Councillors divided over Colonel’s Wood zoning

Councillors divided over Colonel’s Wood zoning


Áine Ryan

LABOUR Town Councillor, Keith Martin has said the controversial application by Coillte to build a nursing home in Kockranny’s Colonel’s Wood was opportunistic and simply aimed to take advantage of now extinguished tax breaks.
The Leas Cathaoirleach of Westport Town Council  has now appealed to Coillte to withdraw its application and enter into dialogue with interested parties over the future of the historic  wood.
Likening the proposed design to Hitler’s Furher Bunker, Cllr Martin conceded the development of a new nursing home was a good idea since there is an obvious need in the locality for such a facility, but, however, the location was totally wrong.
“The location and design of what is proposed for Knockranny’s Colonel’s Wood is wrong on several counts, for example knocking down a large area of woodland to make space for a nursing home is wrong, considering a wood has been in that location for at least 172 years. Furthermore, the deforestation would affect the skyline and there are serious associated infrastructural problems, such as road and pedestrian access, traffic control and water pressure,” Cllr Martin said.
He urged that the area be zoned K Woodland, with a new objective – as recommended by Manager Peter Hynes in the Draft Town Development Plan.
At last week’s special planning meeting Cllr Martin  proposed that ‘any development at Colonel’s Wood would be subject to a design brief agreed by the elected members and following a period of public consultation, the design brief would be brought before the Council for final agreement.  If ratified, a binding agreement would be entered into with Coillte’.
This motion was seconded by Cllr Ollie Gannon and supported by Cathaoirleach Cllr Myles Staunton and Cllrs Christy  Hyland, Michael McLaughlin and Tereasa McGuire.
Meanwhile, the other three councillors, Margaret Adams, Brendan Mulroy and Martin Keane voted it be zoned simply K-Woodland. Cllr Adams argued that if thus zoned, any proposed significant development would have to come before the council and demand a material convention of the plan.
Responding, local resident Edel Hackett said:
“The residents of Knockranny clearly called for Westport Town Councillors to zone Colonel Woods as woodland only to protect a unique in-town forest which can be enjoyed by the entire town and visitors,” Ms Hackett said.
“There is initial uncertainty about the merits of the final majority vote which allows for the inclusion of a design brief for the area.  The residents must be assured by the town management and councillors a design brief is not an opening for development by stealth,” she continued.
“The residents are now calling on the executive to draw up this design brief for the woods within a matter of months and in good faith.  The only thing the residents want to see are simple and completely natural walking and off-road cycling paths and a plan to improve the tree stock,” she said.