that he is a Minister and not a wizard.

Are the problems here in Mayo now so bad that they require a wizard rather than some investment from the government?  If so wouldn't Minister Caleary be better off at Hogwarts with Harry Potter rather than Oireacthas Eireann with Brian Cowen?

Yours sincerely

Keith Martin

Cllr

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Co. Mayo

086 0691182

Gilmore visit to Westport

The Leader of the Labour Party, Eamon Gilmore will be visiting Westport on May 8th.  He will be canvassing Westport with Labour's Westport Town and County candidates David Fallon and Cllr Keith Martin, meeting with some members of the Westport community and will make a short speech at a public meeting on Castlebar Street at 3.45pm after which he will offically launch the Westport Labour's Billboard campaign. All are welcome to attend.

 

086 0691182

 

Photos from the launch of my billboard

Hi!

Here are some photos from the official launch of my Billboard today.

Labour team photo:   John Tiernan, Andy Martin, David Fallon, Keith Martin, Sean Sammon, John McDonnell

Much lager files sizes available.  Please use the photo compliments of Labour Party.  Please credit them to Stephen O'Brien.

Thanks

Keith

Jimmy Devins-shames us all

Sligo/north Leitrim TD FORMER MINISTER of state Jimmy Devins has sparked a furious reaction from cancer campaigners in the northwest yesterday when he suggested he was being punished for supporting the retention of the local breast cancer unit at Sligo General Hospital.

 

Jimmy Devins did attend rallies in support of the retention of cancer care services in Sligo

 

however

• at the time he was the Junior Minister for Health
• he voted with the government to close the service in Sligo

|n an interview on local radio he said he had been lobbying for the retention of the breast cancer services in Sligo and "I have paid a heavy price".

His remarks were branded as "hypocritical" by a spokesman for the Save Sligo Cancer Services support group Killian McLaughlin.

He said Mr Devins had repeatedly in face-to-face meetings with the group argued that Minister for Health Mary Harney was doing the right thing. "He betrayed the people of Sligo and now Fianna Fáil has betrayed him," said Mr McLaughlin.

Too right.

 

Politicians like him who lie to the electorate are a disgrace to politicians of all parties. 

 

Shame on you Deputy Devins!

 

My Billboard is up

This is my billboard which as just been put up on Castlebar Street.

What do ya think?

Get registered by May 18th

 Cllr Keith Martin has warned that anyone who is not yet registered to
vote only has until May 18th to get themselves on the electoral
register.

According to Cllr Martin "Anyone not on the register must complete an
application form (RFA2) for inclusion in the supplement to the
2009/2010 Register or if you are on the register but have moved
address from one Dáil constituency, or local electoral area, to
another you must complete an application form (RFA3).

"English and Irish versions of these forms are available for download
from http://www.checktheregister.ie/, directly from Mayo County
Council or from your nearest library.

"Completed forms should be returned directly to Mayo County Council.
In order to vote in the upcoming Local and European elections being
held on June 5th 2009, the completed forms must reach the County
Secretary of Mayo County Council not later than Monday May 18th 2009."

Keith Martin

086 0691182

My Speech at campaign launch

A CAIRDE

 

I am not going to stand here and make you a load of promises nor am I going to stand here and tell you how bad the government is.

 

I would love to promise everyone everything and I would love to tell you what I think about Fianna Fail and the Green Party and what they have done to our country.

 

I am not going to tell you that Brian Cowen is a disaster

 

Or that Fianna Fail have bankrupted this country to enrich their developer friends. 

 

You might think that…………………………………………………………..

 

but I couldn't possibly comment!

 

Instead I am going to outline what Labour is going to do for you; what David and I will do on Westport Town Council; what Harry Barret, David Moffat and I are going to do on Mayo County Council.

 

But first to recap my work so far

 

In my five years on westport town council I have ensured the replanting of the Northwoods,

I have ensured new pavements for the Quay Hill and the Pond.

I have established a budget for promoting Westport as a venue for film-making which has been a huge success.

I have worked hard with my committees to establish a Food and Craft market on the Mall and to make Westport one of Ireland's first Fairtrade towns.

I have fully supported the provision of Affordable and Social housing at Tubberhill and the re-development of the former fire station to social housing and housing for returned emigrants who have come home to Westport and As a member of the Multi Agency Jobs Creation Taskforce I am working hard to promote our town to employers and am lobbying for investment, infrastructure and job creation.

But this meeting is not about what Labour has achieved it is about what Labour will achieve in the next five years in Westport and Mayo.

