Outgoing Milford Electoral Area Committee Chairman, Councillor Liam Blaney, has described the lack of movement of the proposed Environmental Improvement works planned for the Milford area as one of the "low points" of his year as area Chairman.

Cllr Blaney said he was bitterly disappointed at the level of progress for planned works to provide a car park and road improvement to the Main Street and stated the problem lay with local individuals and the acquisition of land before the works could commence.

"My year in the Chair has been fruitful in one sense and disappointing in others. The highlight would be having the Taoiseach here to turn the sod for the Mulroy Bridge Project in Fanad, but there were a number of lows for me as the Chairman and as a Councillor for the area. One of the lowest was the promises with the Environmental Improvement Scheme for Milford. The money was made available in September 2006, we had two public meetings about it. I was bluffed into believing that the work was going to start in 2006," stated Cllr Blaney.

"It is now 2007 and I know the work is not going to be done this year. We will be lucky to see it start next year. In 2005 I was led to believe the work would commence and I am bitterly disappointed" he added.

The Fianna Fail Councillor stated ¤1.5 million in funding is available for the project and it was a "disgrace" that certain individuals "could hold things up". He added a Compulsory Purchase Order should be sought for the land required to ensure work can get underway next year.

Councillor Ian McGarvey, who will take over as Area Committee Chairman from Cllr Blaney said continued co-operation from the local community was required to help progress the matter as it would ultimately benefit the community.

"Anyone can hold the Council to ransom but at the end of the day it is the money of the people being spent by the council and we have to remember that," he added.