Buncrana Tidy Towns 'disappointed by lack of consultation’ over Shore Front sign

The Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative has said it is disappointed by what it has described as a lack of consultation over the erection of a large sign on Buncrana’s Shore Front.

The comments come as a businessman in the town has launched a petition over the future of the galvanised steel sign which was erected last month. 

The sign, which cost almost €10,000, was paid for by discretionary funding from Cllr Nicholas Crossan’s term as cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council in 2019 to 2020. The independent councillor has maintained that the decision-making process behind the erection of the sign was transparent and that no one has complained to him in person about it.

The sign was discussed at a recent meeting of the committee of the Buncrana Tidy Towns Initiative. 

Gerald Porter, chair of the committee said: “Buncrana Tidy Towns feels let down and disappointed by the lack of consultation and consideration to where the sign was erected in such a scenic area.”

Paul Brogan, the owner of the Food For Thought health food store on the town’s Main Street, said the feedback he has had on the sign is that it is “an eye sore, a waste of money and in the wrong place”.

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Mr Brogan has started a petition which gives options for moving the sign or keeping it where it is. The petition, which he said is available from various businesses on the Main Street,  is also asking for suggestions on where to move the sign to.

Local artist and teacher Rois Deeney, who lives close to the Shore Front, posted comments critical of the location of the sign in the days after it was erected. Her posts were backed by dozens of comments. 

“I am just coming from an artistic point of view and I think the design is very uncreative, unimaginative and I just think it is very cold and the concept of it is very tacky and tasteless. Everyone will have their own opinion but that is just mine.”

Cllr Crossan said the sign, which is close to the harbour light on the Shore Front, can be a tourism asset which will be a landmark for the town. He said it is already being used on social media by local businesses.

He said the plans for the sign were brought before councillors at a meeting last June with documents outlining the design, location, construction and cost. The sign was commissioned in honour of past members of the town’s St Patrick’s Day committee, he said.

“There will be ten different locations that people suggest moving it to,” he said. The sign was best located close to a bicycle shed, the harbour light, a time dial and the bust of Tip O’Neill, he said.“I thought it was better located all in the one place.”

He said “to this very minute not one person” has contacted him to discuss the sign.

Sinn Fein councillor Jack Murray, who raised concerns about the sign at a recent meeting of the Inishowen Municipal District, said he was told at the meeting the sign did not need planning permission and that all necessary steps had been taken for it to go ahead.

He said there are “clearly different opinions” on the sign.  “There has been a lot of criticism. I was quite critical of the fact people should have their say on something so significant that has such a significant impact. The likes of the Tidy Towns groups and local businesses should have had an input into it. I know that some people do like it, but a lot of others don’t.”