Our number one priority is jobs,……….Work and Wages.

We will not allow this area, and this community, to slip backwards in the economics of the 1980s. 

We will not allow our young to be reared for export once again.

We Must not allow emigration to return.

To achieve this

We will create jobs and will work with businesses and investors to create jobs.

We will ensure that your demand for jobs and infrastructure is heard at local, regionally and national level.

We will create an allotments scheme to allow those who have no access to land to grown their own vegetables

We will fight tooth and nail the closures of rural post offices.

We will fight to ensure small farmers are treated fairly by local and national government.

We will ensure that people are able to live in their own areas in affordable homes.

We will ensure that conservation is every bit as important as conservation.

We will fight for high speed broadband throughout this county and not just where it suits broadband companies.

We will establish a film office to promote this county, the home of the quiet man and the field as a venue for filmmaking.

We will ensure that Mayo county council makes the n5 its number one priority

We will ensure that irish rail provides an early bird service from mayo to dublin.

We will leave no-one behind.

We will not allow this government to bully us into agreeing with its retrogressive and punitive cuts by threatening us with disaster if we do not agree.

Ruling through fear is not government; it is a Failure to Govern.

Finally I want to say this to the people of Westport, Murrisk, Louisburgh, Aughagower

Do not be afraid.

We can get through this

We will get through this

Things can only get better!

 

 

Help Keith's Campaign

Want to give my campaign a hand?

Would you be interested in helping me

• Canvass
• Put up posters
• Distribute leaflets and newsletters
• Raise funds
  
  

If so, please email me at councillorkeithmartin@gmail.com or call/text me on 086 0691182 anytime. My Office number is 098 24852.

Election Promise

In the LAST FIVE YEARS I have worked hard to achieve my goals as a local councilor.

Since my election in 2004 I have ensured the replanting of the Northwoods, ensured new pavements for the Quay Hill and the Pond, I have worked to slow traffic to make our roads and streets safe for pedestrians and I have established a budget for promoting Westport as a venue for film-making which has been a huge success.

I have worked hard with my committees to establish a Food and Craft market on the Mall and to make Westport one of Ireland's first Fairtrade towns.

I have fully supported the provision of Affordable and Social housing at Tubberhill and the re-development of the former fire station to social housing and housing for returned emigrants who have come home to Westport. 

As a member of the Multi Agency Jobs Creation Taskforce I  work hard to promote our town to employers and to lobby for investment and job creation.

I continue to campaign for a upgraded N5, an Early Bird Train service and a Fibre-Optic broadband link for the area.

Now it is time for the next step and I need your No. 1 vote.

Vote MARTIN 1 for MAYO

I have many plans and policies but I am making only one promise to you.  No-one will work harder for you than I will.

 

 

 

 

Budget hurts Mayo

Cllr Keith Martin has condemned the 17 per cent cut in REPS 4 payments which were introduced in last week’s emergency budget. The cuts will take €30 million out of the Mayo economy over the next five years, according to the IFA.

The Labour Party’s David Fallon has condemned the Government’s withdrawal of grant aid for security devices for older people.“Over 25,000 older people have benefited from these grants since the beginning of 2007, and the money made available, although relatively modest, not only gave a sense of security to the older people themselves, but also gave peace of mind to their families and neighbours

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin as described Brian Lenihan as the Grinch who stole Christmas following his withdrawal of the Christmas payment.  According to the Labour councillor "Its terrible that all those individuals and families who counted on the bonus to help them provide a celebration for their family for Christmas will now be left short.  Lenihan has literally cancelled Christmas for so many families. 

The Labour Party says the reduction in rent supplement announced in yesterday's emergency budget is an "extraordinarily cruel decision".  The Government announced an 8% cut in assistance to tenants. Labour's David Fallon, says this will significantly effect tenants who are tied into leases. 

Cllr Keith Martin has described the five cent duty increase on fuel as potentially fatal to small delivery operators and export businesses in Mayo.  

 

 

 

 

The creation of jobs throughout Mayo is the Number One priority of Labour’s candidates for the coming five years.

Cllr Keith Martin, a member of the Westport Multi Agency Enterprise Group says that the provision of “work and wages” would be the priority of all Labour’s Town and County Councillors for the coming five years.

“The emphasis of Eamon Gilmore’s Beart Nua or New Deal for Ireland is about investing in people and investing in our infrastructure.

Labour believes it is better to have people in training/education/volunteering than it is to just simply leave them on the dole.

