- Planning
- Posted
Planning board queried again about Ballina bridge
BALLINA’s
proposed pedestrian bridge has been thrown into rocky waters again with
yet another appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanála (ABP) regarding its
decision that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was unnecessary
for the development, to be situated at the Salmon Weir on the River
Moy.
The Mayo News understands that while Environmental
Consultant, Mr Peter Sweetman, made an application on July 23 last, he
has not, according to a board spokesman, initiated the necessary legal
proceedings, which must be filed with the High Court, for a judicial
review of the case.
Earlier this year, an appeal by Friends of the
Irish Environment was not upheld after one of the board’s inspectors,
Mr Eoghan Brangan said: “I consider that the proposed pedestrian
bridge, even in combination with the proposed development of a car
park, amenity area, riverside walk and theatre, is not likely to have
significant effects on the environment.”
Soon afterwards, Director
of Services, Mr Seamus Granahan welcomed the decision at a Ballina Town
Council meeting, observing that ‘the Part 8 [planning permission] that
we passed last march can now be proceeded with’.
The Council’s
Senior Engineer and Acting Director of Services, Mr Noel Burke, told
The Mayo News yesterday that the authority had already proceeded with
the contract for the project and was currently carrying out on-site
investigations.
“We were delighted with ABP’s decision and
confident that everything was above board and going ahead. The bottom
line is that there was a democratic decision made by the Town Council
for this to proceed, our consultants had told us an EIS was not
required and a subsequent objection [by The Friends of the Irish
Environment] was not upheld,” said Mr Noel Burke.
He observed that
due to objections there had already been significant delays and the
project proper would not now start this year.
ABP’s spokesman, Mr
John Duffy said that Mr Sweetman had lodged the application on his own
behalf and it had asked whether the Board considered the project needed
an EIS.
The Board has written to Mr Sweetman explaining its position,
said Mr Duffy.
“All that I can confirm at the moment is that an
EIS is not required. Obviously, it is open to anyone to seek a judicial
review and we would be informed of those proceedings by the High
Court,” said Mr Duffy.
Mr Peter Sweetman declined to affirm if
he intended applying to the High Court for a review. He told The Mayo
News the application had been lodged on July 23 last and that it was a
request under section 50(1)(b) of the Roads Act 1993.
The project’s delivery was significantly expedited by a Fáilte Ireland grant of €900,000 announced last November.
Áine Ryan
(c) Mayo News