Mayo councillors seek high-level meeting over rejected area plan

Castlebar councillors are to seek a Government department meeting about their over-ruled Local Area Plan.

In December, Castlebar councillors met and agreed on several alterations to the draft plan but the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) refused the changes.

Councillors made further tweaks, some of which were accepted but others were not, and the plan was ultimately rejected by the Minister for Local Government Darragh O'Brien who found in favour of the OPR and issued a directive in May. 

Minister O’Brien said that the plan proposed by Castlebar Municipal District was inconsistent with national guidelines aimed at revitalising town centres.

Mayo Co Council planners previously told councillors that a judicial review was only likely to succeed if there had been a procedural mistake in the Minister’s decision.

Head of Castlebar, Municipal District, David Mellett, told councillors at last week's meeting that no such failings seem likely in this instance. 

“This does not seem to be the case here, and the sense is that we would not be successful. We can pursue the matter if required, but the costs have not been included in our budget and the funds would have to be allocated from other projects/initiatives,” he said.

Cllr Michael Kilcoyne called for the local authority to seek independent legal advice on the matter.

“Everything we laboured for has just all gone out the window,” he said, adding that similar legal challenges in other areas of the country have succeeded.

Fellow Independent Harry Barrett disagreed and said seeking further legal advice would be a “waste of money” as the Minister has ultimate sanction.

“Take the hit and move on,” he added.

“I don’t think we have a case,” stated Cllr Al McDonnell who suggested a meeting with the Department of Housing as "similar meetings have led to progress in the past". 

Cllr McDonnell's fellow councillors backed his proposal.