PLANNING

Councillor Fortune says “I would like to see stronger planning laws.  I believe it is very important that local residents are listened to, and in my experience this is really not happening. We would have better projects in all areas if this was the case. We are now paying for some bad decisions that have been made and also the wrong use of available land.

SCHOOL For CHARLESLAND

Councillor Fortune is concerned about what is happening with the proposed school for Charlesland. This was priority, now the project seems to have disappeared from the agenda. He is calling on the department of education to ensure that this school is provided, after all it was Bord Pleanala that decided to put 1400 houses in this area and he considers the school to be essential infrastructure. Cllr Fortune supported the five management groups in their request on behalf of the residents not to develop this area any further for at least five years. He was the only County Councillor for the Greystones are to do so.

Cllr Tom Fortune put a motion before the council that a pedestrian crossing was urgently needed. There is now a plan in place for the erection of a pedestrian crossing.

Councillor Fortune was on his own, in voting against the recent commercial water charge increase. Water charges have increased 18% in 2008 and will increase by a further 24% in 2009. Cllr Fortune maintains that this is not sustainable in the current economic climate. He says that business’ accept that they have to pay a charge, but not at the levels that have recently been put in place. Cllr Fortune has always advocated that water charges should be maintained at 2006 levels for two years or at the very least one year.

Councillor Fortune has asked Wicklow County Council to re-instate the public toilet at the Harbour in Greystones.

As requested by the residents, Cllr Fortune have asked that Wicklow County Council install yellow lines on the corners of the right hand side of the road, Cllr Fortune emphasised that this needs to be immediately addressed in the interest of safety.

Back in October 2008 Councillor Fortune requested the county council to borrow the money, if necessary, to complete this project. The work in now well underway. Residents have asked that some additional lines be installed, while this work is being done and Cllr. Fortune is continuing to lobby for this be done.

Councillor Fortune has requested that an action plan be put in place immediately, to proactively deal with this serious issue. A plan is necessary to avoid any reoccurrence of the issues that arose last year in the Greystones / Kilccole/Delgany/Killincarraig areas.

Cllr Fortune has worked with residents on many issues, including traffic control, footpaths and road surfacing.

Councillor Tom Fortune emphasises the need for an exit off the Farrankelly Road into Eden gate from the Charlesland end. He has requested that this be reviewed immediately.

This project is now under way at last. Cllr. Fortune has worked close with the residents on this issue. There is still an agreement to be resolved regarding the upper part of Priestnewtown. Cllr. Fortune is continuing to work closely with the residents and the county council.

For years Cllr Tom Fortune (as a then member of the residents association) fought to have Kilcoole treated fairly. Since his election he worked hard on this and it has paid off, Kilcoole now has new roads, new footpaths, car park and much more including the road resurfacing in Beech Court and Corrig Drive, Ashlawn, Beechwood Park and the entrance to Monteith Park. A very special thanks and congratulations to Joey and Betty Hunt on winning the 2008 county Wicklow People of the year award, this was richly deserved for the great work they do for the community.

Cllr Fortune has met with the county council and the council have been following up with the owners of these sites. Planning applications are in process for both sites.

The Chief Superintendent has promised Cllr Fortune that a garda sergeant working out of Greystones will take responsibility for Kilcoole

The new plan will target infrastructural needs. The plan has succeeded in achieving a lot, including

• Education zoning
• Playground
• Better housing mix

As promised to Newcastle residents Cllr Fortune has worked hard and made a lot of representations on their behalf and has achieved a lot including a good Local Area Plan and the work that has been done on Church Road.

Cllr Fortune has worked closely with the residents and helped to address their concerns. He also worked hard to achieve a new road and footpaths.

These are times of widespread confusion and worry. People are paying a high price for irresponsible mismanagement. Greed and incompetence have brought us to where we are. The banks have been supported, why not pensions and mortgages, they should be protected. There is no leadership. The solution appears to be to hang everything on the public service, this is crazy. It is now time for the Labour Party to be at the forefront, fairness is needed for everyone, not just to a select few.

CLLR TOM FORTUNE WILL CONTINUE TO RAISE ISSUES AND WORK ON BEHALF OF THE COMMUNITIES OF GREYSTONES – KILCOOLE – DELGANY – NEWCASTLE – KILADREENAN

Tom Fortune is asking for your No. 1 Vote - Why?

• Better Communities: As a councillor I have campaigned for better roads, footpaths, car parking, housing estate resurfacing, sewerage, pedestrian crossing, traffic calming and traffic management and much more.  Much more needs to be done but we’ve achieved significant progress in the past five years.

• Infrastructure: I continue to work hard to improve the quality of the areas’ infrastructure. I have lobbied and been very vocal for: more schools and proper school zoning, playgrounds, public toilets, community facilities, enterprise units and a new garda station, plus much more as reflected in the Local Area Plans for Kilcoole, Greystones/Delgany, Newcastle and Newtownmountkennedy.

• Environment: I will continue to lobby for a recycling centre, improved sewerage schemes, steps to combat flooding and to guard the natural environment against bad planning. The Labour Party has consistently defended the integrity of the planning system against over scale developments damaging to the community.

• Safety: Better Garda presence on the streets, more visible to everyone.

It is important that the Greystones / Kilcoole / Newcastle / Delgany / Kiladreenan /Kilquade are represented on Wicklow County Council and Greystones Town Council by a councillor with a proven track record in the community.  I am your candidate.  I am always available and approachable to all.  I will always help anyone in anyway I can.

Thank You

Tom Fortune

                                                                    WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL

VOTE NO. 1  -  TOM FORTUNE         GREYSTONES TOWN COUNCIL

• We must immediately have reinstatement of medical cards for all people over 70 years of age
• Class size promises that were made in the previous election manifesto’s must be delivered upon
• The 1% tax levy should in the first instance have a threshold to insure anyone earning less than  €35,000 are not impacted by it.

It is clear from the reaction of people that very little thought or consideration went into the preparation of these obscene proposals and truly goes to show how out of touch this government is from the real world.

All of the talking needs to stop and action needs to occur now!

Councillor Tom Fortune

cases should be upgraded with proper and adequate lighting and CCTV, this would help to eliminate any anti-social behaviour that might take place.

these estates are over twenty years old and action is required urgently.