Westport Town Councillor Keith Martin has launched what is believed to be the country’s first virtua

by Dave k Mon Aug 02, 2004 00:28

Will have a go at that later.

I think it is a great idea.

It will let people get in contact with the people who make the decisions.

by Curious Mon Aug 02, 2004 01:36

Does anybody know, how many people in Westport have access to email their local representative? You can't just be accessible to those with the money to afford things. Unless you want to be a McDowellite and fervourlently believe in inequality.

by Keith Martin Mon Aug 02, 2004 04:07 kmartin at dna dot ie

The Westport library provides free internet access as does every library in Mayo.

by Curious Mon Aug 02, 2004 04:25

So everyone in Westport, has access to a library. Sounds good?

by Keith Martin Mon Aug 02, 2004 04:33

Yes

by Colonel Humbert (or was it General) Mon Aug 02, 2004 04:38

Get some sleep, Westport needs you!!

by Keith Martin Mon Aug 02, 2004 04:44

General Humbert didn't make it to Westport.

The British blew his head off with a cannon ball.

Any other questions?

by Keith Martin Mon Aug 02, 2004 04:50

Curious you are typical naysayer in that you look for the downside in anything new.

The traditional way of contacting a public representative is to phone or write, each of which costs money.

When someone comes up with a new way all you can do is try to expose it as some sort of new way of excluding people.

There is nothing anyone can do with people like you.

Altough I could suggest a few things.

Though due to how hard I work for my constituients I can probably be excused on the grounds of over doing things.

Go find someone else to annoy.

Sincerely

Keith

by iosaf Mon Aug 02, 2004 13:25

Congrats Keith on your online clinic.

But Boooo! Boooo! on your 1st Republic History.

Humbert died a peaceful death in his sleep in New Orleans- after the Mayo invasion the british arrested him and afforded him all "officer and gentleman honours" and he was interned in Dublin, later making his way to fight under Adams against the British a second time for the emerging USA. Which was at marked contrast to the treatment given to the irish who had joined the french many of whom got thrown into the limestone holes close to the coast at Dun Bhriste which I believe boasts an interpretive centre to this day in the shape of pyramid.

I had a love once from Mayo.
tits like two eggs in a hanky
:-) (is that a good thing?)
hmmm. I thought so.

by dotellus Mon Aug 02, 2004 13:44

I'm not interested in your love life, iosaf. But I want to know what this Martin character actually stands for (other than the promotion of his own career).
What precisely are his policies? Since he has chosen to post his article twice, first on the 'other media' blog, where it cannot be commented on, and now here where it can be debated, he has an obligation to spell out what his policies are.
And we all have a right to scrutinise them, dissect them, and kick them all about if necessary.
And don't complain, Keith, if you don't like the responses you get. It can get quite rough here on indymedia.

by BS Spotter Mon Aug 02, 2004 14:13

If this self-serving shite is posted twice then it would be against indymedia policy, would it not? So why is it still here?

by Peter Moore Mon Aug 02, 2004 14:15

You're a typical county councillor, using your 'clinic' as a springboard toward a Dail seat. I bet you're totally evasive about your position on real issues.
So what is your position on Trade Union rights? Whats your position on the amount paid on Welfare? What are your positions on crime, human rights, distribution of wealth, etc., etc.?
We have a right to know.

by Keith Martin Mon Aug 02, 2004 14:37

My policies are available to all on my website but for the very lazy here they are.


Better Local Government
Free Parking in the car parks
Playgrounds for the Quay and Newport/Golf Course Road areas
Building of proper Public Toilets
On-street Bus Shelters
Shuttle Bus from the Quay into town
Replanting of the Northwoods
More Affordable Housing Schemes
Proper Conservation of Westport’s natural and man-made Heritage & creation of a detailed list of heritage objects
Purchase of the Bank of Ireland garden for the people of Westport
A recycling program to operate door to door as an alternative to rubbish collection.
Street surfaces fit to drive on
Proper consultation with Westport’s Residents and Businesses concerning the future development of the town.

I stand corrected about old Humbert! I always thought he lost his head!

Well it seems a few others on this site have lost theirs!

Here are my corrections

1 My policies have always been spelt out on my website.
2 I don't mind rough answers but I do think that people should read the post before jumping to conclusions
3 I am not a county councillor
4 I have accidently posted twice. I appologise!
5 I serve the people of Westport not myself.
6 I am not the only shite who posts comments.
7 I put my name and address on my posts I do not abuse people annoymusly
8 My spelling is not as goog as it used to be.

Thanks
Keith

by Hmmmm Mon Aug 02, 2004 15:13

What's the crack with the pop-ups Keith?

Are you making a pretty penny by getting the decent people of Mayo to buy pornographic screensavers?

by Keith Martin Mon Aug 02, 2004 17:10

There are no pop ups on my site.

