DE FACTO: Challenges facing Westport in 2025

So, 2024 has been shown the door while 2025 has come alive. Christmas fever is over and the countdowns have all run their courses. Now what? Marvel that the years fly by yet minutes can last forever? This year marks the arrival of Generation Beta – primarily the children of younger millennials and older members of Gen-Z. How will this new generation judge us? Did we push for progress in our communities?
The first De Facto article of the new year in 2005, 20 years ago, was entitled ‘Westport – Dancing at the Crossroads’. It centred mainly on the economic development of Westport, the role of the councils (we had town and county councils at the time) and other bodies in the town. There was talk back then of possible sites for multiple retail stores on the Newport Road and Altamont Street. As it happened, Tesco opened in 2007 and Lidl in 2011.
There was also concern in Westport 20 years ago that Castlebar was drawing all the shoppers because of the retail choice while Westport was suffering with many closed premises. Another reason cited was the high business rents in Westport.
On the councils:
“The councils have a huge impact on our lives, for better or for worse. Decisions made in Áras an Chontae or on Altamont Street matter to us. They also matter to the development of the town. At the risk of repeating an oft quoted line – people need to be consulted. Too often we hear about decision-making that is a ‘done deal’ rather than consultation. That type of governance is of benefit to nobody.
“Westport is changing. The so-called population cap has been deemed the myth it always was and consigned to the bin-heap (on paper). Who knows how this has delayed housing development in Westport? Much remains to be done, e.g. Carrowbawn.”
Carrowbawn remains on the hind tit when it comes to council supports. There is still no footpath and inadequate lighting. Two basic infrastructural supports for community living are being consistently ignored by successive councils. And Fine Gael dissolved town councils when they took the reins making local development more difficult for all.
One wonders why urban-based county councillors from all over the country do not put adequate pressure on the two main parties to reinstate town councils. It seems like a no-brainer.
Another issue highlighted in this column 20 years ago had to do with planning permissions. “Why is it that, several years on, planning permissions are still being refused because the final route of the N5 between Westport to Castlebar has not yet been decided?” Thankfully, that issue has been resolved.
If Westport is still dancing at the crossroads, the big issue is one that is replicated across Europe – Airbnb.
The idea is brilliant and can work effectively in a community. Unfortunately, for many tourist-supporting towns across Europe the concept has moved to another level. Rather than rent out a room or two in a someone’s home, houses are now designated wholly for Airbnb. The negative effect of this is the social impact on local communities within towns.
Another aspect is that it pushes up the price of property and enables the moneyed to use property for Airbnb purposes while pricing local young families off the property ladder. This changes the whole social dynamic of an area. Once lively local communities are now being replaced with overnighters, weekenders and short-term holidaymakers. This kills the local social fabric.
Successive governments, with their support for vulture funds which own many of these properties, are being totally irresponsible by refusing to tackle this issue while the local communities are under threat. It is time to put a value on what ‘being local’ means. In Westport terms, Covies matter.
On another level, former B&B properties have changed to Airbnb, claiming it is easier to operate, overheads are reduced and profits are increased. While there is no simple solution, the issue needs to be tackled on the many levels it is impacting on local communities. Laws on property use in certain areas need to be examined alongside regulations on short- and long-term letting options.
In short, at the end of the day, it’s people who matter. The economy that supports people comes second. At present, the tail is wagging the dog. That puts Westport at a crossroads in another New Year. What will be our legacy to Generation Beta?
Happy New Year.