LinkedIn Password Reset Notification

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Hi Tom Chambers,

Your LinkedIn password has been reset successfully.
If you did not request a password reset, please contact customer support: https://help.linkedin.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1167

Thanks for using LinkedIn!

HSE INVITE REPEATED

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 11:10:00 +0000

HSE INVITE REPEATED

The HSE have been invited to come before Westport Town Council and discuss the current and future provision of health services within the town, including the future development of the MacBride nursing home according to Cllr Keith Martin.

"In September of 2011 I proposed a motion that representatives of the HSE come before Westport Town Council and update us as to the recruitment of a new Director of Nursing for the MacBride Home and on developments such as the transfer of Westport's two Community Welfare Officers to the Department of Social Protection, the retirement of so many community and psychiatric nurses and how these events will impact on health services in Westport.

"While we have received written updates in relation to the recruitment of the new Director of Nursing the HSE have not yet accepted our invitation.

"At the January meeting of Westport Town Council I repeated the motion, which was supported unanimously, and the Town Clerk has written to the HSE again asking them to appear before us and update us on the HSE's plans for Westport.

"I expect that such a discussion will take place in March or April and that it will be an informative meeting, which will go a long way to reassuring the people of Westport in relation to the security of their local health services.

Post Office payments

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:38:00 +0000

Dear Minister Hogan,

I am writing to you to request that you put in place a system which would allow the public, particularly senior citizens, to pay their household charge in the Post Office.

Numerous constituents who want to pay the charge have been in contact with me due to their frustration with the options currently available for paying the €100 charge. They know the charge is required to fund local services, and they want to be able to pay it in their local post office where many access other public services.

Sincerely

Keith Martin

Councillor

Westport Town Council

Call for Post office payments for new charge

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:35:00 +0000

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin says the Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan should take action to make the payment of the household charge less hassle and more convenient, particularly for older people.

"The public need to be provided with a more accessible method of paying the household charge and the local post office is the ideal venue. Numerous constituents who want to pay the charge have been in contact with me due to their frustration with the options currently available for paying the €100 charge. They know the charge is required to fund local services, and they want to be able to pay it in their local post office where many access other public services.

"There are too many people who are seeking to pay the Household Charge before the deadline, but who are unable to pay online or do not have the ability to get to their council offices. I have written to Minister Hogan asking him to consider giving people more options for how they can pay their household charge before the deadline is up.

"I can see no reason why the country's network of Post Offices cannot be used to give people more opportunities to pay the household charge. I hope the Minister can move swiftly to give people more opportunities to pay the Household Charge.

"It is one of the basics of all public charges that the State should make it as easy as possible for the citizen to pay the charge. I would hope that Minister Hogan would bear this in mind and allow people to pay the charge through their local Post Office."

Community groups to be spared from big admin bills

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:26:00 +0000

New legislation will lift the burden of large auditing and administration bills from the community and voluntary sector, Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has learned.

The Labour councillor has been told that the Dept of Jobs and Innovation is planning to greatly reduce the paperwork legally required by voluntary groups under the new Companies Bill. The Dept intends to exempt charitable organisations from the stringent audit requirements imposed on private companies.

According to Cllr Martin "This is good news for those people who run our sports clubs, help our youth, care for the vulnerable and generally make our communities better places to live, shouldn't be unnecessarily burdened with high cost legal and financial requirements. They need every cent they have for the valuable work they do."

The new Companies Bill, which is expected later this year, will introduce a new type of default private company to cover the charity and voluntary sector, known as a CLS or private company limited by shares.

Cllr Martin says the changes will provide "a number of tangible benefits aimed at reducing the administrative burden on our voluntary groups. The lengthy and complex legal documents needed to set up other companies will no longer be required. These new CLS companies can be incorporated using a single document possibly a page long,"

"In short it will be a great deal easier and less expensive for the voluntary sector to start, use and run such a company. It is a move that will benefit not just community groups but society as a whole,"

Smarter Travel must link Westport

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:08:00 +0000

According to Cllr Keith Martin the recently announced €5 million
investment to transform Westport into a Smarter Travel Area, promoting
cycling and walking, public transport, and reducing car travel must
include plans to link areas like Sandyhill, the Ballinrobe road,
Carrabawn and the Leanne road to Westport town centre with new
Greenways.

