Elected reps should be allowed to attend pre-planning meetings, say councillors

Elected representatives should be allowed to attend pre-planning meetings with constituents, Cllr Mick Dollard, said at a recent meeting of the county council.

Cllr Dollard said elected members represent the people, even with Dept of Social Protection appeals. “Here we have public representatives, who go forward for election every five years. I would have been annoyed if I thought that a councillor couldn’t accompany one of his constituents in the context of a pre-planning meeting,” he said.

“Because maybe that councillor has a contribution to make in that context as well. For me, planning is all the colours of the rainbow. It’s not just a black and white issue.”

Cllr David Jones agreed, saying he was asked to leave a pre-planning meeting when he tried to attend with a constituent.

“I was only there to get clarification on why he was refused, or potentially going to be refused,” he said. “But I would ask about the issues with using the portal and getting answers back. Because I don’t need my name blackened. I’m not getting back to people because the council are not getting back to me. We need answers, yes or no, good or bad.”

Transport issues

A meeting is expected to take place between Westmeath County Council and transport authorities in relation to a recent feasibility study on Killucan train station.

Cllr Denis Leonard raised the issue at a meeting of the county council, saying he has sought a meeting with the NTA, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail “about the broader issues in our transport survey of Westmeath last year”.

The survey showed “huge gaps”, such as no bus between Castlepollard and Mullingar, as well as the need to reinstate a lot of the Bus Éireann routes that have been taken away.

“And also the actual extension of the bus corridor going up the M4 out to Kilcock, which they promised for last May, which didn’t happen,” said Cllr Leonard.

“So I really feel that we do need a meeting with those bodies in the new year, and I’d like to ask the chief executive to write again to the three, requesting that the meeting would happen.”

Barry Kehoe, chief executive of Westmeath County Council, confirmed that the council will get back to the named transport agencies “to see when they might be in a position to meet with us”.