I am concerned that consultation on the work to increase Greystones DARTs by 50% was supposed to start in 2022 but nothing is happening. I have asked the Council to get the National Transport Authority to start now. In 2018 I produced a plan to partially double track the line to Bray and a subsequent Jacobs report confirmed its feasibility. But nothing is happening!
Dr Ryan Park, between Delgany & Greystones needs a big makeover to make it more attractive. There is broken glass around the woods. It needs to be made more visible with lights, gorse & scrub cut back, large trees maintained, bins. The site should be very attractive with views of the Great & Little Sugar Loaf, Bray Head, the town & sea. I put down a motion to improve it at Greystones District but was told due to outdoor & engineering staff shortages nothing can be done at present. This…
The preliminary Census results show Greystones Municipal District has increased population by 4,041 to 30,352, a 15% increase since 2016. Wicklow County has increased by 9%, the Greystones increase being 31% of the total, increasing Greystones from 18 to 20% of the County’s population. This population growth was discussed at Tuesdays Municipal District meeting. Census 2022 also shows the population of Greystones-Delgany 405 short of 2028 target of 21,727. At least 1,000 houses are being built now and I expect Greystones will overshoot its 2028 target by at least 2,000…
The preliminary Census results show Greystones District has increased population by 4,041, a 15% increase since the 2016 Census. Wicklow County has increased by 9%, the Greystones increase being 31% of the total, increasing Greystones from 18 to 20% of the County’s population. Greystones share of the budget has remained at 12% for at least the last 5 years. It is by far the lowest spend of any area and it is not increasing with the population. Increasing population needs more resources. The Outdoor Staff are less than half that…
I have analysed the Councils 2022 Budget and found, once again, that Greystones is being used as a ‘Cash Cow’: Greystones receives 40% less expenditure than any other of the 5 areas. €190 spent per person as against €369 in the West and €288 on average. I will not be voting for the overall budget unless moves are made to correct this. Management have justified this in the past saying some years are up and some down. A 5 years analysis shows this is wrong, the underfunding is consistent. Also stated the…
It was announced in Los Angeles that the largest film & TV studio in Ireland is to start construction in Greystones. The first section, 7 stages & offices will be open mid 2024. Overall it will have 670,000 sq. ft. and employ over 1,000 people on the 44 acres. ‘I welcome this announcement as the town has the lowest number of local jobs of any place in Wicklow and this will help reduce the need for commuting. The site is central with good connections to DART, bus, road and cycle…
Council management are proposing a €1M fund for rural areas, especially West Wicklow, funded from Development Levies. These are paid by developers on each house and are meant to fund infrastructure to support those houses. Such as footpaths, roads, playgrounds & Social facilities. However there is little development in rural areas compared to the fast growing areas of Greystones, Newtown & Wicklow Town where there is much need of new infrastructure. The capital funding for West Wicklow is already 20 times more than Greystones and its revenue spend is over…
Tuesdays meeting of the Council was told that 5 of the 12 outdoor staff positions in Greystones Municipal District were vacant as staff had left or retired. Most of these positions are to be recruited in January. Also a study of the staff numbers required is to be done early next year. ‘It is disturbing that so many positions have been allowed to be vacant at one time, no wonder it has been so difficult to get work done. I did an analysis of the amount of staff & budget…
I welcome Irish Rail ordering new DART carriages, 30, with electric power only, to be used to provide extra capacity on existing lines, including to Greystones. 65 as battery/electric to serve Drogheda until wires are put up for full electrification. They cost over €2m each and should be in service in 2025. With wide access between carriages they will provide CCTV, better access for wheelchairs & cycles. They will be in 5s, the same length as present 4s. Also 2 sets can be joined to carry 1,100 people. The present…
Submission on Community Benefit Fund of Offshore Windfarm ORESS Consultation Windfarms encounter local resistance in very many communities, including loud campaigns against them in Wicklow and other counties. Previous thermal power stations had major local benefits including jobs, trade, substantial rates to provide local services and giving the communities a sense of purpose. This is lacking in offshore wind which will provide few jobs, except where the base is, but will have a large visual effect on a wide area. Communities need to feel connected to it, need to see…
© 2023 Councillor Derek Mitchell.
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