The Labour Party councillor says such Greenways would "significantly
reduce the numbers of cars using the town by giving these areas
improved cycling ways, including safe routes to school and to key
business and workplace zones which would allow people to walk and
cycle, in safety, to the town."

"Currently areas like the Ballinrobe road, Sandyhill and the Leanne
road are virtually impossible to walk or cycle on because of the
volume and speed of the traffic, dangerous bends and impassible
railway bridges. If Westport Town Council provides the Greenways then
we will see a huge uptake in walking and cycling as we have already
witnessed in those areas now being served by the Greenway."

Sky high prices means planes are cheaper than trains

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:55:00 +0000

Cllr Keith Martin says that Irish Rail should reverse its decision to increase fares on the Westport to Dublin route. Cllr Martin says the fares increases are disincentive to rail travel and will impact on visitor numbers to the town this year.

According to the Westport based Labour councillor "Rail fares are already too expensive, at €37 one way to Dublin one could fly to London or Rome with Ryanair for the same price. It is time we see rail prices cut and subsidised from carbon taxes. At the moment these funds go into the government's coffers when they should be used to promote sustainable transport such as train travel.

"It is far too expensive to travel by train in this country. On mainland europe rail travel is a cheap way to travel. Here in Ireland it is still charged at luxury prices. It is time that we had cheap train travel especially on intercity routes such as the Westport to Dublin line which are vital to our local and national tourism and business economy.

"Irish Rail have finally given us the extra services and new trains that we, as a community, have lobbied for. Now they go and ruin it by gouging rail users for more money during a recession.

"This increase is a mistake and should be reversed. I would urge consumers, businesses, councils and chambers of commerce to make their feelings known to Irish Rail. Train travel should be cheaper than air travel. Irish Rail need to rethink their business model along the lines of Ryanair and not the Orient Express."

Fairtrade Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:58:00 +0000

Westport Fairtrade committee will be hosting a public meeting next
Wednesday at 8pm in the Wyatt Hotel. The meeting will be chaired by
Cllr Keith Martin and is open to existing members and members of the
public who wish to learn more or volunteer to support the organisation
or join the committee.

Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local
sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the
developing world. By requiring companies to pay sustainable prices
(which must never fall lower than the market price), Fairtrade
addresses the injustices of conventional trade, which traditionally
discriminates against the poorest, weakest producers. It enables them
to improve their position and have more control over their lives

Fairtrade Ireland awards a consumer label, the FAIRTRADE Mark, to
products which meet internationally recognised standards of Fairtrade.
Supported by ActionAid Ireland, Amnesty International (Irish Section),
Christian Aid, Comhlámh, Concern, Friends of the Earth, Irish Aid,
Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Oxfam Ireland and Trócaire.

Westport's Fairtrade Steering Committee was established in early 2005
with the aim of making achieving Fairtrade status for the town. The
committee members were Edel Hackett, Mary Walsh, Roisin Moran, Sue
Minish, Brian Quinn, Cllr Keith Martin, Gemma Hennesy, Sheila
O'Donnell and Bríd McAuley. Westport became a Fairtrade town in
2006 and the committee have continued to lobby for the wider
availability of Fairtrade products in the town.

For more information please contact 086 0691182.

Mayo Labour Party meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:58:00 +0000

The Mayo Labour Party will be meeting on Thursday at 8pm in the Wyatt
Hotel in Westport.

The party will be electing its Constituency Council and discussing the
building of membership in the county.

There will be reports from Cllrs Harry Barrett and Keith Martin of
Castlebar and Westport Town Councils. The meeting will also be
addressed by Dr Jerry Cowley.

All existing and new members are welcome to come along. Membership
forms will be available on the night.

For more information call 086 0691182

Invitation to connect on LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:03:00 +0000

From Keith Martin

Ireland

I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.

- Keith

Confirm that you know Keith

You are receiving Invitation to Connect emails. Unsubscribe

Residents of 62 estates eligible for waiver of household charge says Labour Councillor

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Homeowners in over 60 unfinished housing estates throughout Mayo will be eligible for a waiver of the €100 household charge according to Westport based Labour councillor, Keith Martin.

