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Entrepreneurs who want to set up business in rural Westmeath now have some hope of having their application considered.

Despite the best of intentions, political allegiances reared their heads in style at this week’s meeting of Westmeath County Council.

A study into the heritage of the Fore area of Westmeath has received a commendation from the Irish Planning Institute at the National Planning Awards ceremony which was held recently in Custom House, Dublin.

“Another downgrading of the role of the council” was the predominant reaction from councillors to the news that the role of managing third level student grants is being transferred from county councils to a new centralised system.

Councillors were effusive in their praise of county librarian Mary Farrell, who is to take early retirement from the council after 17 years at the helm of the county’s library services.

“You must be a brave man to be stepping into politics, but it’s brave men we need,” was the dubious welcome extended to Westmeath’s newest councillor Peter Keaney at his first county council meeting on Monday.

Westmeath councillors have vowed not to give up control of the county’s water services without a fight, after hearing details of Government proposals to create a national company to oversee the water sector.

Westmeath County Council will continue to fight the battle against litter, even though the courts are “not kind” to the local authority’s prosecutions.

“It has to stop here,” was the response of one Westmeath councillor to news that community grant funding is to be cut again this year.

Westmeath County Council’s budget has been passed without amendment and with no frontline services cut.