The chairman of the traffic management sub-committee of Fermoy Town Council, Cllr Michael Hanley, this week launched a blistering attack on some members of the committee for breaching confidentiality.

Speaking to The Avondhu, he said he was ‘deeply disappointed’ to read on the front page of last week’s issue of this newspaper, Cllr Noel McCarthy ‘openly discussing the further intervention of the OPW in relation to free off-street parking being extended’. To his chagrin, Cllr Frank O’Flynn also commented on the matter.

“Without getting into the credit-seeking game for such issues, the decision by the OPW to agree a supporting role in relation to a period of free off street car parking was the conclusion of a series of ongoing discussions that took place over a significant period of time with the involvement of Fermoy town clerk Pauline Moriarty, the traffic management sub-committee of the town council, Fermoy Gardai and substantial role playing by Ger Barry, resident engineer and co-ordinator between Cork County Council and the OPW,” he explained.

“This work, out of necessity, was executed on a confidential basis, with the importance of the outcome being of the utmost seriousness and relevance to a business commuity struggling to absorb the substantial intervention in the commercial life of the town, and indeed the community in general, associated with the ongoing flood plan works,” he added.

He went on: “Reality, from my experience as an elected representative over the years, clearly illustrates that in the matter of Sate bodies, one does not achieve one’s aim by publicly putting such bodies in a corner. On the contrary, in this case, it is clearly irresponsible.”

He said the decision to have free off street parking had clearly proved its value to ‘a recession battered community’. “As a result, we as members of Fermoy Town Council, with officially 21 hours of discussion time left to us as a local authority before we slip away quietly come next May 14th and vanish into the mists of time, must now dedicate ourselves to achieving potentially free off street parking or variations of same.”

He said however that he had ‘grave doubts’ about establishing any semblance of collegiality at Fermoy Town Council ‘as we head for our passing out diplomas’, and pointed out that in two terms as Mayor, he had failed miserably to create a united front.  Continuing his broadside on those committee members whom he sees as publicity seeking in furtherance of their own political aims, he said: “I have no further interest as individual agendas constantly take the lead.”

He said that he would see out his mission as chair of the traffic management sub committee, adding: “But the clear lack of confidentiality with the traffic management committee and indeed within the council itself on certain issues, gives me great cause for concern in regard to the future of this country.”

“The political system must change. We cannot face into a new Local Government scenario with no lessons learned from the disaster that has befallen our country,” Cllr Hanley concluded.