Approval for 44 apartments on appeal - Mayo planners criticised by councillor

COUNCIL planners have been taken to task after An Bord Pleanála ruled in favour of an apartment development in Claremorris.

Mayo County Council rejected plans for a 66-unit project at Kilcolman Road in the town.

Following an appeal by the developer, approval has been given for 44 apartments at the site by An Bord Pleanála.

Councillor Richard Finn raised the matter at a Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting yesterday (Wednesday), saying the decision is a massive boost for the local housing situation.

However, Mayo planners, he said, had refused this application on town centre lands, as they had also done on town centre lands when Lidl submitted an application.

They have, he said, local planners in the county turning down applications for housing for our people.

He accused planners of having 'no social empathy', adding that no effort is being made to come along and engage with people.

Local management were not involved in this, the councillor stated. It is a county planning issue, and he would have 'much more' to say about it at their next meeting.

Councillor Finn went on to ask if Mayo County Council would refuse the €100,000 in rates being paid annually by Lidl or the Local Property Tax from the 44 apartments.

“They will refuse planning permission but they will not refuse the LPT.”

He went on to warn: “Don't expect me to be voting for increases in property tax or rates.”