According to Cllr Martin the new legislation "provides that an owner of residential property which is situated in an unfinished estate is entitled to a waiver from payment of the Household Charge in respect of that property for that year."

The wavier only applies to estates where the developer is still in place but is effectively inactive, or where the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

A national survey of unfinished housing developments was carried out in 2011 by officials from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with the Planning Departments of the various local authorities. As part of this survey, all unfinished developments were examined and categorised along the following lines:

Category 1: the development is still being actively completed by the developer;
Category 2: a receiver has been appointed;
Category 3: a receiver has not been appointed and the developer is still in place but effectively inactive; and
Category 4: the development has been effectively abandoned and is posing serious problems for residents.

An owner of a residential property in an unfinished development contained in the prescribed list is entitled to a waiver from payment of the household charge in 2012. This prescribed list consists only of developments under Categories 3 and 4.

According to the Westport based Cllr Martin "A list of such estates has been published by the Dept of the Environment which has identified 62 such estates in Mayo.

This new charge, of EUR 100 per year in 2012, is unfortunately a condition of the EU/IMF bailout that was necessitated by the disastrous economic mismanagement of the previous FF/Green Government.

The charge will fund essential local services such as libraries, road cleaning, public lighting and so on that councils such as Westport Town Council and Mayo County Council provide to all citizens.

The charge has been carefully framed so as to make owners liable rather than occupiers. Social housing and houses of the elderly who are living in nursing homes etc are included in the exemptions. Those in receipt of mortgage interest supplement and in these particular unfinished estates are also exempt."

Westport
Cedar Park,
Cluain Abhain
Sli Na Misean

Castlebar
Carrabeg
Heather Vale
College Woods
Sean Abhain
The Waterway

Ballina
Belleek Manor
Church Manor
Friars Court
Glen Ri
Lansyn
Quignalecka
Quignalecka Apartment
Un-named estate Church Road

A full list of the qualifying unfinished estates is available at www.householdcharge.ie

https://www.householdcharge.ie/UHE/Mayo.pdf

WRFM News

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:18:00 +0000

This Thursday The Clock Tavern bar is hosting a Fundraiser session for Westport's community radio station WRFM 98.2.

The session kicks of at 9pm and Tickets are just €5. There will also be a raffle.

The organisers promise plenty of criac and ceol from a host of Westport Session musicians.
All proceeds in support of WRFM.

Please come out and give us your support!

Journalists wanted!

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 23:55:00 +0000

Westport's community radio station, WRFM 98.2 is looking for experienced and student journalists who are interested in producing news, current affairs and documentary programming on the station.

According to Station Manager, Stephen O'Brien, WRFM 98.2 has a mandate "to provide quality local news and current affairs to our listeners in Westport and over the web.

"Our sports programming and reporting, which is produced and presented by Brendan Mulroy and Michael Killeen, has been very well received.

"We are now looking to develop our news and current affairs department so that we can provide instant breaking local and national news, as well as in depth analysis and discussion of local and national issues and concerns, in a professional, fair and balanced manner.

"We will be providing our news department volunteers with training in the areas of production, technical work, presentation and documentary making.

"Currently we have a rotating set of presenters for our news and politics shows, all of them experienced and qualified journalists. We are now looking to add new talent (and voices) to WRFM 98.2's news and current affairs output."

WRFM 98.2's news programming goes out at 1pm on Saturdays and the Politics show goes out on Sundays from 10am till noon.

Anyone interested is asked to get in touch with the station on 098 24000 or by emailing info@wrfm.ie. More information is available on www.wrfm.ie.

WRFM 98.2 is Westport's community radio station and broadcasts to 2,000 listeners a week each and every Saturday and Sunday from 8am till midnight.

The station broadcasts from its studios in the courtyard on James Street and was established with funding from LEADER, Westport Town Council and the generous support of the people of Westport.

The station is run and managed by volunteers and is funded entirely by sponsorship by local businesses and donations by the Westport community.