You may have a virus on your machine.

by Keith Martin Tue Aug 03, 2004 00:05 kmartin at dna dot ie Westport Mayo

Westport is failing its disabled residents and visitors due to a lack of access and facilities
Westport Independent Cllr Keith Martin has highlighted several areas were he believes Westport is failing its disabled residents and visitors due to a lack of access and facilities
Cllr highlights lack of access in Westport.

Westport Independent Cllr Keith Martin has highlighted several areas were he believes Westport is failing its disabled residents and visitors due to a lack of access and facilities.

Cllr Keith Martin says that his eyes were opened to the problems when he toured the town earlier in the summer with Tom Chambers from Newport who is the local officer for People With Disabilities in Ireland (PWDI).

Cllr Martin says he doesn’t pretend to be an expert in the area of disability access but when he toured the town with Mr Chambers he was dismayed at the problems.

Cllr Martin says “walking around the town I would never even notice the problems and until Tom Chambers took me around the town I would have thought that access and facilities for the disabled would have not been lacking.

“However Mr Chambers pointed out several important areas where we can do better. For instance there is no disabled parking space in the area between the health centre and the public library, an issue which was recently raised by Cllr Teresa McGuire.

“There are also problems where dips in the pavement are not provided to allow people with mobility problems or wheelchairs to cross the street. This is in evident along the North Mall. There are dips on the newly done pavements on the Bridge St side but no corresponding dips on the pavements running along the river thus this part of the mall is inaccessible for the disabled at this junction

“There are also problems with other dips, for instance at the crossing from the mall over to Tuohy’s corner on the Newport Road there is a drain in front of the dip making it uncomfortable if not impassable for someone in a wheelchair.

“Disabled parking is also an issue where the bays outside the Town Hall do not conform to standards. Worse again they are misused by able bodied motorists parking on the area between the two spaces. This space is not a parking space; it is to facilitate wheelchair users getting in and out of their vehicles.”

“When I spoke to him, Tom Chambers pointed out to me that disabled parking spaces are being misused if they are being used by able bodied people driving cars which are also used by the disabled. Mr Chambers would like to see a crack down on this kind of abuse.

“Mr Chambers also pointed out to me that the photo of the disabled person should be on the front of the disabled notice so that people can check if it is the same person driving the car and using a disabled bay.

“There is also concern over the new toilet, in that while it is disability friendly, does not accept a skeleton key held by those with disabilities which is designed to give the disabled free access to toilet facilities nationwide. I think there is also need for public and disability friendly toilets at the Quay.

“The good news is that Westport is a lot more disability friendly than many other towns and that what is wrong with Westport will not take a great deal of time or money to put right.

“From a purely selfish point of view, Westport has a lot to gain from being more accessible. There are hundreds of thousands of euros in tourism money relating to disabled people and their families. If Westport is accessible they will visit Westport and spend their money here. There are also national awards for being accessible and I see no reason why Westport shouldn’t work towards winning them.

“We owe it to those who do not have full mobility and those in wheelchairs to put these matters right. Westport has always been a town of welcome and we should put extra effort into making sure it is accessible to all. To this end I have contacted Westport Town Council and brought these concerns to their attention.”

by Keith watch Tue Aug 03, 2004 00:24

Get your own blog. Your gettting ridiculous!

by F Doyle - Fianna Fail (personal capacity) Tue Aug 03, 2004 03:01

The policies sound wonderful. How do you propose to pay for all these wonderful things?

by the_watcher Tue Aug 03, 2004 03:09

What a load of crap. The should be renamed the Money Movers or Grab it all Folks.
A lot done. More of us poor sods to do.
The Irish people make me wanna through up. They never ever protest against the big fat cats in the government who robbs us blind.
At least the Brits get out protest their government. But not ours. wake up man.

by dube Tue Aug 03, 2004 03:13

he's talking in third person...

why should parking be free?

by Joe Soap Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:12

Why do politicians hold "clinics"?

They are not Doctors and very few have any professional qualifications. Very few dispense actual advice and merely promise to write or phone someone in a local authority, health board or other public body to ask them to do what they should be doing anyway.

Any politician advertising a clinic should be reported to the Advertising Standards Authority.

by eLIVIS Tue Aug 03, 2004 18:37

Politicans arn't half as full as shit as some of the people posting comments on this story.

Give the guy a break! He is only trying to make contact with people.

Why all the negativity?

by jock Tue Nov 02, 2004 00:22

You say that you are in favour of a recycling programe to operate from door to door as analternative to rubbish collection. Where do you stand on the Mayo County Councils proposal to privatise refuse collection and also the unbelievable sugestion that the dumps in the county will also fall into private hands