Mayo councillors prepare to take on OPR to change development plan

A FINE Gael councillor says he is prepared to take on the Office of the Planning Regulator (OPR) in the autumn in order to change the Mayo County Development Plan to make it easier for people to get planning permission.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors are expected to make proposals when they return from their summer break in September to make a material contravention to the County Development Plan to reduce restrictions on planning guidelines.

Westport councillor Peter Flynn, who is the Fine Gael party whip on Mayo County Council, made the call to change the county development plan after claiming that people applying for planning were being refused on 'trivial matters'.

Speaking at yesterday's monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District in Belmullet, Cllr Flynn claimed that planners are not using their discretion to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to granting planning permission.

“To be honest with you I have never seen as many refusals in planning than over the last 12 months and we as councillors need to look at changing the development plan. We adopted a development plan on the basis of giving flexibility to planners to give people the benefit of the doubt. But what seems to have happened is the development plan is used to refuse anything that is anyway astray whatsoever.

Discretion

“THE discretion we gave to planners which was supposed to allow people to be able to build is now being used to beat people up. I do think we need to consider whether we need to make a material contravention to the development plan particularly in the whole area of social connectivity,” he told the meeting.

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Planning has become one of the most contentious issues among local councillors in recent years with many claiming that young couples were having to go through hoops to secure planning which was putting them at a financial loss.

Cllr Flynn, who is Cathaoirleach of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, said that planning criteria such as having a link to an area was being used to prevent people building a house in areas where all the services are available.

“I have never seen it as bad and it has been bad over the years but the last 12 months there has been no signs in terms of discretion. It is regrettable that in the middle of a housing crisis instead of giving people the benefit of the doubt we are now using the development plan as a sledgehammer to reject application after application. It is not acceptable.

Westport councillor Peter Flynn wants changes to county development plan

“I do think come September as a whole we need to consider whether we need to revisit the development plan and take on the OPR [Office of the Planning Regulator] and whoever needs to be taken on because we cannot accept what is going on,” he said.

Full support

HE received full support from a number of his council colleagues who stated they would support any move for a material contravention of the development plan.

Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle said that there are people 'with money' in Belmullet who are prepared to build homes for people but obstacles were being put in their way.

“People are waiting for houses so why in the name of God are we putting obstacles in their way. We are stopping it from all angles and it needs to be looked at. Don't give a thousand reasons why something shouldn't be done, give them one reason why it should,” he said.

The Fine Gael councillor added he was also frustrated that people wishing to move back to their home area were having to show proof they have links to an area.

“People were baptised in the waters in Geesala and Binghamstown and Doohoma and they are being asked to prove they have links to the area. What amount of proof do they meet in the name of God,” he said.

Battle

FIANNA Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy said he would support Cllr Flynn and would welcome going to battle with the OPR.

The Westport-based councillor said that young people living in Westport were at a major disadvantage as it is too expensive to buy a house in the town and they will not have to prove their local links to be able to build in the countryside.

“You will meet your housing need in Westport town if you have €500,000 in your back pocket,” he commented.

“We need to materially contravene that plan ... for whatever reason an awful lot of people cannot get planning permission so I will fully support what you are saying and I say to all political parties and independents to support it.”

Independent councillor John O'Malley also spoke out against the 'obstacles' in the way of young people wishing to build their own home and they should be supported.

“I have dealt with people looking to get planning permission and they were put through the mill for no reason.

“It is crazy and frustrating to the people who are willing to build a house for themselves. They are not going into the council looking to be given a house. They are willing to build a house but every obstacle is put in their way to stop them,” said Cllr O'Malley.