Church Gate Collection Thanks

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 23:03:00 +0000

The Westport Branch of the Labour Party would like to thank everyone
who gave so generously at their recent church gate collection in
Westport. In particular Cllr Keith Martin would like to thank the
person who donated a 90-year-old Colombian silver dollar to his
collection bucket. The coin, which is almost a troy ounce of solid
silver, will be sold to a coin dealer and the proceeds will go towards
the running costs of the Westport Branch of the Labour party.
The coin features the image of Simon Bolivar who is regarded in
Hispanic America as a hero, visionary, revolutionary, and liberator.
During his lifetime, he led Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru,
and Venezuela to independence from Spain, and helped lay the
foundations for democratic ideology in much of Hispanic America.
The coin was donated on the evening of Michael D Higgin's election as President.

Labour Party Branch Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:40:00 +0000

The Westport Branch of the Labour Party will meet on Wednesday
November 8th at 8pm in the Wyatt Hotel. The meeting will be addressed
by Cllr Keith Martin who will update the members on the activities and
plans of Westport Town Council. The Presidential election will be
discussed as will plans for a trip to Dail Eireann by the members.
Also on the agenda will be recruitment and fund raising. Membership
forms are available from 086 069 1182.

Statement on Pinewoods walkway

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:23:00 +0000

I am happy to confirm to you that the path in question belongs to Westport Town Council and is a public path and as such, is already, always has been and always will be, a public right of way.

As part of the granted planning permission the pathway adjacent to the Lidl site will be upgraded by Lidl, as a condition of their planning permission at their own expense. This is no way affects the ownership of the pathway.

The work on the Lidl section of the path was delayed by the recent industrial disputes on the site. This was outside the control of Westport Town Council but is now resolved.

The rest of the pathway is being upgraded by the Town Council with a €150,000 grant from the Dept of Sports and Tourism.

All the residents in the area recently received a written update and schedule of the works from me.

Both sections of the path will be upgraded to same standard as the Greenway and will be part of the 'Northern Greenway', to be maintained as part of the official Greenway, for pedestrian and cycle access.

All works on both sections of the pathway will be completed by the end of November when the pathway will reopen to the public.

I am very disappointed that it has taken Lidl so long to start work on the pathway. I know that my neighbours in St Mary's Crescent and the Pinewoods look forward, as I do, to the upgrading of the pathway.

Cllr Keith Martin

086 0691182

Residents of Pinewoods, St Mary's Crescent, Kings Hill, New Road

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 22:49:00 +0000

Dear Neighbours,

I am writing to update you on the upgrading of the pathway to the Pinewoods from the New Road, past the Lidl development, through to the Pinewoods.

As part of the granted planning permission the pathway adjacent to the Lidl site will be upgraded by Lidl, as a condition of their planning permission.

These works have been delayed by the recent industrial disputes on the site. These were outside the control of the Town Council but are now resolved and Lidl plan to be open for Halloween.

The rest of the pathway is being upgraded by the Town Council with a €150,000 grant from the Dept of Sports and Tourism.

Both sections of the path will be upgraded to same standard as the Greenway and will be part of the 'Northern Greenway', to be maintained as part of the official Greenway, for pedestrian and cycle access.

All works on both sections of the pathway will be completed by the end of November when the pathway will reopen to the public.

Yours sincerely

____________

Keith Martin

Councillor

Submission

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 01:16:00 +0000

I would like to make the following observations.

According to the Manager's Report there is a surplus of 7 times the
required zoning for residential development in the current plan.

With an excess of lands zoned for housing within the boundaries of
Westport Town Council it is inappropriate for any extra lands to be
zoned within the boundaries of Westport Town Council for residential
housing. Consequently the Manager's recommendation to zone such lands
north of Westport House estate on the Golf Course Road for residential
development to provide 90 additional units of housing on 6 hectares of
land is unsustainable and inappropriate, contrary to good planning and
practice and should be abandoned. The readiness of Management to
facilitate the above zoning and its disposal to private developers by
removing the phasing of the commercial core is contrary to good
planning and should be abandoned.

It is contrary to good planning, practise and land use to insert an
area of development into the area identified as the historic core of
the estate. It does not take into consideration proper environmental
and planning considerations such as the visual amenity, historical and
heritage importance of the estate or its proximity to Natura 2000
sites or impact on the listed buildings and structures and their
curtailage. The historic core is by its very nature in need of
preservation from development yet this plan recommends zoning lands
west Hotel Westport, within the historic core, as being suitable for
development of tourist related buildings. This is completely
inappropriate development in a very sensitive area of the estate.
Considering the lands removed from the estate by compulsory purchase
by Westport Town Council in the early 1950s this would constitute a
further invasion of the town core into the estate indeed into the
historic core of the estate. This is unsuitable and inappropriate and
should be abandoned. This historic core must be sterilised and
protected from any new development. Such a provision would impact
negatively on the fabric of the overall estate.

