NEWS ROUND-UP
Pedestrian crossing hazard at Ballygawley
The recently installed pedestrian crossing opposite the community park in Ballygawley urgently needs to be lit up at night as it is a hazard to traffic and pedestrians, according to a local councillor. Cllr Thomas Healy said the recent installation of a pedestrian crossing on the main Ballygawley to Carraroe route, the R284, was “a welcome piece of safety infrastructure”.
But he went on: “Unfortunately, however, neither the two new public lights nor the crossing’s own two lights have been connected to the network as of yet. There are temporary warning lights on the crossing but they have not been functioning for a few days recently. “This has resulted in a number of motorists hitting the raised crossing without any warning. This is a major hazard for drivers and any pedestrians using the crossing after dark.”
The Sinn Fein councillor said he had contacted Sligo County Council on this issue asking them to immediately replace the temporary warning lights and to provide additional signage on both approaches.
“The local area engineer has also agreed to contact the ESB and insist that they prioritise the switching on of the main lights.
“I am delighted to see the temporary lights operational again and will be monitoring additional signage and the switching on of the main lights,” he said.
€14,000 raised by Dromore West Sings
Dromore West Sings raised €14,005 for charity with their Christmas event.
Dromore West Sings for Christmas was an online evening of tunes and stories which brought together the west Sligo community not only living there, but the many who are also living elsewhere.
The final figure for the fundraising was confirmed at the weekend. After expenses and fees were paid, the money was split between the Sligo Hospital Oncology Unit Trust (SHOUT) and the Dromore West community garden. In total Dromore West Sings raised €26,355 in 2020, having previously donated €12,300 to Pieta House in May.
Drumming driver’s drug test is positive
A driver warrested by gardaí at the weekend after being found with cannabis and testing positive for drugs was stopped by gardaí when they observed him drumming with drumsticks on the steering wheel whilst driving.
Gardaí say the incident happened on the Strandhill Road, Sligo, on Sunday.
They say that after noticing what the driver was at, the vehicle was stopped and searched and some cannabis was found in car.
The driver also failed the roadside drug test, returning positive for cannabis.
He was arrested and brought to Ballymote Garda Station where further tests were carried out. He must now await the result of these tests and faces a possible court appearance in the near future.
Local Greens welcome CETA deal referral
Local Green Party representatives have welcomed the decision to refer the outstanding clauses in the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), between the EU and Canada, to the Oireachtas sub-committee. The decision has been welcomed by the North West Branch of the Green party who were informed of the decision last week along with other party members in a statement by party leader Eamon Ryan following discussion between the government partners.
Some 98% of CETA is already provisionally in operation. The outstanding issue relates to a clause that allows corporations to sue the state for policy and regulatory shifts that threaten their profits in an Investor Court System (ICS). In referring the issue to the Oireachtas sub-committee before it returns to the Dáil, the opportunity has been provided for all parties to have their say. However, the Dáil has a challenge ahead of it. If it rejects ICS, the whole EU-Canada Trade deal – seven years in the making – falls. If it fails to ratify CETA the agreement continues its provisional application – without ICS. If it ratifies CETA nothing will change immediately, as all the EU member states must ratify before the ICS kicks in. This doesn’t look likely in the next couple of years.
The local Greens constituency group’s Energy spokesman Johnny Gogan said: “This is the correct and the democratic thing to do.” Speaking at a national party members meeting on January 30, he called for a move in favour of Oireachtas scrutiny, saying: “As a former chairperson of Love Leitrim, I am particularly aware of the tactics of corporations – energy and mining corporations in particular – in strong-arming government in the overriding of the interests of citizens and communities.”
Bláithín Gallagher, Sligo-Leitrim constituency spokesperson and national co-ordinator of the Green Party, said: “What has happened here is an expression of the ethos of the Green Party. We are a membership led organisation that believes in regular consultation with its members, particularly on such significant issues as CETA and the other trade deals that are in progress. “Unless it is an urgent life or death bill, we need to take our time. We have a responsibility to the electorate to look at the possible impacts of our decisions on all sectors of society, for this and future generations. We need to examine closely whether any trade agreements we enter into are really socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.”
Two men charged with Sligo robbery
Two men have been charged and have appeared in court on charges in connection with a robbery in Sligo on Sunday night.
Gardaí have said that two men entered a shop on the Bundoran Road brandishing a knife at approximately 10pm, as staff were closing the premises.
