THERE have been calls for a partial lifting of a poster ban in Clondalkin Village.
Following a proposal by Cllr John Delaney (FG) at South Dublin County Council, a ban on all posters including those associated with the referendum on the Fiscal Treaty is currently in place in the centre of Clondalkin Village.
Cllr Delaney initially proposed that the prohibition on posters should be implemented throughout the centre of the village but he said the ban has now been reduced to an area of about a 100 yards radius of the main street.
The move has been strongly supported by the Clondalkin Tidy Towns Committee.
However, last week, Eoin O’Broin, a local Sinn Fein activist, called for a compromise on the poster ban.
Mr O’Broin claimed the prohibition of posters in the area had already generated a considerable amount of disagreement among politicians, community groups and local traders.
He said Sinn Fein did not support a blanket ban as the posters were a valuable tool for political parties, community organisations and local businesses in advertising as well as raising awareness and increasing turnout at elections and referenda.
Mr O’Broin has put forward several compromise proposals to councillors who originally supported the ban, and the Clondalkin Tidy Towns Committee.
Instead of a blanket all year round ban he has suggested that it now only takes place during July and August when the Tidy Towns Competition takes place.
If implemented, his proposal would mean that posters associated with the forthcoming referendum on May 31, in which Sinn Fein are campaigning for a No vote, would be permitted in the centre of Clondalkin.
However, Cllr Delaney (FG) told Southside People that he had no intention of making a compromise on the poster ban.
He said that as far as he was aware the ban was receiving support from local residents and businesses.
“Fine Gael headquarters have backed us on this and we’re happy to go with it,
? he said.
“The fact is that nobody except the political parties wants posters in the village. The Joe Soap on the street doesn’t want them.
?
He added:
“People are remarking about how great it is not to have any posters in the centre of the village.
“Over the last number of years we have tried a number of ways to encourage people to be a little bit more aware of posters. We have been asking them to remove all their posters and their ties. You can talk all you like but it doesn’t happen,
? he added.
Clondalkin Tidy Towns Committee declined to comment on the matter. There was nobody at South Dublin County Council available for comment.