Residents appeal decision on vehicle inspection building
Castlebar residents have lodged an appeal with An Bord Pleanála over a Mayo County decision to grant planning for a vehicle inspection building.
Castlebar residents have appealed a decision to grant planning permission for a vehicle testing premises to An Bord Pleanála.
Mayo County Council previously granted planning permission to MDS Commercial Centre Europe Ltd for the construction of a building for the inspection of vehicles.
The proposed 650-square-metre development is within the confines of the existing MDS vehicle premises located at the southern end of the Castlebar Retail Park. Nine submissions were made to the council by homeowners in the area following the original planning application.
Maryland residents contended that the development straddles two separate sites, namely Castlebar Retail Park and the Golden Mile Industrial Estate.
They also queried the proposed opening hours of the premises and the veracity of the noise surveys carried out at the site. Residents claimed that the existing noise levels from the premises are unacceptable currently and will be exacerbated by a new development.
“We are deeply concerned that the proposed development will further add to the air and noise pollution and further erode the peaceful enjoyment of our property and those of our neighbours that they have enjoyed for 40 plus years,” read one of the submissions to the council.
“The lack of action and concrete response from the council to the complaints of the residents in relation to the current noise, anti-social hours of business and air pollution issues has given us a lack of confidence that the council has duly considered the ongoing effects of the applicant's business on all of the adjoining and surrounding properties within the estate and our expectation of the continued peaceful and healthy enjoyment of our properties that we had enjoyed over the last 40 years,” the submission added.
The council ruled that the additional premises would not have a negative impact on adjoining residential properties. Council planners also ruled that the development will not increase noise levels in the area. An Bord Pleanála is expected to make a decision on the appeal in March 2024.
