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Who is in charge of the Sligo Town?

category sligo | miscellaneous | news report author Thursday November 13, 2008 22:48author by Ray Report this post to the editors

DECISION making in local government in Sligo town is suspended indefinitely at the moment as the fallout from last week’s walkout by staff from a borough council meeting continues, prompting the question: IS ANYONE RUNNING THE TOWN RIGHT NOW?

Last Monday 11 council officials walked out of a meeting following an allegation by Independent Socialist councillor Declan Bree. And now meetings of the council have effectively been put on hold by County Manager Hubert Kearns, who has overall responsibilty for the local authorities.

Director of Services (Mr. Breen) and ten staff, including the Town Clerk, Mr. John McNabola, left the meeting as controversy again erupted over proposals that the Borough Council borrow the sum of €1.3 million as its contribution towards the construction of a footbridge across the Garoavouge from the apartment block beside the Glasshouse Hotel to Markievicz Road, following a request from a devloper.

The County Manager issued a statement on Friday saying that the “unacceptable and bullying behaviour” and that “it would be unwise to hold a meeting of the council in the circumstances until acceptable standards of conduct are agreed”.

This decision by County Manager Hubert Kearns to effectively suspend meetings of Sligo Borough Council indefinitely has been described as “setting a dangerous precedent” by the man at the centre of the controversy, Independent Socialist councillor Declan Bree.

Cllr Bree said, “Last week we witnessed a walkout of officials from a council meeting because they disagreed with comments I made and now we have this further interference in the democratic process. “Walk-outs or hysterics by officials will not divert me from representing the interests of the ordinary people of this community.”

He said he had no apologies to make for what he said last week. “At last week’s meeting I made it clear that there was significant public concern about the fact that certain officials and councillors wanted to hand over €1.3 million of public monies to a private development company to enrich its shareholders. It’s outrageous that officials would recommend that the borough council would bail out this particular development company to the tune of €1.3 million.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1110/1....html

http://www.sligoweekender.com/news/story/?trs=mhgbidgbe...=news

http://www.sligoweekender.com/news/story/?trs=mhgbidgbo...=news

http://www.sligochampion.ie/news/walkout-protest-i-did-....html

author by Helenapublication date Sun Jan 25, 2009 00:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Heard Johnathon Mc Goldrick on Ocean the other morning looking for funding for the North side Community Centre on Forthill yet his party collegue Jude Devins is willing for the taxpayers of the town to hand over 1.3 million to a developer wouldn't it suit them better to be both working together for the people of the North Ward on real issues .

author by Lolapublication date Mon Dec 01, 2008 15:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors

What are you talking about - there are other more important things in the area? Like What ?

Someone earlier said that we are getting O Connell Street done up.

Well wouldnt that be sweet? The tourists walk down the newly revamped O connel Street and straight out onto the Sligo Central Building Site. Like it or not this Development is at the heart of the town. Developing it as a proper centrpiece for the town is a key strategic infrastrucutral imperartive for local tourism.

Anybody who knows Sligo knows that when something goes on the back burner here, it goes into the slow lane for a minimum of twenty years. We cant afford to have this town looking like a half built kip with deteriorating Building sites in the mioddle of it for a couple of decades

This IS a priority infrastructural project in the heart of the town. Finish that site off !

author by Katspublication date Mon Dec 01, 2008 14:56author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This has been my question since the onset of the farce. Don't mind the bridge it's not of any infrastructrual significance. The money would be well spent on other issues in the area of which there are many. As we know home improvment grants for the disabled and elderly are needed.
Who's making the decisions at council level right now? That's a real question by the way. If anyone knows pass it on thanks. Given the times we live in I have a huge concern about local Government not functioning. Now is not the time to walk out of council. It's making a mockery of Democracy.

author by Lolapublication date Sat Nov 29, 2008 20:00author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Building the bridge will provide work, God knows, we need that.
Building the bridge is an infrastructural project. We should focus our building efforts on infrastructural projects in order to enhance the viability of the country and to keep the builders in work. When the builders are kept in work the breakfast roll makers are also kept in work. God knows , we need more breakfast rolls.

I dont care if the guy proposed to build it himself originally, we need to be creative in how we spend our money and to me this is a good project. It will make that part of the town that bit more accessible it will make the apartments more attractive to buyers and most of all, it will be one step closer to getting the project finished and for us not having to look at a building site in the heart of the town for the next twenty years.

I would rather be looking at that ould bleedin tip the Silver Swan than to look at a building site there for ther remainder of my relative youth.

Let them build the bridge then give them the money in credits to be spent on developing the site to finished product.

author by Lilithpublication date Sat Nov 29, 2008 15:38author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Could Common Purpose organisation have taken over here too.

author by Christypublication date Fri Nov 28, 2008 17:23author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Ned I agree with virtually all of your statement but I wouldnt use Tabby as a good example of how a councillor should behave

author by ned greenpublication date Fri Nov 28, 2008 16:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The Mayor of Sligo has announced that there will be no meeting of the Corpo again next week ,this she says is too allow a further cooling off period.I as an ordinary citizen of Sligo condemn her and her fellow Councillors policy of appeasment of a Tyrant.Remember Munich 1938,If another County Manager any where else in Ireland acted in the same cavelier manner as Gaulietier Kearans, im certain that those elected representatives would have the bottle to stand up for themselves and the public they represent ,unlike the Sligo Councillors,shame on them im sure former Conncillors like Tabby Mc donagh ,john Lynch ,P A Mc Hugh etc are spinning in their graves ,when a Declan Bree is been vilified for asking pertinent questions from officials as to how taxpayers money is being spent.

author by breakfast roll man - nonepublication date Thu Nov 27, 2008 20:43author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Well the people did march to the town hall last year over the issue of the fair green, so why not on a issue of spending tax payers money on a footbridge across to an apartment block, ,who is it going to benefit, the developers, it certainly not the public. We have 4 bridges across the Garavogue. It would be a much better idea to spend the money on O'Connel Street which is very run down and is an eye sore.

author by lolapublication date Thu Nov 27, 2008 20:00author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Sure thing Paddy, Sligo is going to march on town hall...right!

