Outspoken Meade says he’ll fight cause for rural Meath
COUNCILLOR LOSES WHIP OVER VOTE ON LAYTOWN/ BETTYSTOWN PROPOSAL
OFTEN outspoken councillor, Paddy Meade, has lost the Fine Gael whip on Meath County Council for what he claims is his ‘support of rural villages and areas’ within the council.
‘I’ve been in the party for 12 years and I’m still in my mid 20s. The party means a lot to me and my family but I can’t stand by and watch the shenanigans that have been going on. It’s just not right.’
The councillor from Lobinstown got himself into hot water last week when he voted against a motion in respect of Meath County Council calling on the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to recognise Laytown, Bettystown, Mornington and Donacarney as individual villages for the purpose of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Members of the Laytown/Bettystown area council had already discussed the matter at a previous meeting and the majority said it would be ‘devisive’ - as Laytown/Bettystown/Donacarney/ Mornington has already been declared a ‘ town’ and a distinct district.
However, Cllr Sharon Tolan brought the debate to full council and it was passed on a 20-19 vote, with Cllr Meade voting against it, saying it would impact on other smaller areas in the district and their chances of funding.
Now, he is determined to let Minister Heather Humphries know the score.
‘I will be writing to the minister to inform her of this decision in my role as Cathaoirleach of the Laytown/Bettystown area,’ he stated.
He says there were 15 areas in the county of Meath who received funding under the Town and Village scheme, which he says is designed to assist smaller areas.
Places like Lobinstown, Julianstown, Bellewstown, Drumconrath and Duleek all benefited, but he’s concerned that they’ll lose out in the future because of the vote.
‘We need to be united on this as a local council. We need to fight for big money for Laytown/ Bettystown/Donacarney/Mornington because it has been declared a town.
‘ The council are giving €700,000 for a community facility for the area, there’s over €1m for the beach development. I asked at the council meeting if we vote on ‘splitting’ the area, that the townland of Morningtown runs to the edge of the Neptune hotel, an area most would consider to be the centre of Bettystown, so where is the boundary between these areas and where would the money go?
‘So, are we giving €700,000 to an area with a ‘population’ of 2,000/ 2,500 people if Bettystown stands alone?’
He fears confusion at departmental level will lead to major issues with the coastal district in terms of future funding projects.
‘Are we trying to get money as independent, small areas and also as one big town?. Laytown/ Bettystown is the third biggest town in Meath after Navan and Ashbourne and should stand on that. We need a swimming pool, a public park, a large community facilility, all that is big money and we are looking for ‘coppers’ from the Town and Village Scheme - vital funds of €20,000, €30,000 and €50,000 that would make a difference for rural places in this district. We should not be taking that money away from them. It’s not fair.’