Decision making on roads programme for 2010 questioned
Fianna Fáil Councillor Damien Ryan questioned who was making the decisions on the priority for the roads programme for 2010 at the Claremorris electoral area meeting this week. Cllr Ryan asked the council managment, “Will we get a chance to meet with the engineer to discuss the local and regional roads programme for next year before they have to send in the list of our priorities for next year.” Senior Engineer for the council Patsy Burke told the members that there is some confusion over the matter and he would let the councillor know the situation in the coming days. Cllr Ryan, while accepting Mr Burke’s undertaking, told the meeting: “It was my understanding from the full council meeting that the NRA were just becoming the paymaster rather than the decision maker.”
Early meeting needed for new town plans
The members of the electoral area agreed to hold an earlier than usual meeting of the committee in November so they could discuss the new development plans for both Claremorris and Ballyhaunis. Seamus Granahan told the members that the “ball was now rolling on these plans” and there were strict time frames to be followed. The members were told they would get the manager’s report on the plans early next week following the statutory period of public consultation, and that they had to agree on the plans before they were put before the next full meeting of the council. The members agreed to hold their next meeting on November 4.
Twinning process to be looked at
Mayo County Council will look into the twinning of Ballinrobe following a request from Councillor Michael Burke at the monthly meeting of the Electoral Area Committee. Cllr Burke asked the management to look into the twinning possibilities for Ballinrobe because it is one of a few towns of its size which hasn’t been twinned. Cllr Damien Ryan said following the recent successful Lithuanian event in the town to mark Felix Waitkus’s crash outside the town following his transatlantic flight, a twinning with a town in Lithuania should be somthing they should look into. Neil Sheridan from the council’s community and enterprise section told the meeting that he would look into it and would get in touch with the Lithuanian officials and that he was aware that there was work already going on with a town in France.
Answers demanded on Bowers bridge
Local councillors have demanded answers about the cost of the new Bowers bridge in Ballinrobe which is going through the tender process. The meeting heard there was €150,000 to spend, with tenders varying from €100,000 to €315,000.
