Mitchell new Cathaoirleach
CLLR Derek Mitchell was elected as Cathaoirleach of Greystones Municipal District last Tuesday afternoon.
Cllr Lourda Scott was elected as Leas- Cathaoirleach. The meeting took place in Shoreline Leisure Centre to facilitate social distancing.
‘I am honoured and delighted with this,’ said Cllr Mithcell. ‘My aims for the year are to aid the recovery of jobs and business in the area,and to continue progress on the Delgany/Blacklion cycleway and road, and the path to Kilcoole Station.’
He said that he also aims to continue progress on the frequency of the Dart, increase of the Park and Ride, and N11 bus lanes, as well as the installation of electric vehicle charging points in Greystones.
He hopes to see the harbour project completed, and get benefits and jobs from the Codling Windfarm off the coast by establishing a connection to it.
‘I aim also to limit the regrowth in the new development plan until the present massive growth has been absorbed and facilities provided.’
Outgoing Cathaoirleach Tom Fortune had earlier welcomed everyone to the meeting, and reflected on his own year in the chair.
‘ This has been a very different year.’ he said. ‘I would like to begin by passing my condolences to all families whose family member has died from Covid-19 and to wish all those who are sick from Covid-19 a speedy recovery.’ He said that the virus is demanding that we reflect on how we live our lives and carry out our daily routines. ‘We are now three months into the actions we need to take,’ said Cllr Fortune.
‘It has dominated everything and made our normal way of life redundant, we are now focused on the new normal. While it is frighting in many ways, it has also given us an opportunity. Thanks to all the frontline workers across all services for the great work they have done in very difficult circumstances. I also want to record my appreciation to Wicklow County on all the great work they have done, also to all the volunteers across our county. The past 100 days have been extremely busy and we have learned and got comfortable with a new way of communicating and holding meetings.’
He thanked the District Manater Michael
Nicholson and all the staff for their co-operation and support.
Cllr Fortune said that they had achieved general maintenance works across the district, including various new paths and roadworks, bus stop improvement works, and drainage improvement works.
Three drinking water fountains were installed in Greystones, and a new access mat and new ramp on Greysotnes south beach.
‘We were awarded the Blue Flag on the South Beach which is a great achievement,’ said Cllr Fortune. ‘Greystones tidy towns were awarded a silver medal in the national tidy towns awards. A big thanks to the tidy town’s groups in Greystones, Kilcoole, Delgany and Newcastle for the great work they do on behalf of their communities.’
He said that some challenges ahead include the completion of the harbour, the county development plan, parking, a transport plan, and infrastructure in Kilcoole, Newcastle and Delgany. ‘We supported a number of activities over the past year: Christmas Lights, Kilcoole Music Festival, Greystones Town Maps, Battle Of The Bands Competition, Twinning, Tidy Towns in Greystones, Kilcoole, Delgany and Newcastle, and Greystones 20/20,’ said Cllr Fortune.
‘A big thank you to the hard working committee of 2020 who have worked hard on future suggested plans for Greystones, also for website offering information to the local business’s in these difficult times. Covid-19 cancelled our St Patrick’s day parade in the week leading up to it. Due to Covid we sent out grants such as tidy estates and others by post.’
He said that a solution must be found to facilitate local fishermen at the harbour. ‘ There are some things that can be done better,’ said Cllr Fortune. ‘ There should be increased delegation of powers to the district council including budgets. The original theory of the district council system should be fully implemented. There is a gap in the area of communication and respect towards the public representative and this should be resolved immediately. ‘Finally I would like to thank my fellow councillors and to thank them for their co-operation and assistance to me during the past year.’