Call for judicial review of Mayo Aldi store approval after appeal

Former county councillor and longstanding businessman Joe Mellett has called on Mayo County Council to challenge An Coimisiúm Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for a new Aldi store in Swinford, even if it requires a judicial review.

Mr. Mellett, a native of Swinford, said he was “greatly concerned” that the appeals board overturned the council’s earlier refusal and claimed the inspector’s report failed to properly address key issues raised during the process.

Among his concerns are road safety, increased traffic volumes, and the impact on facilities in the immediate area, including the church, schools, garda station and local residents.

He also argued that Aldi’s reliance on a 10km population catchment unfairly overlaps with nearby towns such as Charlestown, Foxford, Kiltimagh and Kilkelly, which each depend on their own customer base and he fears an Aldi store will impact upon local trade there.

Mr. Mellett pointed to Mayo’s County Development Plan, which he said supports all small towns, and argued the inspector “does not address this most important issue which will have a devastating effect” on neighbouring communities.

On Swinford’s local planning framework, he highlighted a contradiction, which identifies a core shopping area excluding the proposed site and the inspector’s claim that “there is no statutory town development plan for Swinford.”

If that were true, he said, “surely the entire application should have been thrown out.”

The handling of traffic and delivery hours was also criticised.

The inspector recommended restricting supermarket deliveries to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., but Mr Mellett branded this “a truly farcical unenforceable condition,” questioning how it could be monitored or enforced.

He is urging Mayo County Council to respond firmly to An Coimisiún Pleanála’s ruling and to “take whatever action is necessary to challenge it”, even if that includes a judicial review.

Aldi have declined to comment on Mr. Mellett's statement.