Councillor wants revenue from parking charges to be spent locally

EFFORTS to ring-fence money raised from parking charges in Westport to be spent on projects in the local area are continuing.

Councillor Peter Flynn tabled a notice of motion at a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District (MD) meeting today (Friday) proposing that the funds collected be spent in the west Mayo electoral area on specific capital projects, footpath repairs, or flood relief measures.

A similar matter had arisen in Kilkenny County Council, he said, and it was found that the money could be ring-fenced.

Some members, however, were unhappy that the motion did not include the whole of the MD, with Achill-based Councillor Paul McNamara making the point: “You are ring-fencing Achill and Belmullet out of the money.”

Councillor Flynn said he had no objection to amending his motion to extend it to the full MD.

Under standing orders, a notice of motion cannot be amended.

A new motion reflecting the amendment will be brought before the MD when it meets again next month.

Councillor Flynn said when charges were brought in initially, it should have been ring-fenced to be spent in the local area, so when people pay they know it is going to be spent in the area.

Councillor Brendan Mulroy said the matter required some clarification.