East Mayo ‘held to ransom’ over N17 decision

THE proposed new route for the N17 has been holding up planning in east Mayo for 14 years and a local councillor wants to see it resolved.

It will be the end of the year before a decision is made about the route the road from Collooney to Knock will take, which was described as 'ridiculous' by Councillor John Caulfield.

The councillor, speaking at a Swinford-Claremorris Municipal District meeting, said he had before him a planning application that was rejected on July 11, 2008.

It would now be 14 years before one could go back for planning in an area stretching from Bellaghy to Shanvaghera near Knock.

“The people in that area have been held to ransom now for 14 years,” he said.

They talked about rural regeneration but there was no building within that area.

They had applications put in and refused as a decision could not be made on where the road should go.

“I am asking them to come up with a decision and not be holding the people of that area to ransom for one minute longer,” he said.

Municipal district head Padraig Flanagan said Transport Infrastructure Ireland have substantially reduced down the corridors they are keeping so the situation is not as bad as it was when they were three or four miles.

It is progressing, he said.