"Tullamore West"

[Lone Shark]

I know this is supposed to be an Offaly GAA website, but I'd like to think that most if not all of the contributors and readers here would consider themselves concerned local citizens as well, and I think that this latest incident needs to be highlighted, if only because of the surreptitious way it was pushed through, particularly at a time of year when people are thinking about other things and thus don't notice what they might observe a little more in February or September.

Councillor John Flanagan of Tullamore (Fianna Fáil) - you may know him from such incidents as getting a grotesquely large sum for one piece of property from the state for the purposes of decentralisation (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/newspa ... 542355.ece) or possibly from getting his construction group involved in various state contracts (http://www.independent.ie/business/iris ... 48189.html) - has once again got in the news for a glorious piece of Maurice-Hickey-esque gombeenism.

Basically, the midlands gateway towns were all asked to submit a project which would get funding in order to upgrade the town. Athlone and Mullingar went for pedestrianised streeting and a sports facility respectively, both fair enough, our county manager, Pat Gallagher, decided that Tullamore's project would be the infrastructural development (roads, water, sewerage, power, communication lines etc.) of an area west of Tullamore towards Rahan that would allow for residential and employment use.

Now, taking the project on it's merits first of all:

(1) Tullamore has plenty of new housing and existing industrial space. Firstly it does not make sense to build the two together, while secondly the natural home for the latter would be out with the existing developments on the Portarlington Road, or alternatively out towards Kilbeggan with easier access towards the upgraded N6 to Dublin.
(2) Should policy be followed and lands be upgraded for building, there was plenty of council owned landbanks that would have been the logical areas to earmark, rather than privately held land which would just serve as a windfall for the landowners and developers.
(3) This was presented to the councillors as a whole in case they wished to make "amendments". They were not involved in any preliminary discussion or focus group.
(4) This Tullamore west area was earmarked for development anyway by the private owners in question - this would have been done without this €300million windfall one way or another, so why is the state subsidising it?


Well here's why - the land in question is owned by a man by the name of Alan Hand, and Flanagan Holdings - or the aforementioned counciller Johnny Flanagan.


This is an obscene abuse of power, and I would be interested to hear the views of those who may have more information on the matter. I have alerted the Offaly Independent about this, and I would hope that they choose to highlight some of these anomalies. One way or another, I think that the people of Tullamore and the area should be made aware of this looting of funds designed to enhance their town, and react however they feel appropriate. I have long since lost faith that Fianna Fáil is anything but corrupt to the very core - root, trunk and branch - but the more people we can alert to this the better.


If anyone feels I am abusing this site by posting up non-GAA matters, please post up that you feel that way, and if it outnumbers those who feel that it's a valid issue or who wish to discuss the affair, then I will take it that it is not appropriate.

[BUFFALO]

Ah the drive of capitalist continues apace,god bless democracy.The Flanagan juggernaut still remains a powerful force.To be honest,I don't think there's alot that the constituents can do about it.Think about it,a Fianna Fail politician for a start.Prominent local figure and and property magnate too.He's even gained the grateful support of the soccer club,who now have quite enviable facilities.Pedestrianisation and more sporting centres are preferable,no doubt there,but executive power doesn't work in societies like ours,especially with the processes and long-windedness of bureaucracy .Local media coverage and developments are most welcome.Keep those of us ''out foreign'' informed.

[Archangel]

It does seem illogical to have ear-marked this Tullamore-West area without any public consultation, or as it looks, much consultation of the council as a whole. It does smack of another re-zoning gazumping. Flanagan buys land that he knows will get zoned and paid for and makes a mint on it.

It is only FF who have the chains of power and people in the right places who can organise this type of money-swipe and most of the time there's nothing can be done about it. It's time people stop voting for these fuckers,. even though the opposition might be no better at running the country, at least you cut out a LOT of the corruption that goes on with these cunts out of power..

[turk]

LS, this might be worth cleaning up and sticking on politics.ie - lads are less apathetical there regarding politics, to say the least

[Lone Shark]

LS, this might be worth cleaning up and sticking on politics.ie - lads are less apathetical there regarding politics, to say the least

I do keep an eye on there, but everything gets party political very quickly. Thus you get very "political" style debating - lads seize on one point and argue that, thus deflecting attention away from the core issue. FF heads defend everything, FG heads attack everything, until a SF lad gets involved and they all turn on him.

I was more interested in seeing how Offaly people responded, seeing as it was their money and their community that was being damaged by this kind of action, hence put it up here. It would be particularly interesting if anyone from a local FF cumann was around to try and defend it, or put the other side of the case up, but such an individual doesn't seem to be around.

[turk]

I still think you'ld be better throw it up on politics.

most lads here would be of the opinion "that's a disgrace" or "typical politicians". A politics.ie discussion prob would end up along the usual lines, but at least you'ld have thrown it out there

[Over The Black Spot]

LS,

I read this piece shortly after you put it up & have been meaning to comment but never got round to it. Even though I’m a newbie to the site in posting terms, IMO topics relating to the general welfare of Offaly people are most appropriate for this site & something like this definitely deserve highlighting.

I’m glad to see you’ve contacted the Offaly Independent with it but it’s debatable whether or not a local paper dependent on advertising revenue will print anything which may disturb too many businessmen so it’s an issue you may have to highlight elsewhere.

