Questions about ownership of land where west mayo bridge was built

COUNCILLORS in Westport are concerned that they may have approved a Part 8 planning application on lands that were not in council ownership.

Relevant files are being brought together from the planning office and solicitors to compile a report on the matter for the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting in September.

It relates to the Cloonmonad bridge, over the greenway, which was put in place a number of years ago to open up land for housing development.

Councillor Brendan Mulroy said his concern is that they passed a Part 8 based on the information before them.

However, he now has information that the land in question was not owned by the council.

This is a critical piece of land, said Councillor Peter Flynn - 12.5 hectares zoned new residential.

If there was a legal issue with access it potentially would throw their development plan into turmoil.

On the local area plan itself, Councillor Flynn sought clarification on when the council was advised about a proposed ministerial direction.

He had asked at a June 28 meeting if any update had been received from the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) and was told there was no contact.

However, the OPR said information was sent to the minister on June 21 and the council received details three days later.

Director of services Catherine McConnell said they had received a courtesy call to say it was on the way but the OPR report was not received until after the 28th.

That report was circulated and put on public display for submissions.

Councillor Flynn said he had gone to the OPR about the correspondence and also to ask if anyone from the office had visited Westport during the local area plan process.

They confirmed they hadn't visited, which left him wondering about an office in Dublin making determinations on Mayo without every having set foot in the county.

On the correspondence, there had definitely been a breakdown in communication, he commented.