MarieBaker_A3 newsletter 08/10/2010 12:56 Page 1

COUNCILLOR MARIE BAKER Working for Blackrock Families

www.mariebaker.net BLACKROCK NEWSLETTER A NOTE FROM MARIE I am a great believer in local communities and was therefore delighted to be In this newsletter... involved as one of the people organising the Blackrock Family Festival at the end of August. It was a great success, with in excess of 4,500 people attending over the course of the afternoon. • BLACKROCK FAMILY The purpose of the event run by the Blackrock Business Network was to profile FESTIVAL businesses in Blackrock and to encourage local people to support their local businesses. Indeed this was a theme I stressed in my year as Cathaoirleach of the County Council. • BLACKROCK TOWN At a very difficult time when many businesses are failing, and with over HALL REFURBISHMENT 450,000 without a job, it is important to support local businesses and so keep communities vibrant. • MARTELLO TOWER AT Other events, including an Animation festival, are planned for the future. SEAPOINT Pictured right: Marie at Blackrock Family Festival • CARYSFORT MARETIMO STREAM PROJECT BLACKROCK TOWN HALL • ROADS I was delighted to attend the ceremony to mark the start of the work • NEWS to refurbish the Blackrock Town Hall complex. The Town Hall itself dates from 1865 and has been in a poor state of repair for some time. All • MY YEAR AS significant features including the façade and the old Blackrock Town Council Chamber will be retained. CATHAOIRLEACH The redeveloped complex, which includes the Town Hall, the Carnegie Library and the VEC building, will become the permanent home of the • INVITATION TO JOIN VEC (Vocational Educational Committee). The complex will also house the new library, which will extend to approx. twice its old size and have FINE GAEL more modern facilities. The building works are to be completed by autumn 2011 with the new library opening soon afterwards. • FINE GAEL Marie at Blackrock Town Hall start of works SUPERDRAW

MARTELLO TOWER AT SEAPOINT: This scheme is designed to reduce the risk of flooding through Orpen, St. Heliers Copse, Avoca Park, The Cloisters, Carysfort Park and Avondale. As a result of various delays in the tendering process progress on this has been much too slow. The latest update on this I have received suggests that it is hoped that work will finally begin in early 2011. DEANSGRANGE SEAPOINT LIBRARY MARTELLO After years of campaigning to the Council, I am delighted to finally see Rosemont Terrace in Booterstown has been TOWER resurfaced. Works are underway on the The Council has also decided to close off the end of Martello tower at Seapoint. Dorndern in Booterstown which had become a short cut for Repairs are taking place to commuters onto the Rock Road. the stone work, pointing and ironwork. Also a new I was also delighted to see that after many years of effort floor needs to be put in by local residents and the local councillors that a Local place as the existing Area Plan was recently adopted for Deansgrange. the front and landscaping. These works are to take place in wooden floor has rotten. As spring 2011. In the meantime Library is going to An application to retain an illegal phone mast erected at part of the 2011 Summer of see some upgrading works including a new information TEK Deansgrange has been rejected by both the Council Heritage programme, the desk with a self-service facility, new toilets, flooring and and An Bord Pleanala. tower will be open to the windows. Access will also be improved with a new ramp public for an exhibition on The Council has published plans for the refurbishment of and entrance. These works should be completed by the end Martello towers. Deansgrange library, including a new glazed elevation at of this year.

MARIE BAKER: Keeping in touch - Always available MarieBaker_A3 newsletter 08/10/2010 12:56 Page 2

The serious side of the role of Cathaoirleach… A VERY BUSY YEAR... In my year as Cathaoirleach there were also 3 I had the honour of being Cathaoirleach (Mayor) of the County from June 2009 to serious challenges that had to be tackled. June 2010. The County has a population of approximately 200,000 and covers an As a result of the current difficult economic circumstances there are financial challenges area from Booterstown to Shankill and from UCD to the Hills in facing the Council. Government funding has . During the year I attended over 250 official events including been severely curtailed and income from participating in celebrations for 150th anniversary of , the development levies has all but collapsed. This 100th anniversary of the Irish Countrywomen’s Associations and the 70th meant difficult decisions had to be made to get a balanced budget through the Council but this anniversary of my local scout group – the 29th Dublin Blackrock. I also got the was achieved. opportunity to recognise the work of the volunteers of the Dún Laoghaire RNLI The County Development Plan for 2010-2016 station through the Cathaoirleach’s award. also needed to be drafted and debated. This involved over 60 hours of meetings which as Cathaoirleach I had to chair and complete within specified timeframes. Businesses within the County had also been one of my priorities. Although not of a business background I recognise the importance of supporting local businesses in order to protect employment and preserve local communities. Unfortunately figures from the CSO indicate that unemployment has grown by over 10% in Dublin from May 2009 to May 2010. I attended a large number of events organised by both the Dun Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce and the Dun Laoghaire Business Association. I took every opportunity to remind both consumers and other businesses to “shop local”.

Help us achieve change On a national level people are crying out for change and desperately want a new Government with new policies. Help us make that happen by… Joining us today and become a member of Fine Gael – we are always looking for new people with new ideas. Help us financially by buying a ticket in our annual fund raising Superdraw. Super prizes include a first prize of 20,000. Contact me at [email protected] or 086-8186704 for more details. CLLR. MARIE BAKER COUNCIL - Cathaoirleach of the Council 2009/10 - Chairperson of the Transport Strategic Policy Committee 2007/09 - Member of the County Enterprise Board - Member of the Joint Policing Committee - Member of the Water & Waste Policy Committee

COMMUNITY - Chairperson Blackrock Tidy Towns Committee - Committee member of the Blackrock Business Network - Chairperson of the Facilities Management Committee 29th Dublin Blackrock Scouts - Member of the Parish Pastoral Council St. John The Baptist Church Blackrock

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CLLR MARIE BAKER 38 Avondale Lawn, Blackrock Mobile: 086 8186704 Email: [email protected] Web: www.mariebaker.net www.facebook.com/cllrmariebaker