Ruling on Mayo 'isolation unit' leaves residents up in arms

A GRANT of planning permission for a self-contained isolation unit in the rear garden of 30 McHale Road, Castlebar, has been upheld by An Bord Pleanála.

The local residents association was unhappy with Mayo County Council's decision to grant retention planning to Joseph Costello and appealed against it.

They objected on the grounds that the unit had been originally constructed without planning permission and was therefore unauthorised.

The association made the point that uncontrolled building in their estate is a cause of serious concern and, in this case, posed a problem in respect of a service road potentially being blocked by parked vehicles, restricting access in the event of emergency services being called to the location.

They also made the point that the back gardens were never intended to be developments for apartments or any other habitable structures and a dangerous precedent was being set by the council.

An Bord Pleanála, in its ruling, said that having regard to the county development plan, the nature and restricted use of the unit subordinate to the existing dwelling, and to the existing pattern of development in the area, the retention of the unit would not be unjurious to the residential amenities of property in the vicinity and would not constitute a pedestrian or traffic hazard, and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

It is a condition of the grant of planning that the unit is strictly for use by members of the immediate family of the occupier of the main house and cannot be sold or let, long or short-term, or for tourist use.

Former town councillor Kevin Guthrie said the ruling has created a very dangerous precedent for the estate and particularly so in regard to service road freedom of access.

"It has very serious implications from a health and safety perspective and that's why we are left feeling dismayed by the board's decision," he added.