Maybe if you put on a Westlife gig and a few cans of Tuborg at the venue youd get a couple of hundred school girls to turn up.

You say you are born and bred in Sligo then what is your position on getting those feckin apartments finished and getting the bridge in ?

author by paddy the plastererpublication date Thu Nov 27, 2008 16:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors


I think the people of the town should back Declan Bree. I know there are 3 other Councellors who also are asking questions about the necessity of this bridge. I was born and raised in the town of Sligo and can trace my ancestory back to 4 generations. The County Manager should not be allowed to be dictator and his officials too. I will certainly be looking to see who is supporting the 4 councellors who have voiced their concern on this footbridge, I just cant wait for the local elections next year, the people of Sligo will be casting their votes and I know some of the same councellors ,who have not spoken out in support, do not have any back bone to stand up against these officials. I saw the same situation with the Fair Green until the people put pressure on the local councellors and thats what needs to done here. Get marching on the Town Hall.

author by paddy the plasterer - nonepublication date Thu Nov 27, 2008 15:49author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Delighted that Brian Scanlon had the sense to leave the Green Party, they have sold their soul to the hightest bidder and for what a few crumbs thrown from the Fainna Fail Party. I know I will never vote for the them again. They just like the PD's will go down the swanee.

author by Blown inpublication date Fri Nov 21, 2008 07:51author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I moved into Sligo twenty years ago. Down the years it strikes me as being a town that makes progress sluggishly. The people on the town council talk repetitively and take decisions slowly. Townspeople waited years for a third bridge and for a footbridge linking the Cranmore side with a narrow lane that goes past Calry church towards the hospital. Malfunctioning chimneys in a Cranmore estate weren't repaired properly for a long time. They did a good job restoring and reconstructing an old school turned into an arts centre, but some years later decided to close it for eighteen months so they could rebuild it again and attach a museum to it. The town library is an old church and much too small, but they haven't indicated any intention to replace it with a new purpose-built one soon. The so-called Market Yard, where a Friday market is held, is clogged with cars and on market days is pedestrian-unfriendly, like so many other parts of the town. Collectively the town authorities seem a dopey lot. Long-term residents tell me that major shopping streets are owned by about half a dozen big property owners and that rental rates on premises are terribly high, so it's difficult to start up a small business.

author by tedpublication date Thu Nov 20, 2008 22:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

of course its a good idea but its not the tax payers that should be paying for it, its the guy that owes all the new apartments who gave a commitment to do it should pay for it

author by Sligo Headpublication date Thu Nov 20, 2008 00:26author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This has got nothing to do with politics. This is about people who have to live in Sligo Town and want to cross the Garavogue. That Bridge is a good idea and a great spot for it, right opposite Mollies and the Champion Office.

Are we going to have to wait twenty years for that Bridge to get built ?

It took twenty years to get the road surfaced in Cartron, Is that where we are now , Twenty years later?

author by frank - nonepublication date Wed Nov 19, 2008 23:04author address author phone Report this post to the editors

brian(cake) scanlon had resigns from the green party, I hope he had the sense now to go back to were he belongs in the labour party

author by ned greenpublication date Mon Nov 17, 2008 20:21author address author phone Report this post to the editors

The refusal of the County Manager not to allow staff to attend Corpo meetings, over the bridge debacle,effectively means the de facto abolition of the Corpo ,without Ministerial Degree,and the establishment of a one man dictatorship to run Sligo Town without dissent.

author by View on Sligopublication date Mon Nov 17, 2008 14:38author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Following on the recent story re: €1.3 Million footbridge, at the meeting where this was first aired the first public representatives to oppose the footbridge and any public money being spent on it, were the 3 SF cllrs. However, the subsequent rumble between Cllr. Bree and officials seems to have relegated the substantive issue of the footbridge. Never let it be said that the local media wouldnt ignore the actual facts for a good headline....

author by Fay Curridpublication date Sat Nov 15, 2008 14:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I agree with Sligo Head. I think that such a project qualifies as infrastructural. In fact I would use it every day as a pleasant deviation from my usual walk to work. It would also help to enhance the attractiveness of those apartments when they eventually do go on market.. This whole project is an important centrepiece for the town. The council should help to keep it on the table.
Im not on for giving the developer a handout. If we give them money before the bridge is up then that money will be used to pay off fat cat directors right before they pull the plug on the project all together and we get to look at that building site for a couple of decades. I have no doubt.

But if they really wish to continue on with the project and need funding for the bridge then they should get it, as soon as they finish the bridge.

author by mandypublication date Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:52author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Frank, in fairness to the shinners they have been extremely vocal on local radio against this attempt to prop up the developers. Both Gibbons and MacManus snr have been strident in making their views known. The shinners, like Bree are totally opposed to it

author by Sligo Headpublication date Sat Nov 15, 2008 00:18author address author phone Report this post to the editors

We should give them the money,

Right after they finish the bridge.

author by frank - sligo bornpublication date Fri Nov 14, 2008 20:37author address author phone Report this post to the editors

with SF 3 cllrs on the council why are they not up in arms about gaving all this tax payers to a private company, there not a word out of them

author by lulupublication date Fri Nov 14, 2008 09:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Now it's the time for 'ordinary people' to show what they want done with their money

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