Achill councillor's anger at planning decisions

An Achill councillor has expressed despair that Mayo County Council is refusing “one planning application after another” on the grounds of potential infringement of scenic views, pointing out that the island is renowned as one of the most scenic areas in the country.

Warning that the practice will lead to further rural decline, Cllr Paul McNamara told last week’s meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that in the past 15 to 20 years Achill Island has lost ten small shops, nine hotels/pubs, seven post offices and five schools.

Cllr McNamara said there had been four planning refusals for one-off houses on the island over the previous eight weeks and “two Achill natives currently living in Castlebar and Galway" were told by the council that they "did not have a housing need and would not be looked at favourably to get planning in the parish of Achill”.

“Why is Mayo leading out in refusals on the scenic area basis?” the Fianna Fáil councillor asked.

Citing national planning guidelines that ordain an applicant “must have a genuine social or economic need”, Cllr McNamara said it did not make sense then that someone could “arrive off a bus from Dublin and present as homeless and Mayo County Council has an obligation to put a roof over their heads”, adding that three of the refusals in Achill were not even along the scenic coastal route “yet 200 metres away the council can put in an application for 20 social houses and get them through no problem”.

Cllr McNamara told the case of “a gentleman born, bred and raised in Achill who wants to come back but who was told no, because the proposed house is in a scenic view area”.

“This is absolutely ridiculous. These are people who want to spend money and live in the area. We promote Mayo Day and the hope of bringing emigrants back home, but we can’t even get planning for the people from the area. A farm of land is barely keeping one family going in Achill as it is, but what about if there are three or four kids in the family; are we saying three have to go and we are only allowing one to stay?” 

The Fianna Fail councillor declared: “I say there is a big problem with planning in Mayo County Council that we can allow one application after another be refused on the basis of the site being in a scenic area, given that Mayo is one of the biggest coastal counties and everywhere you go there is a view.” 

Describing Mayo as a “no-go for applications along a scenic route”, he told the forum: “Something needs to be done because we cannot expect these places to survive if we take the view of turning down rural planning.” 

Director of Services Joanne Grehan told Cllr McNamara she was happy to discuss the matter further with him, saying: “We hear and acknowledge your frustrations. The decisions are made through the guidance of the County Development Plan and local area plans approved by members.” 

However, this assertion was challenged by councillors, who told management they had never signed off on plans that would work against constituents. Stating that local people were entitled to enjoy the scenic view, Cllr Gerry Coyle said: “Some planners would prefer to hear a cuckoo than kids out playing."

Cllr John O’Malley said: “If they keep refusing planning in rural areas, these areas will die. I could name a few townlands outside Westport that are dying as we speak because there are no young people.” 

Cllr Sean Carey asked why people from an area are not able to live there, especially considering there is so much remote working now.

“People make up a community but many who are willing to set up business and live here are being refused planning. It’s a no brainer compared with city living and all the congestion. You can’t beat the standard of living in Mayo, where in five minutes after a working day you can be down on the shore enjoying the wonderful amenities in the area.” 

Cllr Brendan Mulroy recalled a time when councillors could plead a case for a constituent and management would take on board individual circumstances and named an executive member who helped out many families in such a fashion before, telling management: “We need to take on board the emotional stress families are going through and Mayo County Council needs to have more of an arm-around-the-shoulder approach and try to help people.” 

Cllr Chris Maxwell said planning comes up as an issue at every meeting, adding: “You would wonder at this stage is anyone listening to us at all. Someone in Mayo County Council needs to sort this out once and for all for our young people so they can build or get houses in rural areas. We need these people back here and we have all the services. Mayo County Council needs to lead the way and help out to keep rural May alive.” 

Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn asked the Director of Services to relay the messages to the planners, in particular the request to exercise discretion on planning decisions, adding that it was not just an issue in rural areas but also in urban centres.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.