West Mayo councillor 'disgusted' by proposed prices for sites in Westport Industrial Estate

West Mayo councillors have criticised the emerging price of over €200,000 for new commercial sites in Westport saying it is outrageous and out of the reach of small companies.

The proposed extension of the Westport Industrial Park on the Newport Road is expected to consist of 12 additional serviced industrial sites as well as a new link road to the Golf Course Road. In recent weeks, Mayo County Council carried out an expression of interest exercise to determine if it will be viable to go ahead with the development.

However, local councillors expressed frustration that prices of between €200,000 and €400,000 are being asked for some of the 12 sites.

Independent councillor John O'Malley said he was disappointed and disgusted with the price quoted to some business people who were looking to avail of the new sites. He said that asking such a price from a small business trying to expand was ridiculous.

“I had a man come to me who is interested in one of those, who has five people working for him. He could have ten working for him but has to turn down work as he does not have a big enough space where he is. He was hoping to get one of those for €100,000 but he knows it is out of his reach at €200,000.

“I think it is outrageous for that to be the situation. What are the council trying to do? Are they trying to make a profit on them or trying to get money back to do the slip road?

“We need to have another look at this. It is not fair to the people interested in them who want to expand their business and it is now put out of their reach. Some of them people now are looking for sites elsewhere because they think they are too expensive for them and cannot afford them,” he told the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

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Cllr John O'Malley

Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District, Cllr Peter Flynn agreed that the price being asked was somewhat prohibitive.

“I have heard that feedback from a number of people interested in them. All I ask now is that you reevaluate the real market prices because €200,000 to €400,000 is a lot of money for a site.

“Westport and west Mayo is in dire need of a commercial site and I would ask once the contractor is in place, progress is made on the site and we look at the overall price and how to make it affordable for people to expand their business and give people a chance,” he said.

However, Seamus Ó Mongáin, Head of the Municipal District replied that the council asked a local valuer to valuate the sites and they were the figures they were given.

Director of Services, Joanne Grehan informed the meeting that nothing was for sale at this point and they were just seeking expressions of interest.

“Now we have a sense of level of interest, the drawings will be defined to reflect the accurate size etc and that will be made available in due course when the sites are made available for sale,” she said.

Ms Grehan also reminded councillors that while she took their views on board, the council by law cannot sell sites below the market value.