Mayo industrial park slip road project still going ahead

WORK on a new slip road as part of the Westport Industrial Park extension is progressing, it has been confirmed, after fears were expressed that the road project was at a standstill.

Concern was voiced by local Councillor Johnny O'Malley who described a machine on site as going rusty for want of work.

He informed the monthly Westport-Bemullet Municipal District (MD) meeting that he had received information that the slip road wasn't going ahead on the Golf Course Road. And from what he saw, there wasn't anyone on site.

Senior engineer Heather Gibbons clarified that the contractor was on site and has cleared the trees and shrubs and they are now awaiting the archaeology portion of the work to commence in order to come in and complete the main contract work. There are also electricity lines to be diverted, and they are liaising with the ESB on this.

An archaeologist will be on site next week for three weeks.

“The works are going ahead,” she reiterated.

However, Councillor O'Malley said he was told previously that archaeology testing was done, a point Councillor Brendan Mulroy confirmed as having happened three years ago.

Ms. Gibbons said there were archaeologists on site as part of the planning process, but but this is the second phase, and an update would be got for the members on when it will be completed.

Councillor Peter Flynn agreed the delay is 'frustrating', saying they were talking about 12 months to get the contract completed, delivering 13 new industrial sites, which is a significant contract for the MD and Mayo in general given the shortage of industrial sites.

Director of services Joanne Grehan explained that it is a €2.4 million project.

Testing took place as part of the planning process. They were now moving on to the next phase and they need to look at the archaeology testing again.

These things take time but they are moving, and on site, she said, and they will ensure the project advances as quickly as it can.

However, Councillor Mulroy said he couldn't understand why it had to be revisited, and questioned what if something turns up now. Why was the archaeology report with the part 8 planning not enough to see the project through to the end, he asked.

He was told nothing turned up in the previous report, which indicated there is nothing of substantial merit on the site.

Members were told an update would issue as soon as possible.

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