Most councillors ‘hostile towards harbour campaign’
CUTTING STATEMENT FROM ACTION GROUP
A SPOKESMAN for the Greystones ‘Give us Back Our Harbour’ group has claimed that most incumbent councillors have been ‘ largely unsupportive and hostile’.
Fiachra Etchingham made the comment last week in relation to a community plan put forward for the harbour area last year.
Deputy Stephen Donnelly and Cllr. Tom Fortune ran a campaign last year to develop a plan to landscape the harbour area. The plan was presented to Greystones Town Council and developers Sisk.
While they costed their plans at €300,000, this was roundly dismissed by the developers and other councillors.
While the development of the area collapsed with the economy, Sisk has indicated that it will build the residential part of the scheme now that the housing market is recovering.
‘Cllr. Tom Fortune has worked to resolve this problem,’ said Fiachra Etchingham, ‘ but the other county councillors were largely unsupportive and hostile.’
He added that the candidates running in the forthcoming local election have listened to the concerns of the community.
‘ The candidates found the meetings useful, as we were able to explain the real reason for the delay, which is the failure of Wicklow County Council to properly administer the harbour contract in the interest of the public, and to suggest actions they could take if elected to ensure that the community plan for the harbour will be implemented speedily.’
Cllr. Grainne McLoughlin wrote to Sisk Chairman George Sisk last month, appealing for the matter of Greystones Harbour to be moved forward.
‘I find it appalling that we are not being kept in the loop about what is happening,’ she said. ‘Neither I nor my colleagues have concrete future proposals or answers.’