Guth & Tuairim, Meán Fómhair 1983

UIMH.2 MEAN FOMHAIR 1983 LUACH36p. £6,000·-- DOWN In these recessionary times, cutbacks in Government spending are a familiar fact of life. And so, considerin~ the scarcity of money Coiste Forbartha an Ghlaisigh (Glassagh Development Committee) were more than delighted when late last year they learned that an Environmental Grant of £6,000 had been allocated to bring improvements to Loch an Inbhir, a very good fishing lake in the district which is stocked by Bord Slat– Iascaireachta Ghaoth Dobhair. The Committee had fought for years to get a slipway and a car-park built at the lake. Now Bord Failte, the National tourist body, in conjunction with Donegal County Council were making the necessary funds avai lable. Hembers of the Committee i=ediately met with Co. Council officials and suggested that local labour be used to carry out the work. Argued the committee, '"6,000 would provide jobs for unemployed local people for months. The raw material - stones and gravel were available free locally and they would guarantee that the money would be well spent. The project would be of great benefit to the area, it would even reduce the dole queue . It seemed like a very sensible suggestion. The Co. Council in their wisdom thought otherwise. They secured a contractor to do the job and work commenced before Christmas 1982. Heavy machinery moved in, lorry loads of stones and gravel were brought from a quarry miles outside the district. 30 loads were dumped into the lake to build the slipway and 25 more went towards building a car-park nearby. In one week the money was spent. The machinery moved out. Time went by. Local people began to w~nder, is that it? Is the job finished? Yes, said the Council, the work is completed. IT HAS GOT TO"BE SEEN TO BE BELIFm:D~ The "Slipway" is a pile of jagged stones dumped into the lake and covered over with a thin layer of tar which has now sunk down through the stones. Wire nets filled with stones are visibly sticking out of it and are extremely dangerous - especially for children. Dur ing the Summer a Scottish angler holi daying locally tripped on this wire and fell into the l ake . The 11 car-park" is 20' x 60 1 - too small and badly finished. Local Committee members Donnchadh McFadden and Mickey Gallagher are pictured standing on the slipway. THE DRAIN In short, the project is a complete disastert It is an ugly eyesore, and dangerous as well. £6,000 of public money has been wasted. Meanwhile, local people want to see a proper slipway and a proper car-park but embarrassed Council officials are passing the buck among themselves. Action is called for - and nowt The Car P&rk? Local Country singer. Searnus McGee being rrP-Rented with the 1983 ~dio 2 National Country Music Award for 'Favourite New Country Act' by RTE D.J. Pascal Mooney.