The proposal to allow stand alone buildings within the historic core
such as a theatre, conference centre, hotel, etc is contrary to good
planning and practise to zone for such developments. It does not
take into consideration proper environmental and planning
considerations such as the visual amenity, historical and heritage
importance of the estate or its proximity to Natura 2000 sites or the
listed buildings and their curtailage. Any such development would
destroy the purpose of the zoning of a historic core and would impact
negatively on the fabric of the estate.

It is good planning to facilitate the pedestrian links with the estate
and the town especially in the vicinity of Church Lane. It is vital
to the sustainability and viability of the estate that some form of
vehicular access be provided, on restricted dates, to facilitate the
smooth and proper development of the estate as a venue for concerts,
public events and meetings, festivals and fairs which are much more in
keeping with the estate and are sustainable and do not interfere with
the fabric of the estate, its heritage or historic value.

The development of a nursing home in the area known as Colonel's Wood
should be prevented. It is an inappropriate development in a woodland
and the access road is unsuitable. Any felling in the area must
result in replanting as the woodland constitutes an important visual
feature of the town.

The lands in Monamore/Drummindoo are not on the town sewerage scheme
or town water supply. The roads in the area are already substandard
and have no footpaths or street lighting. In the Town Development
Plan there are no lands specifically zoned for recreation/amenity.
This area would be best suited to meeting the very real need for such
lands zonings within the Westport area. Westport already has two
industrial estates. The zoning of the lands in Monamore/Drummindoo do
not reflect proper planning practice and are surplus to requirements.

Councillor Keith Martin
33 Pairc na Coille
Westport
Mayo

Letter to the editor

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Dear Editor,

I am writing to you to express my concerns in relation to the proposed zonings of Westport House Demesne which will permit tourism accommodation as well as a hotel or conference centre to be built adjacent to Westport House.

The proposals include allowing large single structure buildings i.e. a hotel. hostel or conference centre to be built near the house in the area of the front lawn and to allow holiday accommodation to be built inside the gates at Hotel Westport, down as far as the old zoo.

At the meeting of the 28^th of July I raised my objections to both these provisions but no other councillor shared my concerns or would second my motions opposing them.

As a result these proposals are now contained within the current Westport Town and Environs Plan for Westport which will be voted on by Westport Town councillors at a meeting later in the year.

I am concerned that there is a very low level of awareness of these proposals and am concerned also by the damage such proposals would do to the fabric of Westport House Demesne.

In the 1950s Westport Urban District Council acquired by compulsory purchase order a large section of the Demesne on the Newport Road, this was later followed by the development of what is now Westport Woods Hotel and more recently the development of Westport's waste treatment plant on the Golf Course Road. If we continue to allow elements of the estate to be parceled of for development there will be nothing left of the estate's great heritage.

There are many positives within the plan including a visitors' centre detailing the life of Granuaile, the revamping of the existing tourism facilities including new accommodation in the vicinity of the farmyard and campsites and the development of the estate as concert and public event venue.

However I would urge those who share my concerns in relation to protecting the historic core of Westport House to contact their local representatives and councilors and make their feelings known before it goes to a vote.

Sincerely

Keith Martin

Councillor

Westport Town Council

Westport House Submissions

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:58:00 +0000

MAP OF WESTPORT HOUSE PLANS
Click above for a copy of the map

Submissions can be made by email to dkeane@mayococo.ie

Deadline 5pm Wednesday September 14th

Labour’s Cllr Martin is calling on Westport people to make submissions
on the new Town and Environ plan before the closing date of September
14th. The plan deals with Westport House, Knockranny/Colonel woods,
Westport Town and Environs.

Cllr Martin says the public need to be aware of what he calls “drastic
and controversial” zonings proposed in the plan.

Under the new zoning proposals for Westport House Demesne, a large
building such as a 140 bedroom hotel or a conference centre could be
built adjacent to Westport House. The plan also allows for tourism
development on the estate adjacent to Hotel Westport and for the
development of 90 units of housing in the Demesne on the Golf Course
Road.

