'Ugly' pipe preventing development of Mayo river

There are calls to put a plan in place to enhance and restore the town river in Castlebar.

Cllr Harry Barrett put forward a motion at the monthly meeting of Castlebar Municipal District urging the local authority to put in place a Habitat Management Plan, to facilitate the drawdown of any future funding required to enhance and restore the Castlebar Town river, Lough Lannagh and associated waterways.

“Any other town in Ireland would be so happy to have the resource we have on our doorstep,” said Cllr Barrett.

However, he said the town river is underutilised and in a terrible condition.

“Coming into Castlebar and you see the state of the river and it’s totally neglected. It speaks to a bygone or industrial era when we did not respect our waterways. It could be an awful lot better. People today, tourists today want experiences. They want to fish in Castlebar, they want to kayak in Castlebar, and experience the best we have to offer," said Cllr Barrett.

He said specialised and Government help is required. Cllr Barrett said a Habitat Management Plan is required in order to avail of any potential funding.

“Invest serious money into it and make it a resource we can be proud of. I want to people to be able to benefit of what it can offer. I want people to be able to take kayaks right through this town out to Turlough. I want fish to be able to come through that river again,” said Cllr Barrett.

Cllr Ger Deere, who is also a part of Castlebar Tidy Towns, said poor planning which allowed the installation of a sewer pipe across the river at the rear of Elvery’s has stymied the recreation use of the waterway.

“It would be lovely to go from Bilberry down to Turlough but you can’t. Because no other local authority would have given planning permission for the ugliest sewer pipe.” He said kayakers have to get out of their crafts in order to negotiate the pipe.

“We destroyed the river. We are inhibited because of that ugly sewer pipe,” he added.