Hotel guests staying in Westport remain steady

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

During 2009 the occupancy in hotels in Westport town remained the same as the previous year — a statistic which was praised by Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council, Councillor Myles Staunton, during a presentation given to town councillors by Westport Chamber of Commerce, where the chamber outlined their preference for a reduction in town rates.

Westport drops rates by two and a half per cent

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

Westport Town Council has struck a rate of 64.84, which makes it the lowest rate multiplier in the county. This rate was agreed at a budget meeting on Thursday night where councillors proposed a 2.5 per cent reduction on rates in the town. This, according to the Cathaoirleach of the town, Councillor Myles Staunton, sends out the message that “Westport is open for business”.

Bad weather cost Westport €40k

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

Westport Town Council has so far totted up a bill of €40,000 in dealing with the extreme weather conditions which have plagued the county over the past few weeks.

Fundraising campaign for Westport Town Hall is progressing well

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

A local fundraising campaign in Westport to raise money for the Westport Town Hall is progressing well, with the project expected to go to tender in spring of this year.

Fish factory one source of persistent smell at Westport Quay

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

Following Westport Town Councillors’ condemnation of the persistent odour at the Quay, which particularly lingers in the location of the Quay Bar, investigations were carried out by the town council in association with the environmental section of Mayo County Council.

Castlebar councillors call for those responsible for economic mess to be indicted for treason

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

Following a lengthy debate, with plenty of cross table and cross party swipes at policies and abilities, the elected members of Castlebar Town Council voted by eight votes to one to back a motion by Independent Councillor Frank Durcan which said: “The members of Castlebar Town Council call on the Government to indict for the act of treason, the politicians and bankers who were grossly responsible for the undermining of the economy over the past 10 years”.

Castlebar councillors want urgent roads meeting

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

The members of the Castlebar electoral area committee decided to bring their next meeting of the committee forward to as soon as possible once the council have been notified of their roads grants for the year from central government. Fianna Fáil Councillor Al McDonnell brought up the state of the roads since the cold snap, which has resulted in a large number of potholes around the area.

Castlebar Councillors look for site meeting on planning rejection

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

The potential refusal of planning permission for a house at Killaghwuan, Castlebar led to one councillor asking for a site meeting for the councillors to inspect the site, and another questioning the validity of one of the councils reasons for refusing the application. The discussion took place at a meeting of the Castlebar electoral area committee on Thursday.

Castlebar councillors claim only they can extinguish right of way

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

The proposed closure of three level crossings in Straide by Irish Rail will not go ahead if the members of the Castlebar electoral area committee have their way. Irish Rail have applied for and been given planning permission by Mayo County Council to carry out works on three crossings known as XX31, XX32 and XX33. The rail company have also been given permission to carry out remedial works at a bridge in the area, to deepen the underpass of the bridge which they envisage being used as the only access route over or under the railway lines. The works at the bridge will see the road being deepened by three and half foot to ease access. However, the councillors maintain that having this bridge as the only crossing of the rail line is totally unacceptable as the bridge is a danger already and is prone to flooding at the moment and this will only get worse if the road is lowered a few more feet.

Councillors make hard calls to cut county rate

Mon, Jan 18, 2010

After two days of meetings which totalled over 12 hours of discussion and debate, along with numerous in committee meetings, the 31 elected members of Mayo County Council agreed on a budget which saw them cut the rate in the county by two and a half per cent, to bring it to 68.76 on Friday evening.