Bord Pleanala will rule on Westport road on Thursday

by Cllr Keith Martin - Stop this Road Mon Dec 04, 2006 18:32

"The Board decided not to direct the local authority to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. The Board considered that a road development that has commenced under the authority of Section 78 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963 and in accordance with the procedures set out in Part X of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, 1994 is entitled to be carried out in accordance with the terms of that procedure and that intervention by the Board to direct an EIS after a project has commenced is not provided for or contemplated in the legislation and would introduce a great degree of uncertainty, may be quite ineffectual, create major complications in respect of contracts and give rise to major diseconomies in the execution of the project. Accordingly, the Board decided to decline to formally assess any request to it to direct an EIS in respect of any project that has commenced pursuant to a Section 78/Part X procedure."

It is important to note that the Board did not rule that this road does not need an EIS. What they have said is that have declined to assess whether the road needs an EIS because it is already under construction. None the less it marks the end of the campaign.

by C Murray Mon Nov 13, 2006 18:18

Its a nice Walk. These issues are only going to get tougher with the proposed
Planning and Development Bill 2006, aka, the Strategic Infrastructure Bill. It is
important to read how it will change the role and function of the planning authority
and to disseminate this information to the voters. Copies can be got from the
Government Press office and Dail debates for the 16th of june 2006.

Martin Kay from UCL does good talks on the present consultative process and
on citizen empowerment. ( you can google him or contact members of the Tara Heritage
Preservation Group who ran an information day on the SIB in Dalgan Park and
Taylor's Hall). Other communities have faced fast-track planning issues that have
little to do with progress and more to do with building contracts and re-zoning initiatives.

Anything about the luxury hotel development at the base of Croagh Patrick?

It's important that the information on legislative decisions from central government that
can over-ride community and local wishes is made available to people, in many
ways its a just a newspaper headline and then vanished , there are sweeping changes to the
rights of appeal and access to judical process evident in SIB.

One of the most radical changes to right of appeal is the need for a group of 12 month's
inception to access judicial process. All planning subject to SIB will in future reduce
rights to appeal in very negative ways. I am sure it's possible to organise information
evenings and talks in the area- every community subject to aggressive planning should
be aware of the details of the act.

by Cllr Keith Martin Mon Nov 13, 2006 16:10

Bord Pleanala say the road does not need an EIS and can go ahead as planned.

by C Murray Thu Nov 09, 2006 20:15

A luxury hotel development at the foot of Croagh Patrick no less, and right beside an
ancient graveyard-which purportedly contains 'teeth relics' of St Patrick. not to mention
the accquisition/ merger of mining companies. Given that does who buy the Irish Times
Hoteliers/tourist shops and chamber of commerce types have welcomed the hotel development
has councillor Martin got a view?

Most people who actually climb the Croagh are happy to use tourist hostels, holiday shares
and camping facilities. A development so large would most definitely have environmental
repurcussions-not to mention the knobs both getting and obliterating the view of the reek.

I shall be down to Mayo with me placard after I study the plans. One must keep an
eye on the old mining mergers given the crony lunatic fringe's attempts to mine
the mountain in the past.....

by M.M Thu Nov 09, 2006 20:05

I still wait in anticipation.

by M. M. Wed Nov 08, 2006 21:42

I awaited Clr Martins response with anticipation. why the deafening silence from this man who usually has so much to say about Westport and Mayo???

by Tim. O' M Tue Nov 07, 2006 13:05

So councillor Martin is concerned about the popular railway line walk - Big Deal!

What about his neighbours, the people of Erris and Bellanaboy, who are daily marching to protect their rights and their environment.

If he’s so concerned about the environment and human rights why has he not bothered to travel the few miles down the road to Bellanaboy to support the local community.

Activists from all over the country, from as far away as Cork and Belfast have travelled to Bellanaboy to show their solidarity.

Yesterday, after a month of agonising and wrestling with their conscience and appeasing Enda Kenny, three labour TD’s followed the lead from Joe Higgins and Tony Gregory and joined the people of Bellanaboy.

Why will councillor Martin not support his neighbours?