The recent emergency budget was a missed opportunity to retrain and improve our workforce to make it ready for the opportunities to come.

Labour’s New Deal for Westport and Mayo will see the emphasis on improving ourselves through education and training while pushing for vital infrastructural improvements such as new school buildings and a new N5 road.”

 

My policies for Mayo

Cllr Keith MARTIN is your Labour candidate for Mayo County 

Council.  Keith works as Branch Librarian at Westport Library

Aged 34, Keith holds a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts Honours 

Degree in Media Management and Production.  

He is the Mayo liaison with the Irish Film Board and works as Film 

Commissioner in the county to promote filmmaking in Mayo and assist 

Filmmakers on location here in Mayo. 

Keith serves on 10 committees such as the Westport Food and Craft Market, 

the Jobs Creation Task Force and the Fairtrade Committee.

Keith is currently campaigning for an Early Bird Train Service for Mayo, for the 

N5 to be upgraded to Mullingar and for a fibre optic broadband link for the area

Keith's priorities are:

• Job retention
• Job creation
• Affordable housing
• Social housing
• Upgraded N5
• Clean Drinking water
• Broadband for all
• Rural Transport
• Rural Post Offices
• Right to Read scheme
• Allotments scheme
• Support for small farmers
  

About Keith

Cllr Keith Martin is a Labour Party candidate for Westport Town Council and Mayo County Council in the Westport Electoral Area of Co. Mayo.

 

Aged 34, Keith holds a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts Honours Degree in Media Management and Production.  

 

Keith is the Mayo liaison with the Irish Film Board and works as Film Commissioner in the county to promote filmmaking in Mayo and assist Filmmakers on location here in Mayo. 

 

Keith serves on 10 committees such as the Westport Food and Craft Market, the Jobs Creation Task Force and the Fairtrade Committee.

 

Keith is currently campaigning for an Early Bird Train Service for Mayo, for the N5 to be upgraded to Mullingar and for a fibre optic broadband link for the area.

 

“Things can only get better” is the theme of Keith's campaign as he believes it is time to get positive and highlight what can be done to make life better in Mayo.

 

Keith's campaign goal is to bring Eamon Gilmore's New Deal to Mayo with the aid of his Westport Town Council running mate David Fallon.

 

Keith has his own online campaign diary or blog, has started Twittering on his site, and established his own YouTube channel complete with campaign adverts all of which promote his campaign theme (and song) of "Things can only get better" via his websitewww.thingscanonlygetbetter.ie
 

Voters can also sign up for regular email updates from his campaign in addition to following him on the popular sites such as Blogger and Twitter he has also a presence on Bebo and Facebook where he has recruited new supporters to his campaign.

 

Keith’s main priorities for the coming five years for Mayo are

 

Job retention

 

Job creation

 

Affordable housing

 

Social housing

 

Upgraded N5

 

Safe Drinking water

 

Allotments scheme

 

 

Labour unveil policies and candidates for Westport, Mayo and Europe!

Labour unveil policies and candidates for Westport, Mayo and Europe

The Labour party will unveil its town, county and Euro candidates and their policies at a special public meeting tonight (Tuesday April 21st) in the Wyatt Hotel in Westport at 7.30pm.

The Special guest will be Susan O'Keefe, the Labour Party candidate for the North-West constituency for the forthcoming European Parliament Elections. Susan is the journalist who broke the story on a World in Action programme on the Irish Beef Industry which led to the formation of a Tribunal of Inquiry.

Susan O'Keefe says her "core beliefs of equality and fairness have driven all the work I have done as a journalist. By joining the Labour Party I will be able to direct these values towards building a more honest political system which favours, not just the brave, but the weak, the poor and the old. I want to contribute to building a fairer Ireland and a fairer Europe where working together means just that."

Announcing Susan's candidacy for the European elections, Eamon Gilmore TD said "Susan O'Keeffe is a person of the highest integrity and remarkable courage with an outstanding record as a campaigning journalist."

Prior to the public meeting Susan O'Keefe will be meeting the people of Westport during the afternoon, when she will have the opportunity of listening to the views and opinions of the people of Mayo on the EU and it's importance and relevance to the further development of the West of Ireland.

Labour's second candidate for Westport Town Council David Fallon will also outline Labour's Policies for Westport Town Council while Cllr Keith Martin will outline his priorities for the Westport Electoral Area.

