Big Changes Needed In Newbridge

kildare | politics / elections | press release

Sunday May 31, 2009 17:07

by Bazra B

It has been an extremely busy campaign for Sean Downey, local election hopeful for Sinn Féin in recent months but took a brief rest bight to convey the overwhelming anger and discontent he has witnessed toward the government and many present councillors during his election campaign, and the key issues as he will try and tackle.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Storm Cinema, Naas 2. Old Oscar Cinema, Eyre St, Newbridge 3. Swimming Pool, Nass 4. Abandoned Swimming Pool, Royston, Newbridge

It has been an extremely busy campaign for Sean Downey, local election hopeful for Sinn Féin in recent months but took a brief rest bight to convey the overwhelming anger and discontent he has witnessed toward the government and many present councillors during his election campaign.

A huge amount of people are simply fed up with how the country and Newbridge has been run over the past number of years, “I understand their plight and agree 100%, that is why I am running for election to try and change the way things are done locally”, he reiterated his aim, if elected to be the “preverbal kick up the arse” the council needs and to bring honesty, transparency and accountability to the post. This election campaign has been one of the most ferrous battles in many years, with the electorate extremely worried about cuts, levies, rising unemployment and the lack of local amenities such as a cinema, swimming pool or facilities for young people.

The need for facilities for young people has been at the core of his campaign but he was quick to cite that Newbridge is at a serious disadvantage to towns of comparable size through its lack of Urban District Council status. “Naas has somewhere in the region €10-€15 million to spend in providing amenities and services yet Newbridge has a messily €250,000, consequently our town has suffered badly” he added “with a budget like Naas we could have a community swimming pool, cinema and give overwhelming support to local youth projects like Kildare Youth Theatre, Newbridge Youth Project and Culture Factory for example”.

If elected Sean says he will endeavour to work with all like minded people to ensure the people of Newbridge get Urban District Council Status, which is the fair deal they deserve, “Those elected should provide the best for the people. Collectively those who are elected on 5th June need to rectify this serious injustice for the future wellbeing of Newbridge” he added. He was also strongly encouraging people to come out and vote, in particular against the government and for progressive parties like Sinn Féin, “this is peoples chance to send a message to those in power that you are not happy, if we don’t do this the ordinary people will be further burdened with unfair levies, taxes and cuts to bail out greedy bankers and developers”.

Sean Downey is the Sinn Féin local election candidate for the Newbridge electoral area.