Burke call for fresh look at Tesco petrol application

Burke call for fresh look at Tesco petrol application


Michael Commins

MAJOR concern is being expressed in the Ballinrobe area in relation to An Bord Pleanala’s decision to grant planning permission to Tesco for a petrol forecourt following extensive recent flooding on the site. The River Robe burst its banks and caused widespread flooding in the Tesco Car Park area.
The IPRA, the industry body representing the interests of over 380 independent petrol retailers in Ireland, has again questioned the rationale for An Bord Pleanala’s decision to grant planning permission to TESCO for this development.
David Blevings, media spokesperson for the IPRA, said, “Mayo County Council shot down the original proposal on the grounds that there was a pollution threat due to the site’s proximity to the River Robe. This river flows into Lough Mask which supplies half of Mayo with drinking water. Recent events would suggest that their concerns were well founded. An Bord Pleanala subsequently agreed to the development despite the opposition from numerous retailers and the Council’s concerns.
“We intend to take the matter of planning for supermarket filling stations up with the Minister. There appears to be conflicting advice in the Retail Planning Guide which limits petrol forecourt shops to 100 square metres but appears to permit kiosks intrinsically linked to large supermarkets which can be up to 3000 square metres.”, added David.
Local county councillor, Michael Burke, says the events of recent days were a real eye-opener and called An Bord Pleanala to take a fresh look at their decision in light of the flood waters and the potential disastrous situation in relation to water supplies from Lough Mask to most of county Mayo.
“The high levels in the River Robe in recent days should act as a warning in relation to the dangers posed by allowing a petrol forecourt at TESCO, adjacent to the River Robe. The car park was well flooded there last week. No matter how protected petrol or diesel tanks are, there can always be leaks,” said Cllr Burke.
“The Robe flows alongside this place and directly into Lough Mask which now supplies in the region of 60% of water to Mayo homes. We cannot allow anything to endanger that supply. That is why the County Council took the decision it did. It is totally wrong to create a new risk to waters supplying so much of Mayo with drinking water.”