Dublin Bus Serving the entire community

Fingal Independent reports

Community pressure, rather than ‘waffle from politicians’, delivers, a local election candidate has said in a row over the fate of a bus route.

The Green Party’s Swords candidate, Ken Duffy accused the Socialist Party of ‘pressing people’s panic buttons’ earlier this month after a leaflet announcing proposed bus route cuts was distributed in a Swords estate.

In a message from the Socialist Howth/ Malahide candidate, Brian Greene, residents of Holywell were told the 142 route was to be ’slashed’ and were urged to put maximum pressure on Government parties. Mr Duffy dismissed the claims as ’scaremongering’. In response, the Socialists said they had spoken to Dublin Bus shop stewards last week, who were still in talks with the company and said a new duty to cover the 142 service is to be included, as part of a deal on new rosters and working arrangements.

‘We salute the efforts of residents in the communities and the bus drivers in their campaign to ensure that the maximum number of bus routes and jobs are protected from management’s cost-cutting programme at Dublin Bus,’ Mr Greene said.

‘A new rostering arrangement was worked out in the LRC which enabled the 142 to continue to be undertaken in the evening. This shows that the pressure with regard to this route is having an impact.’

UPDATE: The saving of this route is part of a deal that will have the driver on duty on the 142 working a 13 hour shift. The deal between the company & unions  was rejectect by workers. Dublin Bus will put in place the revised cuts this weekend. And service disruption is expected. I wonder how safe it is to drive a bus on a 13 hour shift? 

3G plan mobile mast at Bayside Square

Following contacts from local residents, Malahide Howth local election candidate with the Socialist Party Brian Greene has learned that 3G Threefold has applied for an exemption from planning to erect mobile phone antenna on a building at Bayside Square Sutton.

“The fact that mobile phone companies continue to site masts beside residents is baffling. Attempts to engage communities in the process of mast locations has been met with a wall of silence from mobile phone companies and their agents. What residents and mobile phone users need is the sensible siting of masts where the community has input. The exemption route that mobile phone companies use excludes the community from the last line of defense by refusing an opportunity to inspect that plans adhere to the rigors of the planning laws.” according to Mr. Greene

Back in 2005 Mr.Greene led a successful campaign to remove mobile phone masts from beside the boys primary school in Baldoyle. “Today like in 2005 the ‘Precautionary Approach’ is what scientists and communities call for when considerations are being made about the location choice of mobile phone antenna.”

Communities are denied the planning process when these exemptions are applied. Exemptions were introduce by the Fianna Fail Government in 2001. There are very few criteria that do not allow for the exemption to succeed allowing companies to attach disguised antenna to an array of commercial & public buildings. However communities unhappy with the proximity of a mast can successfully protest and remove antenna as the 2005 Baldoyle case proved. “Residents need to be vigilant, masts are springing up at closer and closer centres as technology ‘improves’. Through people power the balance can shift and communities can halt the erections of unwanted masts in their areas.”

There is also word that Meteor are seeking an exemption to build a station at Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Centre. Baldoyle Against Radiation has worked with other campaign groups throughout Ireland following the landmark 2005 An Bord Pleanála decision. If you require more details on the Baldoyle campaign contact BAR@Dublin13.com

linked post Baldoyle Mast Removal