ROW OVER URBAN BOUNDARY EXTENSION



Connaught Telegraph 2 October 1996


Councillor walks out over 'a quite trivial' exchange

A member of Castlebar Urban Council, Mr. Frank Durcan, walked out of a meeting of the authority following 'a quite trivial' exchange with the town clerk, Mr. John Condon, over the proposed extension of the urban boundary.

During the course of a discussion on the matter, Mr. Durcan stated there was no point in the council making application for a boundary extension if the area did not include the town's industrial zone.

The clash occurred when Mr. Condon said that Mr. Durcan himself admitted that Castlebar Urban Council would never get the industrial sector included in the extension.

Mr. Durcan took exception to the comment. "As a Castlebarman, I am not standing for this." He then turned to the chairman, Mr. Eoin Garavan. "I want you to have that remark withdrawn."

At that point, he got to his feet and left the meeting.

Mr. Paddy McGuinness asked the chairman what remark had caused such offense to Mr. Durcan.

Mr. Garavan replied: "It's quite trivial really. Mr. Durcan said we would not get the industrial sector included in the extension if we applied for it. Offense was taken when the town clerk pointed out this self-admission by Mr. Durcan."

Earlier in the meeting, Mr. Durcan was strong in his views that the industrial areas of Moneenbradagh and Drumconlon should be included in any new application for a Castlebar urban boundary extension. He said he was not in favour of an application which did not included the industrial areas.

He explained: "We should go for the whole thing or nothing at all. With a General Election looming, we are in the ideal situation to put the squeeze on the politicians.

"They are the ones responsible for this matter not going through in the first place. It's crazy when you think that we are one of the smallest county towns in the country.

"Elected members living in other towns like to see Castlebar kept small. If we do not get our full extension, there will soon be more people living outside the urban area than inside it.

"It is ridiculous when you think that we, as members of Castlebar Urban Council, are elected by people we cannot represent. Furthermore, we have no control over the industrial areas to which we supply services.

"The people on the ground should stand up and get what they deserve. If a plebescite was taken in the morning, the people living outside the existing town boundary would be in favour of the full extension.

"We should support the full application or nothing at all."

Mr. Eoin Garavan, chairman, said he agreed in principle with Mr. Durcan. "The reality, however, is that if we make an application on Mr. Durcan's basis, it would be refused."

Mr. Johnny Mee said the industrial areas of Moneen and the Golden Mile were part of the natural hinterland of Castlebar. "I would like to see them all included in the extension. But we have to deal with reality."

NOT CONVINCED

Mr. Mee said he was not convinced the matter was a political one. "If we insist on getting the two industrial areas, we may end up getting nothing at all. Half a loaf is better than no bread."

Mr. Sean Bourke said Mayo County Council rejected the full application before. "If we resubmit the full application, it will be rejected. We should application for what is suggested. When we get that, perhaps then we can go for te full lot."

Mr. John Condon, town clerk, said the previous application, which had been refused, consisted of an area of 2,500 acres and would have taken an additional 1,800 people into the urban area.

The new application would give Castlebar an increased urban area of 2,300 acres and bring the population up by 1,600 people.

Mr. Paddy McGuinness said he agreed with Mr. Durcan's views and complimented him on his preparation for the debate. "I feel the extension suggested to us is a farce from a planning point of view.

"I would support Councillor Durcan if I felt we could make a political issue of this. But I don't think we can.

"I will go along with the advise which will give us 80 per cent of what we seek. But I am not happy about it. The dice is loaded against us. You wonder if we have any future at all when so much is being done to strengthen the county council."

Mr. Blackie Gavin believed the urban council should 'go for the full hog.'

"The people who elected us are fed up with the Boundary Commission. All we get is report after report. It's all bull."

Senator Paddy Burke said he supported the suggested application. "The best way to get what we want is to get it by piecemeal fashion."

Senator Burke said Castlebar Urban Council should acknowledge the input of Mayo County Council into the development of the town.

He cited the example of the new roads, water supplies, footpaths and public lighting. "They have helped to make it one of the most progressive towns in Europe. Castlebar has got its share of funding. The town has not been inhibited over the past number of years by it not being enlarged."

ECONOMIC MADNESS

Mr. Durcan said it was economic madness for the council not to stand up and fight for the inclusion of the industrial estate. "There has been a complete change of mind by members on this issue since the last meeting. The newly elected members are partaking in a decision on a matter they knew very little about.

"They were not circulated with a document setting out exactly what we are looking for.

"Our annual domestic grant would be significantly increased if we had such industries as Volex, Baxter and Bord Telecom under our wing. This is the most beneficial sector for us.

"If we only take agricultural land, we won't be able to service that land because there would be no increased income.

"The industrial zone is an expanding area. There will be 300 houses built out there over the next ten years.

"We should not allow the expansion of our town to be stymied."

Mr. Condon said everybody would be delighted to take in the industrial area. "But what would be a financial advantage to us would be a financial disaster to Mayo County Council."

Mr. Garavan said if moral entitlement was the yardstick, then the council would plough ahead for the full boundary. "But the political reality is that we must take what we get."



Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996