Councillors want to have an input into land zoning
Cllr Michael Loftus expressed concern that councillors' opinions would be ignored when it came to zoning land for the Local Area Plan.
Councillors in Ballina have vowed to fight to have their voices heard when it comes to the zoning of residential land in the new Local Area Plan.
The plan is on public display until February 8 next, but Cllr Michael Loftus said he was concerned with reports in the local media from councillors in Castlebar and Westport who had been omitted from contributing submissions regarding zoned land to their Local Area Plan.
"Members in Castlebar and Westport are being told they are not allowed to make reference to ongoing developments and we are now fearful that when we ask these questions, we will be ignored," he told a meeting of Ballina Municipal District.
Cllr Loftus said councillors are concerned that their input will be ignored.
"There is a question over our powers and whether our influence on the Local Area Plan is diminished," he said. "It is unfair, there is land in Ballina that had been zoned that has been taken out."
Cllr Annie-May Reape said the removal of areas from the plan that councillors had suggested for residential zoning is detrimental to the development of the town.
"We need residential zones for affordable housing. We have no houses for people who are looking to move home," she said. "This is anti-development. If areas we want zoned will be rezoned when it goes to the planning regulator, why waste our time? We need to fight this, our local policy cannot be dictated from Dublin."
Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said the need for housing warrants local councillors to be able to have their say and input into the Local Area Plan.
"We have to make a stand on the area plan," he said.
Cllr Mark Duffy said there are currently only over 120 houses in the pipeline for Ballina in the next two years and the councillors need greater input if that figure is to be increased.
"We need to up our intensity and volume. We need to zone lands where people want to develop and build and focus on these areas where development is going to take place."
The Ballina Draft Local Area Plan is currently on public display at Aras an Chontae, Castlebar, the Ballina Library and Ballina Civic Offices and can be viewed during opening hours.