Labour’s councilor Keith Martin has previously expressed his concerns
at these developments at the July meeting on the Zoning when he
proposed that no building be allowed near the house and that plans for
tourism development at the Hotel Westport gate be abandoned but his
motion was not seconded by any other councilor.

“I am very concerned that the estate is being dismantled piece by
piece for development. If we allow this to continue there will be
very little left of the estate to preserve for future generations.”

Cllr Martin did go on to say that he was encouraged by the plans for
the rest of the estate for a visitor’s centre, tourist accommodation
on the current campsite areas and new attractions but that his main
concerns where in relation to the further incursion of the town into
the estate and the proposal for building near the house itself which
would destroy the historic core of the estate.

“I was very disappointed that every other councilor on Westport Town
Council is in favour of cutting up more of Westport House Estate for
development. I thought that maybe we had learned from the past and
from the recession that housing and development where not stable or
sustainable development.

“I am in favour of facilitating Westport House as a venue for tourism
and for music concerts and public events and to that end we are
working with the residents of Church Lane to allow access for trucks
and Lorries for these events to access the estate from there. This
would only be a couple of times a year for a few hours and the access
would only be for equipment that cannot be brought over the bridge at
Westport House.

In relation to the Colonel’s Wood development I was the councilor who
lead the original opposition to the idea of a nursing home there. I
compared its design and location to something akin to the Furher
Bunker and I stand by that. I am glad that this development will not
be going ahead. The whole project was just a get rich quick scheme
for Coilte.

“In relation to the Town Centre, of course there is too much land
zoned for housing, there always has been, but I am not in favour or
reopening the whole issue only a year after we finalized the last
plan. That plan protected the Town Core’s heritage and I was able to
protect the Bank of Ireland garden. I don’t want to open that can of
worms again. The whole plan will be up for review in less than four
years and we can have a look then and see where we stand regarding
housing lands.”

“The real problem as far as I am concerned lies outside the town in
the Environs plan where almost all the environs are zoned for even
more housing on lands that are not serviced by Westport Town Council.
Its bungalow bliss out there and you also have the ridiculous
situation of lands like the former coursing field still being zoned
for development. Development that will never come!

Cllr Martin is calling on people to make submissions on the plan
before the closing date of September 14th. There is no fee and
submissions can be made in writing or by email to Ann Moore, Town
Clerk, Westport Civic Offices, Westport, Mayo.

Agenda for next week's meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:35:00 +0000

AGENDA

SEPTEMBER MEETING OF WESTPORT TOWN COUNCIL

TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY 15^TH SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 5.30PM

01) To confirm Minutes of meeting of Westport Town Council held on

14^th July 2011;

02) To confirm Minutes of Special meeting of Westport Town Council held on 28^th July, 2011;

03) Planning;

04) To consider report dated 9^th September 2011 in accordance with Part 8

of the Local Government (Planning & Development) Regulations 2001 in respect of proposed Environmental Improvement Works at the Octagon;

05) Update on Roadwork's programme;

06) Tidy Towns Competition 2011;

07) Get Out There Festival 2011;

08) EU Mobility Week 2011;

09) To appoint Amenity Grant Committee 2011;

10) Conference;

11) Any Other Business

Make a submission on the future of Westport Co Mayo. Time is almost up.

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 23:35:00 +0000

Next Wednesday September 14^th is the closing date for submissions on the Westport Town Plan & the Westport Environs Plan.

The lands in Monamore/Drummindoo are not on the town sewerage scheme or town water supply. The roads in the area are already substandard and have no footpaths or street lighting

In the Town Development Plan there are no lands specifically zoned for recreation/amenity; in the Environs Plan there are 5 acres. Any sort of football organisation would need a minimum of 10 acres to meet current and future needs

We have 2 industrial parks in town, one is virtually empty and the other one is at 50% capacity. Throughout the town we had numerous empty commercial building and shops.

There are 882 houses/apartments which have planning permission but have not commenced construction. Under the new planning legislation applicants can extend their planning timelines by 5 years even if the land associated with the development is rezoned.

