McGuinness asks public to engage

Directive is ‘not just another political controversy’ – McGuinness


Michael Duffy

MAYO county councillor Paddy McGuinness has issued an appeal to the people of Mayo to take an active interest in the looming battle over the directive issued by John Gormley, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to the Council to vary its recently-adopted County Development Plan 2008-2014.
The directive has received a lot of publicity in recent weeks and Cllr McGuinness is now afraid that the public will regard the issue as ‘just another political controversy that has no relevance to them’.
“Such a response would be a mistake as both the content and the manner of the Minister’s directive raise the most serious questions for everyone in the county. Firstly, and of most immediate concern, is the fact that the Minister’s variation dramatically reduces the prospects for people of getting planning permission in a location of their choice. This is already causing huge stress and anxiety to many existing applicants. It will similarly restrict lifestyle options for many more who have not yet applied for permissions,” according to Cllr McGuinness.
Cllr McGuinness said he knew that people may find the matter complex and confusing but the consequences of just leaving it to the Minister and bureaucrats are too serious.
“Over the next few weeks all of my colleagues on Mayo County Council will be expanding on the implications of the Minister’s intervention and this should help the public to make up their minds on the matter.  In the meantime, I am putting up all of the relevant information on my website, www.paddym.com. There is also an option on the site to state whether the issue is of concern and whether one agrees with the Minister’s intervention or not,” concluded Cllr McGuinness.