'Disappointed' with Mayo industrial sites price tag

THE proposed sale price of industrial sites in Westport has been criticised by local councillors.

Asking prices ranging from €200,000 to €400,000 for sites at an extension to the industrial park in the town left Councillor Johnny O'Malley feeling 'disappointed'.

Speaking at a municipal meeting, he said asking €200,000 from a small business trying to get going was 'ridiculous'.

He knew a man with five employees who could rise that to 10 if he had more space. He had hoped to get a site for €100,000, but it was now out of his reach.

Add in the cost of planning permission, and your spend could rise to €250,000, added Councillor O'Malley. It needs to be looked at again, he said.

It wasn't fair on people, some of whom are looking for commercial sites elsewhere as they can't afford them.

Councillor Peter Flynn also agreed that the prices seemed prohibitive and he had heard that feedback from people interested in them.

They should look at the overall pricing and how to make it affordable for people to expand their businesses.

Members were told sites had been valued by an independent valuer. The council cannot undersell below market value as a public entity.

Expressions of interest were sought, to evaluate interest levels, with no point investing heavily around other enabling works that need to be done to facilitate the sites if there's no one willing to buy them.

The sites have not been for sale up to this point. Now the sites and drawings will be refined.

* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme