Report Paul Murphy
A claim that money from building levies generated in Ashbourne is being “sucked out of the town” and used in other municipal districts was made by a Fine Gael councillor at the Ashbourne MD monthly meeting. Alan Tobin was speaking during a debate on a notice of motion by Sinn Fein Cllr Helen Meyer asking how much the developer of the Coaches development contributed in total towards social infrastructure and what specific benefits this would provide to the people of Ashbourne. Residents and motorists face long delays around the town particularly around The Coach Development on the south of Ashbourne.
Officials replied that the levies would go towards infrastructure throughout the county. Cllr Meyer said she was able to establish that the amount paid by the developers of the Coaches to the county council coffers was €2 million. She sought clarification on where that money would be spent in Ashbourne. She said that the people of Ashbourne had suffered a lot of inconvenience.
Cllr Alan Tobin
Cllr Helen Meyer
Independent Cllr Joe Bonner said that the Coaches developers had in their application “shown land that they did not own” and that services would be provided on them. This was inaccurate and should have been challenged on their application.
Cllr Meyer pointed out that people would be paying €500,000 for houses in that development on the basis that a school would be provided. She added that what had transpired was “a false bill of goods”. There were plans to build 500 houses in Ratoath too but asked where were the services to deal with the “massive” growth in population.
Cllr Tobin reminded members that Primeline Logistics, a major business and employer, had contribute to Meath County Council coffers “but had got nothing”. “You could be waiting over 20 minutes to get out of that premises onto the main road”, he said. Money was going to other MDs. “Other MDs are getting things done, we need the money spent here”.
Cllr Conor Tormey and Cllr Bonner agreed that there was a lack of funding for the town. “Surveys have been conducted but nothing has happened. We have seen this go on time after time”, Cllr Bonner said. Cllr Tobin said money was being sucked out of the town.
Cllr Joe Bonner, independent. The councillors expect a fair share of funding from the budgets in the county.
“Funding for a road sweeper was allocated and agreed but it still hasn’t happened”, commented Bonner but had still not happened. Cllr Tobin requested that it should be an electric one.
Cllr Meyer said that the head of finance Fiona Lawless had said that the increase of 10 per cent in
the rates promised more funding for much-needed services “but it is not happening”.
Maintenance Work
Council officials pointed out that ongoing work was being carried out in the general road maintenance programmes during May, with potholes filled and routine drainage and cleaning done. Graffiti beside Lidl had been removed with more to be removed at the Back Bridge in the coming week. The Belly Bin outside Tesco had been vandalised and would have to be replaced.