The two men fled the scene, but subsequently the Gardaí arrested two men in connection with the crime.
They were held in custody at Ballymote Garda Station for questioning while garda investigations continued.
The men arrested were charged in connection with the robbery on Tuesday and brought before the district court where they were further remanded.
Businesses have voted for a new BID term
Sligo businesses have voted overwhelmingly for a continuation of Sligo BID from 2021 to 2025.
Over the past few weeks, businesses received ballot papers to vote on extending the BID Business Improvement District scheme.
The results of the ballot have now been released with a vote of 80% in favour of a continuation of the scheme.
Sligo made history in 2016 by becoming the first BID in the West of Ireland. Since 2016, Sligo BID has been helping the town reinvent itself, tackle issues and thrive as a tourism and business hub. A BID is a defined area within which businesses pay a levy to fund projects within the district’s boundaries. There are five BIDs in Ireland and more than 1,500 in the US and 345 in the UK and, after five years, all BIDs must ask their business community to vote for a continuation of the scheme.
The Sligo BID team has said that over the next five years it has many plans, including increasing the promotion of Sligo to attract new business and increase footfall as well as supporting events that drive Sligo’s brand.
Sligo BID CEO Gail McGibbon said: “We want to extend our sincerest thanks to all of the businesses who voted for a continuation of Sligo BID. We know that the past year in particular has been extraordinarily difficult and all businesses have suffered, some significantly more than others, and there are still tough times ahead. But we are determined to help Sligo recover from the current economic downturn and to continue to thrive as a tourism and business hub.” Sligo BID ballot committee chair Ann Clinton said: “Because of Covid-19, we were not able to visit businesses or hold public meeting in the way we would have normally done. Instead, we reached out to our members through letters, phone calls and social media which proved very effective.
“We are delighted that Sligo businesses have put their confidence in us and this vote empowers us to continue the work that we started and allow us to progress new projects and improvements,” she said.
Sligo properties in auction next month
Seven properties in Sligo will go under the hammer at an online auction next month. They are part of a catalogue of 200 properties across the country launched by BidX1, a digital property investment platform.
38 Sraid na Mara, a semi-detached four-bedroom house located on the Sea Road, is listed on the site with a guide price of €235,000. 12 Rathbraughan Park in Ballytivnan is a three-bedrom home which requires some refurbishment and is listed with a price of €65,000.
19 High Street is a mixed use building comprising of a ground floor retail unit (Cash Savers) and a pair of two bedroom apartments overhead. The guiding price for this property is €140,000.
48 Cnoc Na Si in Tubbercurry, a detached three-bedroom house close to all amenities is listed for €115,000. A multi-unit investment of apartments 2, 8, 9, 10 and 11 Cathedral View, The Lungy, is listed for €200,000. The apartments comprise of four onebedroom units and one two-bedroom unit.
Apartment 3, Riverside Apartments, Rockwood Parade, is a first-floor one-bedroom unit with a guide price of €70,000.
Likewise Apartment 23, Clarion Village, Ballinode, a second-floor three-bedroom apartment, is also listed at €70,000.
All properties require a €4,500 bidding deposit and is refundable if the bidder is unsuccessful.
All properties are available to view on www.bidx1.com, where registration for bidding and offers can also be made.
‘No threat’ to helicopter rescue service
An assurance that there was no threat to the rescue helicopter service based at Sligo Airport at Strandhill was given in the Dail last week to Deputy Marian Harkin.
The Sligo TD again raised the helicopter issue with Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Hildegard Naughton, and called for the funding needed for Sligo Airport to complete works mandated by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA).
Deputy Harkin made the point that although there was a commitment from the Tánaiste, and a subsequent meeting between the Department, the airport authority, the Coastguard and local representatives on December 22, there was still no definite word confirming funding for the required works which have already been completed by the Sligo Airport.
“The airport authority has paid for all the works from their operational budget and are still awaiting confirmation of funding from the government,” she said.
Responding to Deputy Harkin, Minister Naughton said there was no threat to the service at Sligo Airport and that her officials were in close contact with Sligo airport authority.
This was welcomed by Deputy Harkin but she insisted that it was now time that a definite funding commitment was given.
She said: “Only for the fact that Sligo airport was in a position to finalise these works by the deadline set by the IAA it would have been in breach of IAA requirements. “Now that Sligo Airport has stepped up to the plate, it is time for the Department to show the same commitment.”