COMMENT: Mayo county town at tipping point in its future development

There is a lot of disappointment in Castlebar and beyond over the planning impediment which has resulted in a proposal for a 98-bedroom nursing home, 49 sheltered apartments and a mix of retail and office space on a site adjacent to the Castle Street carpark being abandoned.

One key point needs to be made amid the fallout of frustration and dismay over the decision of the investors to pull of the project due to frustrations with the planning system.

Those in positions of power and influence in this town and county must do everything they can to ensure the project is rescued and the investment secured.

It's critical that they do so in the interest of Castlebar's future because, due to a combination of unfortunate reasons, the message has gone out - loudly and clearly, regrettably - that the county town is not extending an open arm to investors at a time when it can ill-afford not to do so.

With dereliction and decline in such prominence at several urban locations and funding allocated several years ago for renovating rundown sites like the former Imperial Hotel still left unspent, Castlebar is at a crossroads - tipping point, even - in terms of where it's going or, in this case, not going.

Never has the town needed strong leadership as much as it does now and townspeople will be watching closely in regard to how this story unfolds over the coming weeks and months.

In fact, it should never have been allowed to reach this point in the first place - and particularly so as the danger signals had been visible a year or so ago.

The key questions being posed locally at this stage are as follows.

1. What is the Department of Local Government and Mayo County Council's vision for Castlebar at this time?

2. Why are local business people and huge ratepayers, who wish to invest in their own communities, left feeling stymied and bemused by the Irish planning system?

3. How can a town like Castlebar stand up for itself when there's a growing public feeling that it's being neglected in respect of its ongoing development compared to other provincial towns of its size and stature?

The answers may be found in the manner in which this current planning and investment calamity is, or is not, addressed.

A tipping point for Castlebar, without question.