THE RUINATION OF KINSALE

I have been in or around Kinsale since 1954 , so would still be regarded as a “ Blow-in “, but I feel I must comment on what is being done to the town by a small group of Cork County Council officials. Their sole purpose is not what is in the best interests of the town , but sole raising funds to cover their shortfalls of recent years . This was clearly evidenced by their attitude at the Town Council meeting on 5^th Oct last , when the Town Manager announced that pay parking was to be enforced in the three car parks in the town , despite this needing a By-law change by the Council .

When all other towns and cities are reducing or removing parking fees to try to stimulate business , Kinsale is to increase theirs. You may as well lock the gates as you are leaving!!

The town of Kinsale has been hammered by the on-going drainage works (necessary) before ever the recession came , and this would be the final nail in the coffin , driving people to the multiples with ample free parking in Carrigaline and Bandon.

When this point was made at the meeting , the response was “we need the money “!!

This is not the Raison d’etre of the County Council employees, Unless they have forgotten , they are here to serve the wishes of the people of Kinsale ,as expressed by Local Councillors , not to raise funds , which they have manifestly miss – spent in the past .

On another matter closer to my heart , at a previous meeting of the town council , on 7^th Sept, It was unanimously agreed that the market should be relocated back to the Short Quay , and the issues that resulted in the market being moved should be addressed . This has been completely ignored by the Cork Co Co officials and instead they proposed moving the market to the Back Glen , which would kill the Market in a matter of weeks .The Town manager then announced that a sum of between 20,000 and 40,000 euros would be required to facilitate the move .

The Chamber of tourism / commerce has been noticeable by their silence , in standing up for the rights of their members , and the Local councillors seem dazzled by the autocracy of these Cork Co Co employees , and unable to formulate a response to reign in the ruination of Kinsale as a place to do Business , or to spend time .

It is surely time for the people themselves to stand against this treatment , and make it quite clear that they /we want a large say in what goes on in Kinsale , and how the town is to be run!!!