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.