Local Papers Commentary
The Mayo News - 18 September 2002
By PJ
Sep 18, 2002, 14:26

Castlebar councillors being "treated like fools"
Members of Castlebar Town Council have expressed deep dissatisfaction with the way taxi ranks have been introduced in the town without their knowledge or any consultation with them. Councillors stated that despite months of negotiations with concerned residents and business people in the town, council officials and the Gardai disregarded their groundwork when decisions were being taken on the location of the taxi ranks. Cllr. Eoin Garavan said "We are being treated like fools and we are getting a bad press as a result. We are being blamed for this fiasco, yet no one will tell us who made the decisions, everyone involved just runs for cover and there is no explanation for accountability".

Halting site planned for Westport town?
It now seems likely that Westport town may soon be forced to provide a halting site for members of the travelling community. Castlebar already has a fully serviced halting site and Ballina and Ballinrobe who have over the year provided housing for traveller families have been critical of Westport's failure to play its part in meeting travellers needs. In the past, proposals to provide a halting site at various locations in the town have been rejected by a majority of councillors. However, though councillors will still retain the right to be informed about halting site proposals, they will no longer have the right to veto plans.

Minister opens €7.5m in facilities in Mayo
On his first visit to the county as Minister for The Environment, Mr Martin Cullen TD. has officiated at the official opening of a number of new facilities within the county including the new Aasleigh Bridge across the Erriff River near Leenaune and a pilot water treatment plant in Bohola. In Castlebar Minister Cullen performed the official opening of a regional state-of-the-art training centre for local authority water personnel from Counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and also announced his approval of contract documents for the Castlebar Environs Sewage Scheme.

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