Per the recent census one in four houses in Westport are unoccupied and the town had a population of approximately 5,500 people. Using a very conservative estimate this would equate to at least 750 houses. This does not take into consideration the 5 unfinished housing estates/apartment blocks in the area.

The proposed N5 from Castlebar to Westport will run directly through Monamore/Drummindoo. The cost of these lands will be significantly higher if the zoning is changed from "Agriculture" to "Commercial/residential" thus increasing the cost to the tax-payer in multiples of the real value

To see the full report in relation to the latest stage of the Town & Environs Plan please click on the following link:

http://www.mayococo.ie/en/Planning/PlanningNews/StoryIfNoFilesToUpload,16723,en.aspx

If you would like to make a submission please send an e-mail to dkeane@mayococo.ie by next Wednesday September 14^th at 5pm.

Submission on Zonings

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:32:00 +0000

Labour's Cllr Martin is calling on Westport people to make submissions
on the new Town and Environ plan before the closing date of September
14th. The plan deals with Westport House, Knockranny/Colonel woods,
Westport Town and Environs.

Cllr Martin says the public need to be aware of what he calls "drastic
and controversial" zonings proposed in the plan.

Under the new zoning proposals for Westport House Demesne, a large
building such as a 140 bedroom hotel or a conference centre could be
built adjacent to Westport House. The plan also allows for tourism
development on the estate adjacent to Hotel Westport and for the
development of 90 units of housing in the Demesne on the Golf Course
Road.

Labour's councilor Keith Martin has previously expressed his concerns
at these developments at the July meeting on the Zoning when he
proposed that no building be allowed near the house and that plans for
tourism development at the Hotel Westport gate be abandoned but his
motion was not seconded by any other councilor.

"I am very concerned that the estate is being dismantled piece by
piece for development. If we allow this to continue there will be
very little left of the estate to preserve for future generations."

Cllr Martin did go on to say that he was encouraged by the plans for
the rest of the estate for a visitor's centre, tourist accommodation
on the current campsite areas and new attractions but that his main
concerns where in relation to the further incursion of the town into
the estate and the proposal for building near the house itself which
would destroy the historic core of the estate.

"I was very disappointed that every other councilor on Westport Town
Council is in favour of cutting up more of Westport House Estate for
development. I thought that maybe we had learned from the past and
from the recession that housing and development where not stable or
sustainable development.

"I am in favour of facilitating Westport House as a venue for tourism
and for music concerts and public events and to that end we are
working with the residents of Church Lane to allow access for trucks
and Lorries for these events to access the estate from there. This
would only be a couple of times a year for a few hours and the access
would only be for equipment that cannot be brought over the bridge at
Westport House.

In relation to the Colonel's Wood development I was the councilor who
lead the original opposition to the idea of a nursing home there. I
compared its design and location to something akin to the Furher
Bunker and I stand by that. I am glad that this development will not
be going ahead. The whole project was just a get rich quick scheme
for Coilte.

"In relation to the Town Centre, of course there is too much land
zoned for housing, there always has been, but I am not in favour or
reopening the whole issue only a year after we finalized the last
plan. That plan protected the Town Core's heritage and I was able to
protect the Bank of Ireland garden. I don't want to open that can of
worms again. The whole plan will be up for review in less than four
years and we can have a look then and see where we stand regarding
housing lands."

"The real problem as far as I am concerned lies outside the town in
the Environs plan where almost all the environs are zoned for even
more housing on lands that are not serviced by Westport Town Council.
Its bungalow bliss out there and you also have the ridiculous
situation of lands like the former coursing field still being zoned
for development. Development that will never come!

Cllr Martin is calling on people to make submissions on the plan
before the closing date of September 14th. There is no fee and
submissions can be made in writing or by email to Ann Moore, Town
Clerk, Westport Civic Offices, Westport, Mayo.

Welcome for new JLC proposals

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Labour's Cllr Keith Martin has welcomed the proposals published by the Minister for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation this afternoon in relation to the protection of lower-paid workers in the wake of the Feeney judgment on the JLC/ERO system.

The proposals, he said, lay strong foundations for the introduction of robust and effective legislation which will be prioritised early in the autumn.

The Feeney judgment, which found the JLC/ERO system to be unconstitutional, demanded a swift and imaginative response in order to secure and protect the rights and incomes of those workers in sectors of the economy governed by these wage setting mechanisms.

