Will Ballina ever live up to it's potential?

Lovelyjaws

Will Ballina ever live up to its potential? The town always seems to be lagging behind Castlebar when it comes to everything. The Town Council's plans for the Pearse St./Humbert St./Market Square areas look promising but will probably be affected by the economic downturn.What do ye guys think?

Jimmyboss

The Council are common criminals, taking over properties by CPO's, then refusing to pay the previous owners, ignoring solicitors letters, etc:mad:

WesternNight

It has potential?

(Sorry, couldn't resist)

I actually quite like Ballina.

stainluss

It always been brought down by the scum that roam the streets
(Castlebar has quite a few aswell)

Castlebar is also easier to get to (from Galway, Dublin, Knock airport etc.)
It does deserve to be a better town.

Lovelyjaws

There is a large scum element in the town alright but they don't make the decisions affecting the town.The town has been neglected by politicians and government for years.Even the Town Council have failed to act on numerous issues and seem unwilling to encourage new businesses to the town.

What's the story with the CPOs Jimmy Boss?

nayorleck114

I gave up on Ballina years ago. The people of Ballina just don't take pride in the Town. There are some good volunteers who clean up the town. (but there are triple that who dirty it) I think half the young on the town have never heard of a bin!.

Its hard to believe that Westport and Ballina are in the same county. Polar oposites.

Ballina could be a great tourist attraction. Beleek castle/Woods, Enniscrone not far away, moy river, Ceide fields. But there is no leadership to but Ballina on the Map.

Local TD does not even have a working website. http://www.daracalleary.ie/

demo5slid

Ballina is not reaching its potential for a number of reasons. The below are just some of them:

(1)The neglect of the Fianna Fail government towards North Mayo. In the most successful economic period in this countrys history, the promised N26 was not delivered. The railway to Manulla consists of an old Dublin commuter train.
And what do the people of Ballina do - go and elect another Fianna Fail TD based on his fathers reputation. The same person who is getting 175000e as a junior minister. The town then hold a civic reception to mark his achievement. If he had actually achieved something for the town then that would be adifferent story. Will anything major be achieved by him for his town - unlikely.

(2) Every scumbag in the county appears to be based in Ballina. This appears to be the policy of Mayo County Council whos officials live mainly in Westport.

(3) The town council appear to be lacking in logic.
Charging people to park outside their own homes. Buiding a car park on the banks of the Moy. A pedestrian bridge has been built across the Moy at a point in the river which is rarely used by pedestrians ( it does look quite well at night) This cost 2m euro. An arts centre is being built with a theatre of 250 seats. Why bother - the Royal Theatre has a capacity of 2000 seats. Which one will attract the acts? What a waste of money

(4) The people of Ballina have accepted the treatment they are receiving from the government. Even in the good times Ballina was an unemployment blackspot. This is hardly surprising given the lack of infrastructure. People in Ballina do not apply pressure on their elected representitives demanding improvement. We also pay road tax in North Mayo I believe- Where is the proof?
People in Ballina just sit back and accept that this is the way it is instead of demanding change.
I believe that the attitude of the towns population is the main reason why we have not reached our full potential. Unless this changes in the near future the rail link will also be lost - another nail in the coffin of Ballina which really has (or should have) so much to offer if developed properly

nayorleck114

demo5slid wrote: »

Ballina is not reaching its potential for a number of reasons. The below are just some of them:

(1)The neglect of the Fianna Fail government towards North Mayo. In the most successful economic period in this countrys history, the promised N26 was not delivered. The railway to Manulla consists of an old Dublin commuter train.
And what do the people of Ballina do - go and elect another Fianna Fail TD based on his fathers reputation. The same person who is getting 175000e as a junior minister. The town then hold a civic reception to mark his achievement. If he had actually achieved something for the town then that would be adifferent story. Will anything major be achieved by him for his town - unlikely.

(2) Every scumbag in the county appears to be based in Ballina. This appears to be the policy of Mayo County Council whos officials live mainly in Westport.

(3) The town council appear to be lacking in logic.
Charging people to park outside their own homes. Buiding a car park on the banks of the Moy. A pedestrian bridge has been built across the Moy at a point in the river which is rarely used by pedestrians ( it does look quite well at night) This cost 2m euro. An arts centre is being built with a theatre of 250 seats. Why bother - the Royal Theatre has a capacity of 2000 seats. Which one will attract the acts? What a waste of money

(4) The people of Ballina have accepted the treatment they are receiving from the government. Even in the good times Ballina was an unemployment blackspot. This is hardly surprising given the lack of infrastructure. People in Ballina do not apply pressure on their elected representitives demanding improvement. We also pay road tax in North Mayo I believe- Where is the proof?
People in Ballina just sit back and accept that this is the way it is instead of demanding change.
I believe that the attitude of the towns population is the main reason why we have not reached our full potential. Unless this changes in the near future the rail link will also be lost - another nail in the coffin of Ballina which really has (or should have) so much to offer if developed properly

