County Council criticised for Manulla broadband decision

A councillor has blasted a decision by Mayo County Council to refuse planning permission for a broadband structure in Manulla.

Cllr Al McDonnell told a meeting of Castlebar Municipal District that he has been left flabbergasted by the decision. He accused the local authority of denying people in the locality an upgrade to their broadband services.

Cllr McDonnell said when the company involved, National Broadband Ireland, made similar applications in other counties the development was deemed exempt from planning but Mayo County Council took a different view. He said the development, a fibre broadband cabin, is a ‘modest structure’ and would only take 10 days to construct.

Cllr McDonnell told his fellow councillors that the council ruled that the project was not an exempted development due to direct access to the N60, noting that it might create an additional traffic hazard. He said when the company proposed an alternative site entrance this was also rejected.

Cllr McDonnell said the company has informed him that there would be a maximum of five site visits to the broadband cabin over the course of a year.

“This is an astonishing refusal. There is no legitimate reason for the refusal. It’s an absolutely outrageous decision,” he added.

Cllr McDonnell called on council management to step in and remedy the situation. He also said an investigation into the decision needs to be carried out. Fine Gael’s Donna Sheridan said the decision by the council "seems absolutely crazy".