Mayo councillor asks for report on legality of Westport Greenway bridge

A MAYO councillor claims there are question marks over the ownership of a bridge over the Greenway in Westport which provides access to 12 acres of land earmarked for housing.

Westport-based Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District that he understands that there is a legal issue surrounding the ownership of a bridge built over 15 years ago which may affect the future of the Westport Local Area Plan.

The bridge which goes over the Westport Greenway close to the skatepark was built by the old Westport Town Council in order to provide access to a greenfield site at Cloonmonad which is to be zoned for residential housing.

Cllr Flynn asked Mayo County Council for a report on who owns the bridge in question.

“It has been brought to my attention in the last week that there is now a significant legal issue with the bridge which was constructed under a Part 8 [planning application] by Westport Town Council a number of years ago. We are now looking at a situation where 50 percent of the new residential land that was zoned as part of the local area plan will be landlocked. That will have significant ramifications for the town if it is the case.

“We passed the Part 8 at least 15 years ago for this bridge and I assume it was funded by the council and I assume the legalities were checked out and I assume the ownership was checked out. It is really important that we get clarity on it.

“I am asking that we get a full report on this access bridge because it is too important a piece of infrastructure to not be able to use right now in terms of the Local Area Plan. It will have a very significant impact on the area plan if it isn't accessible by the landowners in Cloonmonad.

“What are the legalities around it? Is it a Council owned property or privately owned and is this land free to be developed or is it landlocked. If that is the case our local area plan goes out the window,” he said.

The Fine Gael councillor asked for a report to be provided for the July meeting of the municipal district and the proposal was seconded by Cllr Brendan Mulroy.

Cllr Flynn made his comments after he asked what is the current timeframe for the Westport Local Area Plan and if the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) had responded to the councillors rejecting its recommendations not to zone extra land for residential housing.

Director of Services, Catherine McConnell explained that the Minister for Housing has until this Friday to issue the Council with the draft direction. She said she understands that the OPR has issued the Minister with a draft direction and she expects it to be issued to them before Friday.

Ms McConnell said that if the Minister issues a draft direction the councillors have an opportunity to make submissions before the Minister can make his final direction.