Well put!!

steph1

I agree with a lot of what you said there demo5slid. I am not originally from Ballina but have lived here for a number of years. Because I drive for a living I am appalled at the condition of the roads - the so called main streets. They are an absolute disgrace. The traffic flow in the town is all wrong. I have met many councillors and politicians over the last few months and basically they promise this and that and do nothing.
I went up town this evening to do a bit of shopping and notice now that shops like Heatons which always opened late on Thursday nights were closed. Also other outlets like Xtravision are closing earlier and a number of small shops have closed altogether. These are no doubt due to the economic climate and employers not being able to afford to pay staff to work late. But this is going to further exacerbate the problems for business in the town as people are going to start travelling to Castlebar to shop.
The only shop that seems to be doing well is Penneys.

nayorleck114

steph1 wrote: »

I am appalled at the condition of the roads

yes!!, I have seen 4 accidents on the exit from Bunaree road to sligo road. (the exit the is infront of the part) If you are trying to get onto the sligo road there is no other way that to drive slow up to oncoming traffic.

The roads are ok, Its just the traffic system in the town.

steph1

I agree with you on that one. That is one dangerous spot and the other most dangerous spot is that new 'roundabout' that they put at Judge's garage nobody seems to be paying any attention to the yield signs. There is going to be one serious accident there some day. Nobody would mind a roundabout but built a proper one not a pimple on the road that everyone drives over.

nayorleck114

steph1 wrote: »

I agree with you on that one. That is one dangerous spot and the other most dangerous spot is that new 'roundabout' that they put at Judge's garage nobody seems to be paying any attention to the yield signs. There is going to be one serious accident there some day. Nobody would mind a roundabout but built a proper one not a pimple on the road that everyone drives over.

There already have been several accidents there!.

jenno86

demo5slid wrote: »

An arts centre is being built with a theatre of 250 seats. Why bother - the Royal Theatre has a capacity of 2000 seats. Which one will attract the acts? What a waste of money

2200 Seated or 4000 standing actually!

stainluss

demo5slid wrote: »

(2) Every scumbag in the county appears to be based in Ballina. This appears to be the policy of Mayo County Council whos officials live mainly in Westport.

Thats not how council housing works, you apply to the town council.

The scumbags decided to live in Ballina.

The council estates in Cbar can attract some rough "families" (shall we call them:P)

Westport doesnt seem to attract many, that must be why the council officials live there:)

stainluss

stainluss wrote: »

Thats not how council housing works, you apply to the town council.

The scumbags decided to live in Ballina.

The council estates in Cbar can attract some rough "families" (shall we call them:P)

Westport doesnt seem to attract many, that must be why the council officials live there:)

It's not jsut the town council who decide. What of the families recently relocated from Limerick to Ballina. Some of the roughest families are being moved here. It's getting to the stage where you can't feel comfortable walking through the town at any hour of the day.

nuac

Some Ballina people seem more intent on complaining about being passed out commercially by Castlebar and in tourism by Westport than getting on with developing their town.

Business people in Castlebar and Westport are good at investing in their towns and creating employment. Many industries in each of those towns started by local investment - long before the pharmas arrived. Same tradition not evident in Ballina.

Ballina does not seem to have done so well in that sphere. E.g. a saga about a biscuit factory project that never came is still mentioned about 60 years afterwards.

Don't understand the point about Council officials living in Westport. AFAIK few do. Council officials reside all over the county. A majority of the senior officials live in Castlebar or immediate vicinity..

If the point re officials' home addresses relates to traveller accommodation, there is no tradition of much traveller settlement in the Westport area. The Council have to consider the expressed preferences of travellers as to where they want to live.

In fairness to the travellers most of the chronic defendants in Ballina courts are not travellers.

mickmannion

stainluss wrote: »

Thats not how council housing works, you apply to the town council.

The scumbags decided to live in Ballina.

The council estates in Cbar can attract some rough "families" (shall we call them:P)

Westport doesnt seem to attract many, that must be why the council officials live there:)

Not trying to be smart or anything but Ballina Town Council can only accept scumbag applications if they have housing available.
Ballina has the highest number of council houses in all of County Mayo. In fact the largest estate in Mayo is situated in Ballina and is a council estate.

It stands to reason that there is politics involved here
The locations of these estates are decided by the officials of Mayo County Council and not by the individuals seeking accomodation themselves. in fairness thats a load of rubbish.

And do u think that it is a good idea settling all these individuals in one town. The results speak for themselves.
24.8 % unemployment in 2007

jenno86

The relocated from Limerick are causing bother in Castlebar too. Sure there was a Gardai were involved in a car chase around the town with them. They flew the wrong way down Main St side swiping cars and everything.

mtechdrukan

sure ballina is a sh**hole anyways, it has no potential

jenno86

mtechdrukan wrote: »

sure ballina is a sh**hole anyways, it has no potential

:D Controversial!