Couple unable to build on wedding present site

Achill couple unable to build on wedding present site


Anton McNulty

AN ACHILL couple who were given a site on which to build a house, as a wedding present, have been told their plans are not suitable because the location is considered an area of scenic beauty.
The decision to recommend for refusal an application by Cormac and Elaine Conaghan to construct a dwelling house at Keel West, Dooagh because it was located in a coastal area of scenic beauty was met with outrage by councillors at last week’s meeting of the Belmullet Electoral Area Committee.
It was revealed at the meeting that there had been no objections from neighbours or from agencies such as An Taisce to the application and the decision to recommend refusal was from Mayo County Council. Planner Aisling Judge said the site location was contrary to proper planning in a scenic area and would be contrary to the County Development Plan.
Councillors at the meeting blasted the recommendation, saying that these types of decisions were driving young people away from rural areas, and they urged the planners to reconsider their decision.
Mr Peter Hynes, Director of Services with Mayo County Council, rejected claims that the Council was making it difficult for young people to settle by saying that Mayo had the least amount of refusals of any county. He added that planning was a balancing act, where certain latitudes could be given, but the onus was on the Council to look after the environment and the tourism product which people depended on for an income.
Cllr Michael Holmes told the meeting that the couple had received the site from their uncle and aunt on the day of their wedding and explained that they had spent in excess of €7,000 to date in preparing the application. He said they were both from Achill and were currently renting a house and wanted to send their child to the local primary school in Dooagh.
“In a year or two’s time their child will be starting school and they want the child to go to Dooagh school. There is no reason not to allow this house to be built. There is no doubt it is a scenic and beautiful area but I don’t know what beauty over-rules the beauty of young kids and a family playing around their house. If the Council decide not to grant permission, it is obvious this family will have to leave the island that is so welcoming to tourists but doesn’t welcome young couples living in the area,” he said.
The meeting heard that the site location is the last green field site on the road to Keem Bay and houses had been built on the other sites beside it. Cllr Micheál McNamara said the couple were prepared to look at other options to accommodate the wishes of the Council and criticised the decision made.
“There is a grey area surrounding the reasons for refusal because what one person would consider scenic and coastal could differ from another person. Mayo has the longest coastline in Ireland and if we were using that logic nobody would be able to build a house. We are now saying that young people can’t live in Achill and will have no choice but to end up moving to Castlebar,” he said.
Cllr Gerry Coyle added that people who lived in the area were more entitled to a view than a person who visits for one week in the year while Cllr Tim Quinn claimed a common sense approach should be taken to these types of applications.