U-turn on Ballyconnell Garda Station hours

A decision to cut the public office opening hours at Ballyconnell Garda Station has been reversed after concerns were raised by the community.

News of the U-turn was relayed to the local community after a meeting took place last Wednesday (March 20) between the Chief Superintendent for Cavan-Monaghan-Louth, Alan McGovern, and new Superintendent for Cavan Town, John Callanan.

The station, once a HQ with its own district and open 24 hours a day, saw the public office opening hours slashed to 9am-9pm after it was amalgamated with Cavan Town.

The latest proposed new opening hours meant the station would only be open to the public for four hours each day - from 7-9am in the mornings and 6-8pm in the evenings. The change, which came into effect from Bank Holiday Monday, March 18, was advertised by way of a notice placed on the door only the Saturday before, March 16.

A meeting of Ballyconnell Town Development members took place on Tuesday night, March 19, to discuss the fallout. One possibility discussed was the potential for a larger community meeting to take place.

The decision to maintain the public opening hours from 9am-9pm was welcomed by local Fine Gael councillor Peter McVitty, who had raised the subject for discussion at the meeting of Cavan-Belturbet Municipal District last Wednesday (March 19).

Among the comments made was one that the reduction in public opening hours reflected a further “erosion” of public services in rural Ireland.

The station reopened as before on Thursday last, March 21, with the public hours of 9am-9pm reinstated.