According to Chair of the Westport Branch of the Labour Party, Mr Sean Sammon, Labour's priorities are "Jobs, jobs, jobs."

www.thingscanonlygetbetter.ie
086 0691182
098 24852

On-line votes being sought

Labour's Keith Martin is leaving no stone unturned in his efforts to capture the "on-line" vote in Mayo.  Not content with just a website the Labour councillor has since started his own online campaign diary or blog, started Twittering on his site, and established his own YouTube channel complete with campaign adverts all of which promote his campaign theme (and song) of "Things can only get better" via his website www.thingscanonlygetbetter.ie
 

Voters can also sign up for regular email updates from his campaign in addition to following him on the popular sites such as Blogger and Twitter he has also a presence on Bebo and Facebook where he has recruited new supporters to his campaign.
 

But it is an irony not lost on Cllr Martin that so many of his target voters in Mayo are unable to avail of these online resources due to the poor availability of broadband in rural Mayo.  "It as an absolute national disgrace that only 13 per cent of households in rural communities have access to high-speed broadband" says Cllr Martin who has made the 100% coverage of broadband in Mayo a top priority of his campaign. 
 

Cllr Martin also serves on the sub-committee of the Westport Mulit Agency Enterprise Group which is campaigning for a Fibre-Optic broadband link for the area.

 

Keith Martin

086 0691182

councillorkeithmartin@gmail.com

www.thingscanonlygetbetter.ie

 

Good Friday Clean up

Members of the Westport Branch of the Labour Party took part in the Good Friday Clean up with members taking to the Northwoods to give the area a spring clean. In addition to litter they removed plastic and metal piping, scraps of metal and plastic.

Pictured Andrew Martin, David Fallon, John McDonnell, and Cllr Keith Martin

Countdown to change

This is my new Youtube advert. Hope you like it.

Its time to walk the walk in Westport

Its time to walk the walk in Westport and bring in proper pedestrian crossings.  For years we have had "courtesy crossings" which are supposed to be where motorists stop and allow people to cross the roads.  Problem is that motorists are often far from courteous to pedestrians even though the pedestrian has the legal right to cross the street over that of the motorist's right to drive through the town.

For years there has been real resistance from the executive towards bringing in "Zebra" crossings or even traffic light crossings.  I suspect that this is because the main streets of the town ie Castlebar Street, Bridge Street and Shop Street are in fact part of the N5 a national route, which shamefully, still runs through the centre of our beautiful Georgian town.  This traffic flow is slow at the best of times and pedestrian crossings will slow it even more.  Our promised bypasses have come to nothing to date.

But it is time to bite the bullet and I will be introducing a formal motion on "Zebra" crossings before the May meeting of Westport Town Council.  

Its time to Walk the Walk!

Labour announce Westport team

The Labour Party in Westport is to field two candidates for election to Westport Town Council with the announcement by Carrowholly's David Fallon that he intends to join Cllr Keith Martin on the Labour Party ticket for Westport Town Council.

David Fallon announced his candidacy last Friday night at a well attended special meeting of the Labour Party in the Wyatt Hotel.  David Fallon is originally a Sligo man but he has made his home in Westport.  A lifelong member of the Labour Party he's from a strong Labour Party family and his Grandfather was a longstanding and well respected member of Sligo Borough Council.

David Fallon's candidacy was welcomed by Mr Sean Sammon, Chair of the Labour Constituency Council, who said that the people of Westport were being offered real change and an opportunity to vote for that change by electing David Fallon and Keith Martin to Westport Town Council.

Mr Sammon introduced David Fallon to the members and supporters of the Labour Party saying "David Fallon's vision of an equal and fair society along with his sense of public service place him ideally as a Labour candidate for Westport and together with Keith Martin they make a strong team which will advocate and fight for all citizens of the town, particularly those whose do not have a strong voice or who are marginalised."

Cllr Keith Martin then welcomed David Fallon to the Labour ticket and said that he looked forward to working side by side with him on the streets and doorsteps of Westport and ultimately side by side in the council chamber where they would drive Eamon Gilmore's vision of a New Deal for Westport through the council policy.

"David is passionate about politics and that is something we need more of, we need to put the passion back into local government.  David has strong and proud Westport connections through his wife's family and I am sure that he can draw on them for advice, support and encouragement in the campaign.  The Labour Party in Westport is now ready to offer a real alternative to old ways and by electing a strong Labour team to Westport Town Council people can send a message that they want change, that they want change from the status quo and politics as usual."

