At a Westport Town Council meeting held last Thursday, to consider the manager’s report on submissions on the amendments to the Westport Town and Environs Development Plan, a proposal was carried that Colonel’s Woods would be zoned as woodland and that any development carried out in the area would be subject to a design brief agreed by elected members following a period of public consultation.
Following councillors’ proposed amendments to the town’s draft plan, 61 written submissions were received in the public display period from November 3 to December 2. A third manager’s report was prepared which summarised that the main submissions received concerned the Bank of Ireland gardens (two third of submissions received ), zoning, Colonel’s Wood, and the deletion of structures of the recorded protected structures list.
As regards Colonel’s Wood the submissions requested that woodland would not be developed for purposes such as holiday homes or nursing homes (at present planning permission is sought for a nursing home in the area ).
Town manager Peter Hynes recommended that the area be zoned woodland and that the development would be subject to a design brief agreed by elected members following a period of public consultation.
Councillor Keith Martin proposed this recommendation so that a partnership approach of all parties for the proper development of the area would be ensured. This proposal was seconded by Cllr Ollie Gannon and supported by Clls Hyland, McGuire, McLaughlin, and Staunton.
In relation to the Bank of Ireland garden, submissions received requested that the entire garden be zoned open space instead of the recommendation that the garden be made two thirds open space and one third town centre. Councillors were asked to propose, reject, or modify the amendment, and due to the legal advice given regarding modifying the amendment councillors adjourned the matter until another development plan meeting which took place last night (Thursday ).
