CAMPAIGN GROUP WALKS OUT OF TUAM COUNCIL MEETING

Date Published: 04-Sep-2012

A group campaigning to have a road and right of way restored at a Tuam supermarket car park walked out of a meeting of the town council last night [Sept 3].

The demonstration by members of the 'Restore Our Palace Road campaign' was made when area county councillors were not present.

After the group walked out, the meeting was told by Director of Service Frank Gilmore that Tuam Town Council had no role in the matter.

The group, campaigning regarding an expansion at O’Toole’s Super Valu car park expressed annoyance with Mayor Eamonn Kitt and said they were told last week that the area Councillors would be invited to the meeting.

But Director of Services Frank Gilmore said the Town Council had “no statutory role whatsoever” in the matter and the entire County Council must agree on such issues and not just the 7 county councillors for the Tuam area.

He also said that as an enforcement order had been issued to the developer regarding an “alleged breach of planning” it was now a “quasi legal process” and no council official can make any further comment on it.

He said the delegation could contact the chair of the area County councillors and make a 15 minute submission to them at a meeting.

The protocol was that they had to leave after making their submission and could not engage in discussions with the Area Councillors.

Before the end of the meeting a letter was handed in by the group expressing their annoyance that the Area Councillors were not invited to meet them last night.

Cllr Imelda Kelly proposed that if the area councillors met the delegation the town council chamber should be made available and the Mayor and members agreed.

If not, the Director of Services said they could arrange to meet with the area councillors at their next meeting and make their bsubmission then.