Addressing the meeting David Fallon thanked the members and his family for their support adding that in these times of uncertainty there was no time for inaction.  "This is no time to stand still as a town or as a country, we must look for the opportunity and the possibility of progress and that is why I ask for your support in my campaign.  We need a town council which sees opportunities and that is progressive and even radical at times.  We need to make Westport Town Council really work for the people of Westport to create jobs and for the people of the town to feel connected to their local council."

Mr Fallon also announced that following discussions within the Westport Branch of the Labour Party that neither Keith Martin or himself would erect any posters within the town boundaries for the upcoming campaign.  "Westport is a beautiful town and the Labour Party will keep it that way.  We are going to rely on getting our message across by meeting the voters on their doorsteps and winning their support for Eamon Gilmore's New Deal."

Concluding the meeting Mr Sean Sammon said that the people of Westport, Mayo and the West were for the first time in a long time being offered a real change between voting for Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.  "Labour is fielding a range of experienced and dedicated candidates such as Cllrs Keith Martin and Harry Barret, Euro candidate Susan O'Keefe, Dr Bernie Courtney, David Moffat and now David Fallon.  Its time for change!"

David Fallon

086 0615828

Lenihan is the Grinch who stole Christmas

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin as described Brian Lenihan as the Grinch who stole Christmas following his withdrawal of the Christmas payment.  According to the Labour councillor "Its terrible that all those individuals and families who counted on the bonus to help them provide a celebration for their family for Christmas will now be left short.  Lenihan has literally cancelled Christmas for so many families.  He is like the Grinch stealing Christmas from young boys and girls all over Ireland."

 

Cllr Martin says Minister Lenihan "is placing the burden of the Government's mistakes on the backs of the unemployed and their families all over the country.  To add more pressure to those people who have lost their jobs in this recession is unforgivable.  He has effectively cancelled Christmas for half a million families.

"This cold move will provide a fillip for unscrupulous money-lenders who will take advantage of the pressures of Christmas while charities will be inundated with requests for help from families in the light of this withdrawal of the bonus. In the midst of the wider discussion of the budget, I hope this development is remembered."

 086 0691182

Ending of security grants for elderly

Cllr Keith Martin of the Labour Party has condemned the Government's withdrawal of grant aid for security devices for older people.

"Over 25,000 older people have benefited from these grants since the beginning of 2007, and the money made available, although relatively modest, not only gave a sense of security to the older people themselves, but also gave peace of mind to their families and neighbours.

"Now, for the sake of €4million a year, and despite the fact that a firm commitment to continue the scheme was made in the Programme for Government, it is now to end.

"This scheme provided a valuable lifeline for older people, particularly in rural areas, and ending it is another attack on the vulnerable in our community."

 

086 0691182

Budget Tuesday

There is going to be a budget tomorrow, its an emergency budget, not a mini budget.

Its an emergency budget because our economy is in a nose dive and if we don't wrestle the controls off Brian Cowen we are going to crash.

I didn't want a general election before but I think we need one now, not because Labour are up in the polls but because I sincerely believe that it is not safe to leave the economy in the hands of Fianna Fail.

I know that pensioners and the vulnerable in Westport and Mayo are scared and I have had a few of them call into me this week to find out how the budget is going to effect them and the truth is that I don't know but I think it is obscene that these people live in fear from one day to the next, worrying about what is to become of them.

It is obscene that the poor and vulnerable live in fear in the 21st Century.  

Allotments

I attended a very interesting meeting on Thursday evening on Allotments.

There were about 40 people there half of whom were ready to sign up for a little allotment to grow their own vegetables and flowers, some for economic and environmental reasons and some for fun.  I fall into the later.  I have wonderful memories of growing our own vegetables in Achill and of helping my Grandad with his runner beans on his allotment.

The meeting discussed the various aspects in relation to securing an allotment and I pointed out what I regarded as the steps necessary to take to get the ball rolling namely

• advertise the criteria for the land and invite interested landowners to come forward
  
• The criteria being south facing, level ground, with parking area, near a road and a water mains, etc etc
• gather a petition or list of those expressing an interest in allotments to show council the great interest in the scheme
• put together a management association to manage and run the allotments scheme and take the administration burden away from the council

There is 50% funding available from Leader for this kind of project and it will just be up to the council to come up with 50% of the cost, agree the lease or purchase of lands and hand the project over the management association and its done.

In June of last year I began my call for allotments for Westport and I welcome the great public interest in the idea as evidenced by the large meeting on Wednesday night.

I am excited that the project has moved so far along and I will be raising the issue at our next council meeting.