Work on Westport road is halted

Work on the slip road at Westport Industrial Estate has come to an end as there is an issue with the land at the site, according to a local councillor.

Speaking at the recent meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr John O’Malley said the construction company that had been working on the site had since removed its machinery as the work could not progress due to a "site issue".

“The contractor has pulled out and has no machinery there now because there is a problem”, claimed the Independent councillor.

He then went on to tell council management: "If you don’t know about it, I don’t know how you are working for the council.” 

Cllr O'Malley said there is a problem “that has to be sorted out" before the contractor returns, adding that “the purchaser before said 300 tonnes of material would have to be taken out". He said the site was called a bog area for good reason, “so there is a problem with the ground there and the contractor has pulled out". 

Area Engineer Heather Gibbons told Cllr O’Malley the matter was “commercially sensitive” and said she would speak to him regarding the delay in private. However, she confirmed that work will commence in the first quarter of next year.

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.