Minister O'Brien rejects Local Area Plan for Castlebar

Castlebar councillors have been left infuriated by a rejection of the Castlebar Town and Environs Local Area Plan.

Minister for Local Government, Darragh O’Brien came down on the side of the Office of the Planning Regular which previously rubbished aspects of the plan.

Adjustments and submissions were made by councillors and council officials a number of weeks ago but these efforts have not been accepted.

The Minister has issued a series of directive in order to resolve the impasse.

He has called for a clear core strategy table which sets out the area and quantum of housing to be delivered on lands zoned 'town centre, existing residential and new residential'.

Councillors have told to reinstate a number of zoning objectives from agriculture, enterprise and employment to 'new residential'.

The Minister has also directed the deletions of lands zoned as 'enterprise and employment' at Cloonagh, located to the southwest of Saleen Lake and to the immediate east of the rail line "and apply all necessary consequential updates to the text of the plan."

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said the ruling is a slap in the face to councillors, officials, and members of public who made submissions.

“There was little point in councillors meeting, the public making submissions, and agreeing a pathway forward for the development of the town when the Minister just vetoes it and says, “That’s it.” It totally disregards our views,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.

The only avenue now available to councillors and the council is to take the matter to court, but Cllr Kilcoyne stated this is “unlikely to happen.” He said the councillors plan took into account the housing needs for the Castlebar area.

“This plan was for the benefit of the town. We wanted to zone land for housing. There are no houses,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.

He said the Minister has failed to take into account Castlebar’s growing population and is “doing exactly what the civil servants tell him to do.”