Residents raise concerns over Mayo housing plan at busy location

CONCERNS have been raised over a proposal to construct a 33-house development on a site off Pound Road in Castlebar.

Residents of Glenfort, Viewpoint, Church Villas and Rathbawn Road have submitted letters of observations in respect of the project by C and A. McConway Limited.

They pointed out it is positive to see ideas regarding housing development being explored as job creation and the provision of good quality affordable housing are generally welcomed.

However, they cited a number of serious concerns regarding the application.

In the first instance, they questioned the site notice which stated the area as being 'Garryduff', which it is not locally known as, and this may have affected people's rights to express their opinions.

"The site notice was also somewhat inconspicuous, as it was fixed to an electricity post. The assumption may have been that it was related to electricity and services and thus not in the spirit of the planning law of providing reasonable notification to the public," the submission stated.

The residents were of the view that part of the area earmarked for the new houses was to be open space.

"Perhaps it was intended that Marian Row green could be used by our residents. Unfortunately Pound Road has become such a busy road, with significant speeds, and effectively acts as a boundary between Glenfort and Marion Road areas. It is difficult to cross, even with adult supervision.

"This is currently not a safe option for the younger children, people with mobility issues or special needs living in our area.

"Unfortunately, the proposed development seeks to eliminate and build upon our existing green space. This is simply unacceptable to those of us who rely on this area to support health and activity in our children.

"Also, if it is proposed to develop this land, perhaps a change of use planning application should have been submitted, in the event that a proportional area of open space was to be provided elsewhere.

"The proposed development of 33 dwellings fails to provide a proportionally scaled green space to compensate for the removal of our much used open space," the submission said.

They further stated there is serious concern regarding safe access for the residents, and the impact on quality of life if the majority of a residential area becomes a construction site.

"There are 90 existing dwellings in Viewpoint and Glenfort, all entering at the same point from the Pound Road.

"If the occupancy here reflects recent census figures of 2.75 inhabitants per dwelling (CS0) that would mean that an estimate of in excess of 240 people will be affected by the proposed extension.

"Normally, development takes place on neighbouring land, not centrally in an estate of existing dwellings," the observation noted.

It continued: "The high density proposal has caused major concern among our residents, for many reasons: concern over existing problems around flooding, road maintenance, exacerbation of existing traffic congestion, problems with drainage and sewerage in neighbouring dwellings, as well as the loss of amenity and ecosystems and others.

"As a group, we wish to raise these concerns and, in general, support the above as part of our submission. We would also like to request that current problems are resolved in advance of any proposed development in the area.

"A number of our residents support the provision of good quality affordable housing. It is therefore unfortunate that the current development, at Garryduff, seems to be at the expense of the provision of open space for the existing residents in Glenfort and the surrounding dwellings at Churchview Villas, Viewpoint and Rathbawn Road."