declan bree on pedestrianisation of o'connell street in sligo

If you care about the O'Connell street contact councillors today

http://short.ie/pedsligo - This is a spreadsheet showing the names of councillors, their borough, email and phone.

I made a call to Decaln Bree to find out- was he listening, did he know about the campaign to mobilise people around this issue... and what would impress upon him the public opinion. I made it clear I was opposed to his views, but respectful of his experience.

He was courteous on the phone and answered all of my questions, and took some prodding well. He's a v good politician.

But I still wonder if he's giving the whole picture, and I feel his decision making process is suspect because it lacks public representation.

I told Bree that I had spoken to Des Faul of Café Fluer yesterday, he said no one in government had come to consult with the businesses on O'Connell street at any time. Des said in his own poll, he determined all but one of the traders on the street want the street to remain pedestrianised.

Declan Bree told me on the phone that no one from the Chamber took a stand either way. I balked!

It took me 2 minutes on the phone to get in touch with Sligo Chamber to find out that they had, in fact, been lobbying the politicians supporting pedestrianisation. Chamber of Commerce says they have been lobbying politicians to keep the road pedestrianisation.

Hard to tell if Cllr. Bree is just...

uninformed?
lazy (didn't check with Chamber or businesses)?
that he just doesn't care...?
or if he was delibratly misleading me?

He also said "There are very few shops left on on O'Connell street," so perhaps he doesn't feel it's really that important.

Those shops are paying for rates that pay for his post... and have done so since he started as an elected official in 1974.

Cllr Bree also said "There are very few shops left on O'Connell street" and referred to the closing of McDonald's as a sign that the street is not profitable. He also told me only ONE person complained about the re-opening of O'Connell street.

This is why it is crucial to act on this as soon as possible.

Web polls and emails do not impress these people: CALL!!

http://short.ie/pedsligo

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Sep 30, 2009

Des Faul said...

So Far I've gotten one reply back from the Borough council, all of whom I've e-mailed on the Matter of teh re-opening of O Connell Street, It's as follows:

DearDes,

I write in reply to your e-mail in relation to O'Connell St.

Firstly, let me repeat for the umpteenth time that both I personally and my party colleagues support the idea of pedestrianisation.

However the way which the County Manager imposed closure on O'Connell St, over 3 years ago--without consultation with any of the stakeholders involved, public, business people or public represantives---has led to the current situation.

The Managers failure to provide adequate alternative traffic management plans caused serious and ongoing problems for many Sligo residents from the day the street was closed.

That un-satisfactory situation has been exacerbated by the acute lack of funds needed to carry out the necessary level of work required to provide O'Connell St. with a decent streetscape associated with pedestrianised areas. (Have you had a look down this street on a wet winters evening since it was closed to through traffic?)

I'm sure that you are aware that we councillors were recently told that it would cost €4.5 million to carry out such refurbishment work. This type of expenditure we could not support, particularly in the present dire financial situation and with so many more urgent issues also needing money.

A clear decision has been reached by an overwhelming majority of the members of Sligo Borough councillors on this matter,it is not my intention to alter my vote at this time.

When adequate actions are in place to deal with the problems experienced by many because of the closure of O'Connell St. and when the requisite finance is available to carry out the necessary works then the members will be in a position to do a decent job in relation to the pedestrianisation of this street.

Yours sincerely,

Sean MacManus. ( Councillor)

Heather James said...

Wow... "umpteenth" is simultaneously vague and condescending.

Thanks for the insight. Both the Sinn Fein reps are firmly in the "open to traffic" side.

Seamus Kealy said...

This response that Des received is exactly the response that MacManus sent to a colleague of mine. Here is what I wrote to him, point by point:

Some ideas if you wish to respond:

If you support pedestrianisation, then support it. Don't use political
double speak. It makes the political process appear absurd and out of
touch with reality.

The County Manager did NOT impose pedestrianisation - it was voted on in the last Sligo Development Plan. Besides, people want O'Connell Street pedestrianised now so a few opinions in the council are not relevant - it is for the people, not the councilors. O'Connell Street is not to be used as a means to punish the County Manager. It is a public space with intrinsic value for the town.

The traffic argument regarding opening the street to traffic is not
enough - traffic is not ideal in Sligo, but opening the street will do
little to alleviate that and the ramifications on both social space
and the economy would outweigh this alleviation by a million to one.
That is clear from international studies on pedestrianisation.

The 4.5 million bit is a red herring. The works can cost whatever the
council wish them to cost and can be phased. The works will create
jobs and stimulate the economy and will build Sligo further into its
potential. That is clear to anyone who has a vision for bettering this
urban area.

These facts are difficult to dispute. You cannot move a decision such
as this forward based on illegitimate reasoning.

Contrary to what you say, the public knows that the decision on
O'Connell Street is not over - it is to be made as part of the SEDP
process, and must involve public input - which it now is. The public
have been consulted and are letting the councillors know that they
want the street pedestrianised. It is your job as a councillor to
represent the best wishes and will of the public. Will you be
courageous and do your job?

nearlythere

declan bree on pedestrianisation of o'connell street in sligo

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