Personally, I would recommend a letter to some of the Sunday tabloids who will only be too happy to print anti-FF (corruption) type stuff.

Like a lot of the skulduggery that has gone on in the past, this may proceed regardless of any bad publicity. What you will do however, is dim the halo that seems to be around the heads of certain developers and public representitives in the Tullamore area, many of whom were heavily involved in a recent GAA infrastructural development in the county, a development that has left a debt that the clubs of Offaly are being strangled by financially.

That’s only my own two cents on the issue LS but I commend your concerns on the topic.

[Bord na Mona man]

A year and a bit later and the wheel has turned a fair bit since...

http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/200 ... y31112.asp

http://www.offalyexpress.ie/business/Ne ... 4894405.jp

[Lone Shark]

September 2008: OFFALY County Council has voted to allow major developments to go ahead on a Flood Plain, on the outskirts of Tullamore.

The highly contentious decision was carried by just one vote at last Thursday's meeting of the County Council. Amidst accusations of lobbying of councillors, on behalf of certain interested parties, and despite the recommendations of the Office of Public Works (OPW), and the advice of the Minister for the Environment John Gormley, Offaly County Council will back a proposed 30 million euro development project in an area known as 'Tullamore West' which stretches from the rear of Tullamore Railway station, Kilcruttin, the Grand Canal and as far as Charleville estate. The development will be known as The Grand Canal Quarter.

The decision comes in the wake of recent flooding in that specific area, and in many other parts of Tullamore and its environs.

It also comes in the wake of the announcement from Minister Gormley, that he will be issuing new national building guidelines in relation to flooding, in the coming weeks. The Minister said that 'unfortunately, in the past, planners were not as rigorous as they ought to have been in relation to building on flood plains.

'The OPW's policy in relation to development in the floodplain is that it must be avoided where possible.'

What The Councillors Said

"I strongly object to being lobbied at lunchtime by people trying to persuade me to vote yes.' He continued 'If anyone goes onto the OPW website they will see the flags flying where there is risk of flooding, Why should we consider building on lands that are going to flood. Why are we going against the OPW? Why take a risk when we don't need to? I am teetotally against any development on a flood plain. It is a complete lake, that area floods from October to March. The minister will blame the councillors, I am not going to put my name to this, I will go along with the recommendation of the OPW" - Councillor Tommy McKeigue [Fine Gael]

"We have to be responsible councillors at the end of the day we will take the rap, we know where the floods are, and if we direct the floods away from this area, where will it go? it sounds very expensive." - Councillor Molly Buckley [Fine Gael]

"I am very concerned, we do seem to be getting worse weather. Look at the OPW website and the number of flood areas highlighted. It may only occur once a century but it is still unacceptable and too much of a risk to take. It is awful for people living in these areas. I don't see why we should consider building in these areas." - Councillor Marcella Corcoran Kennedy [Fine Gael]

"Looks like we are taking risks, that I don't think we should be taking, the amount of rainfall in less than 24 hours in Whitehall can't be ignored and the County Council hasn't done much for them. Why are we zoning lands that are at high risk and that may not get planning permission" - Councillor Michael Fox [Fine Gael]

"I also want to join Councillor Tommy McKeigue in saying I object to being lobbied, it is like going back to olden days. If we look at rural areas, if a person wants to build in a flood plain, he can be knocked down straight away." - Councillor Eddie Fitzpatrick [Independent]

"There will always be problems with lands, Tullamore needs this development". "Are we a progressive council or do we want to go back in time?" - Councillor Ger Killally [Fianna Fáil]

The decision went to a vote with Cllrs Bourke, Butterfield, Cowen, Dooley, Feighery, Killally, McDonnell, Moylan-Ryan, Ormond, and Owens voting in favour of the variation, beating off the votes of Cllrs Buckley, McKeigue, Carroll, Clendennden, Corcoran Kennedy, Dolan, Fitzpatrick, Fox and McLoughlin by one vote.

Chairperson of Offaly County Council Barry Cowen said he was relieved and content that the plan was adopted.

The above news story was taken verbatim from just over a year ago. I wonder how this area is holding up in the current weather conditions?

[Bord na Mona man]

[durra1]

"There will always be problems with lands

Tullamore needs this development".

"Are we a progressive council or do we want to go back in time?"

Councillor Ger Killally [Fianna Fáil]

[durra1]

It's useful to cast an apolitical eye over the breakdown of voting on that particular matter.

... and to keep it in mind for the next time you enter the polling station ..

“Cllrs Bourke, Butterfield, Cowen, Dooley, Feighery, Killally, McDonnell, Moylan-Ryan, Ormond, and Owens voting in favour of the variation....”

“...beating off the votes of Cllrs Buckley, McKeigue, Carroll, Clendennden, Corcoran Kennedy, Dolan, Fitzpatrick, Fox and McLoughlin ......”

It’s amazing how spin and pub-talk can dilute the facts....

[Bord na Mona man]

"There will always be problems with lands

Tullamore needs this development".

"Are we a progressive council or do we want to go back in time?"

Councillor Ger Killally [Fianna Fáil]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0502/390000 ... ates-home/
The list of suspects will be long considering the amount of people he stung for cash!

[High School Musical]

I think the only logical thing to do here is to move this idea to Birr.
It's where it belongs!

[Ahlethimoutwithit]

Hardly a joking matter BNM??? Kids and father in the car also...