"These new proposals, particularly with reference to the adult rates and the Sunday working situation represent a substantial move to protect the interests of the lower paid.

"The proposals around the basic adult rates will permit JLCs to set a series of three adult rates to reflect years of service and/ or experience. This is important as this approach allows trade unions and employers, under the JLC system, the space to work out rates appropriate to specific sectors.

"The reliance on Sunday rates and the sacrifices made by those who work on Sundays will also be recognised and copper-fastened under new legislative arrangements. This welcome innovation will provide protection for those who work on a Sunday in the sectors concerned, and this protection is underpinned in legislation.

"A new Code of Practice, based on provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act (1997) will be given legal effect by the government in the new legislation. This Code of Practice will have the strength of enforcement at Labour Court level.

"Essentially, this will ensure that the JLC and REA systems are put on a safe and secure legal and constitutional footing and will allow for a strengthening of protective measures for those working in the JLC sectors."

Briefing Note on the Household Charge

noreply@blogger.com (Cllr Keith Martin) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:41:00 +0000

* The Memorandum of Understanding with the EU and IMF commits Ireland to the introduction of a property tax for 2012 and to an increase in the property tax for 2013.

* The introduction of the Household Charge is an interim measure and proposals for a full property tax will be considered by the Government in due course.

* The Household Charge will be €100 in 2012 (less than €2 a week).

* This charge is another step in reforming the way local authorities are funded; it follows the introduction of the charge on non-principal private residences (NPPR) in 2009.

* Local representatives can prioritise services, making funding more efficient, transparent and relevant to their community.

* It will fund local services such as fire and emergency services, libraries, street cleaning, lighting, planting etc.

*Up until now the Exchequer has contributed to the funding of these services but given the current difficult Exchequer position, the funding now needs to be collected locally through the introduction of this charge.

* It is expected to raise some €160 million - based on the number of properties expected to be liable to the charge. The amount raised will be dependent on actual collection rates and the costs incurred in collecting the charge.

* Every effort will be made to keep administrative costs to the minimum.

* Owners not occupiers will be liable.

* Monies raised will be paid into the Local Government Fund and will be allocated back to local authorities by the Minister in General Purpose Grants – this will ensure authorities with low population figures will not suffer unduly as a result.

* The liability date will be January 2012 and households will have three months to pay. Late payment penalties will apply thereafter (€10 a month).

* If the charge remains unpaid, it will remain attached to the property - if a property is sold the new owner becomes liable for outstanding monies.

* This charge has nothing to do with water charges. There will be no flat rate water charge and the Minister will announce plans for the water metering programme in autumn.

Collection Methods:

* Collected by LGMA (Local Government Management Agency).

* Based on the principles of the NPPR charge and its successful collection method.

* Post or website (once off or direct debit four times a year).

* Four overriding principles:

1. Self declaration basis;

2. Administration costs to be kept to a minimum;

3. Late payment penalties;

4. If remains unpaid, charge will remain attached to the property - if a property is sold the new owner becomes liable for outstanding monies.

Exemptions:

1. Properties that are part of the trading stock of a business (not sold or not generated an income);

2. Social housing, including voluntary and cooperative housing units;

3. Owned by Government/Health Service Executive;

4. Owned by a Charity;

5. Properties where commercial rates apply;

6. Where a person is forced to leave their house due to long-term mental or physical infirmity (elderly person that has moved into a nursing home).

Waivers:

1. Those in receipt of mortgage interest supplement;

2. Those in certain category 3 and 4 unfinished housing estates (building, planning, control issues and public safety issues or where developer not contactable and there are public safety issues).

Councillor Keith Martin's website

LinkedIn Password Reset Notification

LinkedIn

HSE INVITE REPEATED

Post Office payments

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Sky high prices means planes are cheaper than trains

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Mayo Labour Party meeting

Invitation to connect on LinkedIn

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Journalists wanted!

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Residents of Pinewoods, St Mary's Crescent, Kings Hill, New Road

Submission

Letter to the editor

Westport House Submissions

Agenda for next week's meeting

Make a submission on the future of Westport Co Mayo. Time is almost up.

Submission on Zonings

Welcome for new JLC proposals

Briefing Note on the Household Charge