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[Press Release: September 12th, 2004] Greens criticise proposed expenditure of 250,000 euros at Seafront's BandstandFollowing last week's meeting of Bray Town Council at which a proposal to carry out expensive 'enhancement works' at the Bandstand on the Seafront was discussed, the three newly elected Green Party councillors strongly opposed this proposal.Councillor Ciaran O'Brien reminded the other councillors that there were many priority issues in the town that required funding including a Recycling Centre for the town, more roadsweepers and bins, recreational amenities for children and youth, and extensive repairs programmes for local authority housing in Bray. "It is not acceptable that we are now considering spending 250,000 euros on installing expensive granite slabs and possible seating around the Bandstand on the Seafront" he said."We do recognise that this area is in need of repair works but the Green Party certainly could not justify this kind of expenditure when we are being told that there will not be money for other town priorities in next year's Budget". His Green Party colleague, Deirdre de Burca, reminded the councillors present that the 1999 Bray Town Development Plan contained clear policies about the protection of the unique Victorian character of the seafront. "The proposed Enhancement Programme for the Seafront appears to be about radically modernising its appearance, and this is being done without any proper consultation with the people of the town" she says. Councillor de Burca claims that the new lighting on the seafront was installed without any proper consultation. "If the majority of people in the town want to see this kind of modern infrastructure being erected on the Promenade, that is fine, but I dont remember anybody asking them" she says. "It's not good enough for twelve councillors on Bray Town Council to approve dramatic changes to the Seafront without properly consulting the people. The Seafront is a widely-used public amenity and any major changes that are planned for it must be put to the people for their views and comments". Green Party councillor, Caroline Burrell, supported her colleagues in their objections to the proposed expensive works around the Bandstand. "We would have no difficulty agreeing to spending 30,000-40,000 euros doing up the area around the Bandstand" she says "but we cannot agree to spending 250,000 euros on it, especially when these proposed works will reduce the amount of green space at the Esplanade". The Green Party councillors argued that Bray Town councillors should take the opportunity to propose changes to the Plans for the Bandstand before putting them out on public display. However, they were not supported by their Labour Party or Fine Fail colleagues who voted to have the plans put on display without any changes. "We are very disappointed that Fine Fail and the Labour Party saw fit to put these plans on display without councilors having an opportunity to discuss and amend them" says de Burca. "I hope that members of the public will go to see these plans as soon as they are put on display and that they will be given real opportunities to feed in their views and their opinions on the future development of the Seafront".
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