From the archives: Westport Urban District Council made history in 1950

By Tom Gillespie

SEVENTY-six years ago this month (February 1950), Westport Urban District Council made history when what many of the town’s ‘doubting Thomases’ considered impossible and infeasible was accomplished.

The Demesne land had been purchased by the council from Lord Sligo for a Westport housing scheme for £5,250.

History indeed had been made, according to a report in The Connaught Telegraph on February 11, 1950, when, brought mainly about by the unceasing efforts of Westport’s popular, energetic, go-ahead and highly efficient town clerk, Mr. R.G. Browne, the deal had been closed.

A short time previously there was a historic meeting on the old green bridge in Westport Demesne between Mr. Browne and the Marquis of Sligo, and the subject under discussion was the Demesne housing scheme, Mr. Browne having been appointed valuer by the council. The meeting was a cordial one, and the pros and cons were considered in detail.

After the ordinary business had been dealt with at their Monday night meeting, the council went into camera on the subject of the Demesne lands, and subsequently a statement was issued to the Press that the council had purchased the Demesne housing site from the Marquis of Sligo for the sum of £5,250.

The deal included 30 acres of Westport Demesne land for housing, a six-roomed two-storey gate lodge, 700 trees, all the front ornamental iron gates, walls, fences and bridge.

The Marquis was to erect a stone wall at his own expense around the area concerned.

The newspaper reported: 'It is indeed a wonderful accomplishment, and the town clerk is to be congratulated and highly complimented on his initiative and business acumen.'

In the absence of the chairman, Mr. James McGing, Mr. John Jeffers, vice-chairman, presided at the usual monthly meeting of the council.

Present were Councillors Sean Malone, P. Shanley, solr., J. Staunton, J. Mulloy, J. Bourke, and Messers. Liam MacLochlainn, county manager, R.G. Browne, town clerk, T. Egan, town surveyor, P. O’Malley, S.S.O., and John Ferris, town foreman.

During the reading of the minutes of the previous meeting it was disclosed that an offer of £1,000 had been made to Mr. Patrick O’Malley, Bridge Street, Westport, for a field (former soccer pitch) on the Castlebar Road for a Westport housing scheme.

Mr. Shanley said he had recommended giving Mr. O’Malley £1,280.

Town clerk: Then am I to take you as dissenting from the offer of £1,000?

The clerk read a letter from the department relative to the proposed road works to be carried out on the Paddock, Knockranny and Buckwaria roads, as they did not consider these roads of such importance for such a huge expenditure, and asking that the schemes be amended.

Mr. Egan said he was preparing an amended scheme.

Mr. Mulloy asked could not something be done with the South Mall.

Mr. Egan said all these things appeared to be contradictory. He suggested widening the bends so that two cars could pass.

He also suggested that some of the money be spent on channels at Bridge Street.

Mr. Shanley referred to the channels at Barrack Hill and said they were flooded.

He also referred to rows of tar barrels being left on the road in the vicinity of Gannon’s, Attyreece.

Mr. Staunton said county council work was going on there and they had nothing to do with it.

Mr. Shanley: They are there for months, or perhaps a year. We should protest and have them removed.

Mr. Malone drew attention to the condition of High Street and Peter Street. These streets hadn’t been done for over a year.

“You should pay more attention, Mr. Egan, to the streets in town controlled by the council,” added Mr. Malone.

Mr. Mulloy said something should be done with a portion of High Street.

In reply to Mr. Jeffers, the town surveyor said his revised scheme for the Paddock Road should go forward.

The clerk said there was £600 for the works.

Mr. Shanley: The channels at Barrack Hill should be attended to.

Mr. Egan said much would be done out of grants provided by revenue.

Mr. Mulloy: And the Harbour Road and the Quay.

Mr. Egan said he did not agree that the Harbour Road was as bad as they were led to believe.

There was a lot of money spent on it.

It was decided to put a channel at Barrack Hill.

Mr. Bourke referred to the Distillery Road and said a footpath and channel should be put in there. It was a disgrace and one was up to their ankles in water.

He also suggested that the channels in Bridge Street be done.

It was decided to prepare schemes for the Paddock Road (£340) and Buckwaria Road (£100), and leave the rest in abeyance.

Mr. Browne said there were complaints about the sewerage at the back of Quinn’s and Clancy’s at Peter Street not functioning.

Mr. Egan said it would be done in the next section of the town sewerage.

Mr. Mulroy: Are you quite sure of that?

Mr. Egan said he was, as all parts of the town which had not been done would be covered in the next scheme.

Thomas Walsh, New Cottages, wrote complaining of a broken bowl in his lavatory and asking that a new bowl be installed.

The clerk said he had forwarded the letter to the M.O.H., and it transpired that it was the tenant’s duty to put it in himself.

In reply to the manager, the clerk said the tenant was in residence for about two years.

He had come out of a condemned house in High Street.

Mr. Ferris said the bowl was not broken when Walsh took over the cottage.

A letter of thanks was received from Westport Harbour Board thanking the council for giving them water at 1/- per 1,000 gallons.

Mr. Egan said there was something about water for shipping in that letter.

He understood they were giving the water to be used by the Board of Works at 1/- per 1,000 gallons.

Water for shipping was quite another thing.