Councillor Myles Staunton, Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, put forward a proposal at last week’s meeting that any conferences which councillors attend must be relevant; that a summary report of what councillors attended is given; that a catalogue of conference information is available to the public; and each councillor will be given €2,000 to attend conferences during the year.
The Cathaoirleach had included that the manager would have the final say on what conferences councillors would attend but this was rejected by councillors.
Fine Gael Councillor Ollie Gannon stuck with his election pledge that he would not attend any conferences during his time on the council.
Cllr Mulroy wants town’s traffic lights removed
Cllr Brendan Mulroy proposed that the town’s traffic lights be taken out, something which the councillor has raised 17 times in 10 years, in order to deal with the traffic problems the town experiences.
Town engineer Patrick Corcoran said that he examined the traffic problem in Westport recently by observing traffic in the mornings at the Castlebar Street lights, and said it was the fact that cars and buses pulled up at the lights and were not moving on green that was causing the problems, not the lights themselves.
Cllr Margaret Adams said that the traffic system in the town “is a joke” and said it was good job that Westport is a “terminal town”, otherwise people would continue on as it is hard to find parking or travel through the town.
The Cathaoirleach suggested that a traffic management plan meeting be held next month.
Council opposed to the abolishment of town councils
Cllr Myles Staunton proposed a motion that Westport Town Council opposes the proposal by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (An Bord Snip Nua ) to abolish town councils, which was seconded by Cllr Mulroy.
Cllr Tereasa McGuire said that a “nameless, faceless, bureaucrat” should not determine the fate of Westport. Cllr Michael McLaughlin said it would be a dictatorship if local councils are abolished, and Cllr Martin Keane said that Mr McCarthy “can go to hell and stuff this report”.
Housing allocation for Tubberhill almost filled
Housing officer Paula Geraghty outlined to the councillors that 30 out of 33 social units in the new Tubberhill development have been allocated, and seven out of 10 affordable units have been sold.
Cllr Mulroy complimented the town’s housing list in comparison to other towns. Cllr Tereasa McGuire concurred that Westport has a housing list to be “proud of” and the Cathaoirleach also complimented the number of units filled.
Cllr Margaret Adams had some concern about the design of the units which may not suit the elderly or those with a young family. She said that those who bought affordable units at the far end of the development were not made aware that another development is being constructed next to them.
Westport to enter in smarter travel competition
Westport is to compete in a sustainable travel competition in which five towns will benefit from a national competition fund of €50 million to promote walking, cycling, and public transport.
Councillors welcomed the possible injection of €10 million, if the town is successful in the competition, to upgrade sustainable travel in the town.
