By C.J.McGinley

MILFORD is expected to come to a standstilll today as local people take to the streets in a protest march over the lack of investment in vital infrastructure.

Locals are incensed over the poor state of the Main Street, potholes, the lack of car parks, the condition of footpaths and ongoing problems with on-street car parking.

Over 1,200 people from the area have signed a petition demanding action claiming the town has been 'neglected' by Donegal County Council for years.

The protest will begin from the 'top of the town' at 12 noon and people will march down through the town before handing in the petition at the council offices.

Mr Kenneth Bradley, manager of I.R.D. Milford, and one of the organisers of the protest said locals were completely fed up with "false promises".

"For years the people of Milford have been neglected in their demands for better infrastructure. Nothing has been done, so the community is taking action.

We're laying the blame here squarely at the door of local elected representatives and the council executive who have been dragging their heels for years on providing vital services for Milford," he said.

Mr Bradley said the street in the town was not regularly cleaned like other neighbouring Ramelton and Kilmacrennan.

"I don't fault the cleaners because they do a good job when it is done - the problem is that it's not done on a regular basis.

There are also derelict buildings falling to ruin, road gullies are full to the throat and litter is strewn everywhere. This is typical of the disrespect and insult that has been shown to the townspeople by the authorities.

Over the years the townspeople have received commitment after commitment to address the lack of investment in the infrastructure, only to be let down by Donegal County Council," Mr Bradley added.

It has also emerged that business representatives are to meet with senior council officials early on Monday to highlight their concerns .

Mr Bradley said the last improvement works in Milford took place over eight years ago.

"This was the first phase of a village renewal scheme that has been planned for years for the area. It included resurfacing the road at the top of the main street and an putting in a new road management system. Since then nothing has been done. We've been calling for years for a car park. The council has acquired a site for it between Kilmacrennan Road and Church Road. It is located on lands at the rear of the Travellers Inn and the Allied Irish Bank. The counci is stalling on this as well blaming local people for holding it back which is nonsense," he said.

"In the summer tenders went out for renewal works in Milford and over 34 contractors put in bids but the council has now decided, in its wisdom to do the work themselves- but how long will this take? With the greatest respect to workers we just want the job done- but again it is typical of the delays we've been experiencing," he said.

Mr Bradley said the cost of the works ranged from ¤700,000 to ¤1million.

"At election times the councillors were going to work wonders and now I can happily say they have been telling us lies - nothing has happened. They are much more concerned about how they appear and how people see them rather than seeing the town developed and improved. The Tidy Towns Committee have worked hard to get a few extra points, they are having some success, but without the aid of the council they will get nowhere. We are doing this for the good of the town," Mr Bradley said.

Councillors have claimed they have been lobbying for years to have the necessary work done and until now it has fallen on deaf ears.