Mayo farmer keen to see plantations an election issue

The Rural Ireland Organisation will host a public meeting in Balla Community Hall to discuss the issue.

The meeting, taking place on Monday, February 19 on behalf of the residents in Craggagh starts at 7.30 p.m.

The meeting is to discuss plantations of sitka spruce close to people’s homes in Craggagh village and what the leader of RIO, Gerry Loftus believes is foreign investors aiming to profit off the destruction of rural Ireland, he went on to warn, these plantations are coming ‘to every rural area.’

Loftus is urging all politicians to attend this meeting as he believes the people of Craggagh and Mayo have been let down by the Minister in charge of forestry, Pippa Hackett, Coillte and the Government.

Former local and general election candidate, Loftus said, ‘it’s an issue in Craggagh now, we see it happening with regard to Ballycastle GAA club objecting and hearing nothing back from the powers that be.'

He claims, ‘Mayo people need to know where politicans stand on allowing plantations of poisonous trees in the county ahead of an election.’