News Snips...

Leonard Advises Local Farmer

Dunboyne Councillor Noel Leonard is currently advising a local farmer on the planning permission application to Meath County Council to provide allotments on his land to allow interested individuals to grow their own fruit and vegetables.

This follows Cllr Noel Leonard recent call on Meath County Council to allocate pockets of land in the area for the purpose of providing allotments to people in the general area.

Given the current downturn more and more people will be looking for an opportunity to grow their own food. There are also benefits for the environment in growing your own. The cost of carbon footprint is dramatically reduced as there are no air miles involved in bringing the food to your table.

Allotments may also provide people with an opportunity to relax away from the stress of work or provide an outlet for the unemployed. Plot holders could also bring their children for the educational experience of sowing, growing, cultivating and harvesting healthy vegetables.

Leonard calls on County Council to reduce weight restriction on Dunboyne

and Kilbride Roads

“One of the biggest concerns for people is the quality of road surface and the number of potholes in the general Dunboyne/Kilbride Area” says Cllr Noel Leonard following several nights of canvassing.

Cllr Leonard stated “The problem would appear to have been caused by both the amount of rainfall we have experienced and the number of HGV’s using these roads as short cuts and un-official bypasses”

“I am particularly concerned about Kennedy Road and the roads around Kilbride. I have walked these roads and I cannot believe the deterioration of them particularly along the verges. One night this week while canvassing 6 x HGV’s passed me in 10 minutes. There is no doubt that the roads in these area’s are amongst the worst in the County. This is an obvious safety hazard plus it can be costly for people who are damaging their cars on these roads.

Kilmessan Community to benefit from Navan Commuter Rail

Dunboyne Councillor Noel Leonard can confirm that Dunboyne Senior National School has been successful with their application under the 2009 Summer Works Scheme for grant aid towards an essential project (toilets) at the school.

“I understand the Planning and Building Unit will shortly contact the school with further details and instructions on how to proceed” said Cllr Leonard.

St. Peters College Dunboyne Young Social Innovators 2009 crown

Dunboyne Councillor Noel Leonard sends his congratulations to students of St Peter’s College Dunboyne whose “Butterfly Effect Project” was crowned Young Social Innovators of 2009 at the RDS yesterday (6th May 2009)

The “Butterfly Effect Project”, a collaborative project with Colaiste Bhride Carnew, focused on highlighting poverty, living in poverty for a week and producing a book on poverty.

Dunboyne Councillor Noel Leonard stated “I am very proud of the Students of St Peters College and very much welcome this success story for the College. The college is a great asset to our community.”

New retail strategy needed for Meath

Dunboyne Councillor Noel Leonard has highlighted the need for ‘new thinking’ to increase the level of retail spend within the county.

Councillor Leonard said: “Currently, Meath has over 40% retail leakage. That means that 40% of the retail spend from Meath shoppers is going outside the county. This is not good for employment within Meath. Compare this to the experience in Kildare where the leakage figure is 20%. We need to be more pro-active in encouraging more retail outlets to the County thereby creating more local employment.”

Councillor Leonard’ remarks came on the back of a recent planning discussion with Meath County Council regarding retail strategies.