Westmeath Comhairle Dail Ceanntair Meeting this Sunday 22nd April

Posted by Westmeath Comhairle Dail Ceanntair

The next meeting of Westmeath Comhairle Dail Ceanntair will take place this Sunday Night 22nd April 2012 at 8pm in the Pollard Arms Hotel, Castlepollard. All members are invited to attend this Meeting and will be very welcome.

The Guest Speaker at the meeting will be Dara Calleary TD, Fianna Fail Spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence. We ask all members to make a special effort to attend this meeting as we continue to renew and revitalise our Organisation.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday Night.

Keena disappointed over Rural Water 2012 Allocation

Posted by Cllr Frankie Keena.

Keena disappointed over Rural Water 2012 allocation

This week Cllr. Frankie Keena said that he is hugely disappointed with the 72% reduction in the Rural Water Scheme allocation to Westmeath County Council by the FG/Lab Government for 2012. The total 2012 allocation of €288k to WCC compares with €980k in 2011.
This programme covers all new group water & sewerage schemes and also small scheme improvement works to local authority water and sewerage schemes. It is important for the public to be aware that due to this massive reduction in funding no new works will be started this year, he stated. The small funding provided will only provide for the completion of existing schemes throughout the county.
This is another indication as to the negative way this Government is treating people living in rural Ireland. So far small rural schools are being hit, rural Garda stations are being closed, turf cutters are not being allowed anymore to cut turf in SAC bogs and we have the proposed septic tank charges being implemented by Minister Phil Hogan, he declared.
It is ironic to say that on one hand the Minister is introducing septic tank charges for rural dwellers and on the other hand he has not provided any funding for pending group sewerage schemes to those who want to get rid of their septic tanks. This is really penalizing the rural dweller twice in these areas, said Cllr. Keena.
Examples of some schemes in the Athlone area that will not progress this year due to no funding from the Government are the group water scheme from Baylin to Mount Temple and the group sewerage schemes in Ballykeeran, he said.
It has also disheartened the enthusiasm of residents in the Moydrum / Bliary areas with their plans for a group sewerage scheme, although this is still only at an infancy stage, he concluded.

Motion to Westmeath County Council

Posted by Cllr Ken Glynn.

Following my recent motion on the poop and scoop bins which generated great interest I have submitted the following motion for full meeting of Westmeath County Council.

Call on Westmeath County Council to bring forward a policy for the provision of signage and scoop bins to deal with the growing problem of dog fowling particularly in residential areas which are often used by walkers.
I will continue to update you on any further progress.