Fine Gael Councillor Eugene Lavin expressed his concern at the lack of progress on the Kiltimagh development plan at the bi-monthly meeting of the Swinford electoral area committee this week.
Director of Services for the area, Mr Paddy Mahon, told the meeting that “The National Building Agency were approached by the council to carry out a draft development plan for the town and I hoped that I would have a date for the members as to when we would have it before this meeting, but it looks like it will take a short while more before we get it.” Speaking on the Swinford plan he informed the members that there had been 11 submissions made by members of the public on the draft plan for this area and that the Charlestown plan is nearly ready to progress to the next stage.
Kiltimagh-based Cllr Lavin stated that “I’d like to welcome the work on the Swinford and Charlestown plans, but the plans for the three towns started off at the same time yet the Kiltimagh one is lagging behind seriously to the other two. I’d like to know why it isn’t progressing at the same speed. Is it once again going to be left behind because it’s a small town in the east of Mayo? We had a very well-attended public consultation process on this issue and nothing since.”
Director of Services Mr Mahon told Cllr Lavin that he expected the first draft to be ready very soon and he would let him know as soon as possible.
Council to take action against group scheme
Director of Services Paddy Mahon told the elected members during a discussion on group water schemes in the area that the council are in the process of taking action against one group water scheme in the area. He told the members that “the council is the water authority for the group schemes in the county and there is one scheme in Killasser which has a long history of non-compliance with directions. We are being forced to take action against them under the Drinking Water Act. “
Council disposes of land in Swinford
The members of the committee also agreed to dispose of a 0.79 hectare plot of land at Relief Road, Foxford to Mr Kevin O’Neill for a fee of €70,000. Mr Noel Burke, Senior Engineer for Mayo County Council, told the members that. “This plot of land is a very peculiar shape and it cuts off land owned by a company Mr O’Neill is acting for who have been given planning permission for a housing development on it. The sale of his land will enable the development to increase in size and will improve the overall layout and appearance of the development.” The members agreed with the sale which will go through by contract subject to planning permission.
