The Mayor of Sligo David Cawley

The current Mayor Councillor David Cawley will not go down in the annals of Sligo for his sense of originality. You will note that on the Sligo borough council website his message is the same as his predecessor.

“While we are living in very challenging times, and I believe the key to Sligo’s future development  and prosperity lies in the co-operation between our commercial, tourism, marketing and community sectors. There is a resilience and strength in our community and a willingness to adapt to new circumstances and move forward in co-operation and partnership, and these qualities have been the catalyst for progress in many aspects of society.”

If he has to parrot his predecessor, this suggests a lethargic attitude to the job on hand. Folks I tell you now neither the Mayor nor the tiers of expensively paid public servants will do anything to alleviate significantly, the problems that beset the town.

Meanwhile, the citizen’s money continues to flow down the drain.

You can smell the horseshit a mile away from the mare.

This prompted me to write to the Mayor.

Sent: Sunday, 19 August, 2012 3:46:37 AM

Dear Mayor,

I have a few questions I would like to ask

(A) Derelict sites appear to be numerous in Sligo. Do you have any plans to deal with these eyesores?

(B) The recession has bitten deep in Sligo. Does the local council have any plans to make Sligo more attractive for bushiness and Tourism?

(C) In these difficult times, does the town need a cross-community organization under the auspices of the council for the development of the city? Maybe an action group!

(D) Are any of the current plans for the city likely to bear fruit and if so when?

Regards,

John Foley

The response 23rd Aug

John

I have forwarded this query to the relevant local official at Sligo Borough Council for an update /response – You be aware that it has come up recently at a Borough Notion put down by Cllr Matt Lyons – see Sligo Champion article below …

SLIGO Borough Council is to intensify its crackdown on derelict buildings in the town centre, following complaints that such buildings were presenting a picture of a ‘run down, delapitdated town’…Full article below.

Regards,

David Cawley

Mayor of Sligo

I find it astonishing tardy that the partial response to this inquiry should be a press cutting from the Champion. Do these people have to rely on the press to make their comments for them? I await their response expectantly. Well now, almost a month has passed without further communication. I rather suspect the letter at this stage lies in city hall’s eternity vaults to gather cyber space dust.

The text of the Champion article

SLIGO Borough Council is to intensify its crackdown on derelict buildings in the town centre, following complaints that such buildings were presenting a picture of a ‘run down, delapitdated town’

Acting Director of Services Paula R Gallagher assured members that the days of ‘pleading and cajoling’ with owners of derelict property were over and that from now on the authority would be taking a more rigorous and stricter approach.

She said: “Our approach in the past has been one of working with people to try to resolve these issues instead of taking a confrontational position.

“But we are about to change our approach.”

Ms. Gallagher revealed that a full-time person is to be appointed within the next month to deal specifically with the issue of dereliction in the Borough.

The matter was raised by Clr. Matt Lyons, who said he had received a lot of complaints about the town being ‘grubby.’

He referred to derelict buildings in High Street, Market Street, Castle Street and Holborn Street where, in some cases, roofs had fallen in and the overall picture was an unsightly mess.

Asking if a register of such buildings had been compiled and if owners had been contacted, Clr. Lyons said the council should involve groups such as the Tidy Towns in the fight against dereliction.

According to Clr. Veronica Cawley, the problem was ‘absolutely horrendous’ and was doing untold damage to the character of the town, while Clr. Arthur Gibbons branded the derelict buildings as ‘ terrible eyesores.’

“If we are trying to sell Sligo, the town has to look the part. The last thing we need is a run down, delapidated town,” he said.

Noting that progress in dealing with the problem was extremely slow, Clr. Sean MacManus described the number of derelict buildings as a ‘ total blight on the town’s landscape.’

Ms. Gallagher told members there had been 11 buildings on the derelict register and this was now reduced to 8, and warning letters had been issued to the owners.