No meeting for Castlepollard deputation

Westmeath county manager Danny McLoughlin says he will not be meeting a community deputation from Castlepollard until a review of the services provided at the council’s one-stop shop is complete.

At a recent meeting in the town, it was decided that a deputation would seek a meeting with Mr McLoughlin to discuss the recent removal of motor tax processing services at the one-stop-shop.

Locals wishing to renew their motor tax can pay there, but since the start of February have to wait a number of days for the new disc to be posted from Mullingar.

Speaking at the last meeting of the county council, Cllr Paddy Hill said that many locals saw it as a withdrawal of a vital service from the town and that the council had “come in for some criticism”.

The county manager disagreed and said it was part of the council’s ongoing rationalisation of its services and staff.

He added that a review of the services provided at the one-stop-shop was currently under way and that until that is complete and the findings are known, it would be “inappropriate” to meet a deputation from Castlepollard.

Cllr Frank McDermott agreed with McLoughlin, saying that the service wasn’t being withdrawn just “rearranged”.