Manulla held back by ‘utterly outrageous’ planning decision

MANULLA has been deprived of rural broadband because of an ‘utterly outrageous’ planning decision by Mayo County Council, a meeting of Castlebar Municipal District Council has heard.

Councillors from the Castlebar area have hit out at decision to refuse planning permission for a broadband apparatus – roughly the size of a portacabin – due to concerns about increased traffic along the N60.

The proposed development consisted of a 3.0-metre high, 3.0-metre wide cabin a 1.2-metre high fence containing wires, ducting and various other apparel.

If operational, it would have enhanced broadband connectivity for up to 1,000 people in the area.  

Attacking the decision to refuse planning, Cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District, Cllr Al McDonnell, called for decision ‘astonishing’ and called for it to be investigated.

The long-serving Fianna Fáil councillor said the structure would have taken ten days to build and would require no more than five visits a year.

Cllr McDonnell said that such developments are typically exempt from any sort of planning approval.

The applicants had applied to Mayo County Council for a Declaration for Exempt Development under Section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended).

“Of 95 pervious applications by that body [National Broadband Ireland] in various local authorities around Ireland, it was found to be exempt from planning, so there was inevitable optimism that that would be the case here,” Cllr McDonnell said. 

A proposal by the applicant to move the access point to a private farmyard was also refused due to concerns about increased traffic, according to Cllr McDonnell.

“I am astonished that there is elements within the planning office who have made this absolutely outrageous decision. I fail to come to terms with it that we, as a development authority, would justify the refusal of this application.”

Cllr McDonnell’s remarks were supported by other members of the municipal district, with Fine Gael councillor Donna Sheridan branding the decision as ‘absolutely crazy’.

Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne said the decision raised ‘fundamental questions’ about the ‘attitude’ in the council’s planning department and called for the decision to be referred to the relevant government minister.

Comparing the situation to the proposed development of forestry in nearby Craggagh, Cllr Sheridan said: “People can go in and plant how much of an area in evergreen trees in Craggagh, and they don’t need planning, and that box that you’ve showed us needs planning and it was refused. The world is gone mad is all I can say. That is shocking.”

Cllr Ger Deere (Fine Gael) voiced concern about the matter, telling the meeting that councillors were getting regular representations about broadband while canvassing.

Cllr Blackie Gavin (Fianna Fáil) also blasted the decision, commenting that pumping stations – which are of a similar size to the structure rejected by the council - do not require planning permission.

“It’s absolutely crazy,” said Cllr Gavin, who works as a plumber for Mayo County Council. “And if that’s what it’s coming to, we’re only wasting out time in here. Whoever turned town this applicant should be ashamed of themselves.”

Cllr Martin McLoughlin said that Mayo County Council has ‘an obligation to support the rollout of broadband in whatever form’, adding that the development would have provided ‘huge benefit’ to the local community.

“This is the least intrusive thing that ever came through a council in my time,” he said. “If the grass grew around it you wouldn’t even see it.”

David Mellett, Head of Castlebar Municipal District, that such applications would generally qualify for Declaration for Exempt Development must be ‘assessed in the local context’.

Mr Mellett said he would talk to planners in the council regarding the decision and said that the applicant has the option to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.