Oral hearing on N5 Westport-to-Turlough road underway

Oral hearing on N5 Westport to Turlough road underway


Áine Ryan & Ciara Galvin

OVER 105 submissions have been made to the An Bord PleanΡla oral hearing into the development of the N5 from Turlough, near Castlebar, to Westport, The Mayo News can confirm.
The hearing, which is being chaired by senior planning appeals board Inspector, Stephen O’Sullivan, opened in Hotel Westport on Tuesday last, January 14, and, at the opening session, was attended by up to 200 people, as well as a large number of expert witnesses. The Mayo News has attended two sessions so far.  

Compulsory purchase orders
While the development of this last section of the N5 is not an immediate priority for the National Roads Authority (NRA), the significant step of  granting compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) to Mayo County Council for the proposed route is a necessary precursor to the ultimate development of a route, viewed as necessary by all of Co Mayo’s big businesses.
Before Christmas, local Government TDs Michael Ring and Michelle Mulherin welcomed the allocation of €800,000 for the N5 project between Turlough and Westport. This funding is for the CPO payments by the council.
Acting for the applicant, Mayo County Council, Mr Esmonde Keane SC, said every effort had been made to minimise the amount of land that must be acquired compulsorily. He said that it was hoped that ‘some of the evidence that would be addressed by the council [expert witnesses]’ may resolve a number of the issues raised by landowners and thus their submissions may be withdrawn as the hearing proceeded.  
He explained that the N5 Westport to Turlough Road project extends from a connection with the N59 north-west of Westport in the townland of Deerpark East, to a new junction on the N5 at Turlough, just east of Castlebar, adjacent to the National Museum of Country Life in the townland of Gortnafolla.
The applicant’s team of expert witnesses addressed aspects of the complex Environmental Impact Assessment under such categories as design, geology, traffic, planning, noise and vibration, air quality, ecology, landscape, agriculture, archaeology, architecture and socio-economic considerations.
Submissions were made by such prescribed bodies as the HSE, An Taisce, the Geological Survey of Ireland, the Inland Fisheries Board, the West Regional Authority and the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Some of these bodies, like a number of the individual objectors or supporters, chose not to make oral submissions at the hearing. Many of the home owners and landowners were represented by legal counsel, which is the norm.
A number of community and resident groups also made submissions. They included Islandeady Community Council and Deerpark East Residents’ Group and Cogaula-Sheeaune Residents Committee.
Solicitor Rory O’Connor, representing Castlebar Golf Club told the opening sessions that his clients were in ongoing negotiations with the applicant and close to resolving their issues.

Concerns
On Thursday last, January 16, representatives for objectors voiced their concerns, presenting their submissions to the applicant, Mayo County Council. Eighteen of the approximate 105 submissions were withdrawn on Thursday after objectors represented by Gaynor Miller reached an agreement with the applicant. Among the concerns raised by submissions were issues of land access, safety crossings, and noise and visual impact.  
A submission from Thomas Burke raised the issue of access to his land, which would be severed as a result of the road project. Two acres of Mr Bourke’s 25-acre beef farm would be required for the development of the N5 route, resulting in over ten acres of Mr Bourke’s land being severed from his dwelling. A representative for Mr Bourke sought a stock underpass on Mr Bourke’s land to remedy the situation.
Responding to the submission, Jim Thorpe, witness for the design of and need for the scheme and compulsory purchase order and soils and geology, said the request for an underpass was not feasible.
Teresa O’Reilly on behalf of The West Regional Authority outlined the authority’s support for the project as a ‘priority’ and said that the route would support a remedy for congestion in Castlebar and Westport.
As part of the submission, Ms O’Reilly recommended that suitable safe crossings would be integrated into the project including crossings at Castlebar West junction and Knockranny West junction among others.
A submission on behalf of Nora O’Connor c/o Michael Ruane highlighted issues of noise and visual impacts resulting from a slip road connecting the N5 route to the Ballinrobe Road in Westport.
Stephen Smyth, in charge of noise and vibration impacts, told the hearing that future noise levels in the area were not predicted to change because the dominant noise level is currently coming from the N84 Ballinrobe Road.
Mr Ruane told the hearing that he did not accept the agent’s answer in relation to noise level and the submission remains.
The hearing continued last Friday and continues this week.