Councillor claims planning decision contravened Wicklow county plan

Wicklow County Council has been accused of granting planning permission selectively and in contravention of the county development plan on a number of sites near the N81 road at Blessington.

Calling for the matter to be referred to the Flood tribunal, Mr Tommy Cullen (Labour) said that officials had to explain why planning permission for housing was granted to some applicants for developments fronting on to the N81 at Tinode-Hempstown.

Mr Cullen said that the council had in some cases ruled that no planning permission could be granted for housing with direct access to the national road, but in other cases permission had been granted.

He maintained that granting planning permission at that location was a material contravention of the county development plan and said that the permission of the elected members of the council for such a contravention had not been sought, as is required.

The issue arose at the monthly council meeting when members were considering a report from officials on the provision of a £3 million bypass for the substandard road between Blessington and south Co Dublin.

The report noted that the National Roads Authority had refused funding for improvements to the existing road. A bypass to the east was considered too close to Blessington lakes and a bypass to the west was recommended. When the bypass was completed, the existing road would be downgraded to a "residential road".

Mr Cullen objected, saying that the classification of the existing road as "residential" would in effect be rezoning the land around it. "It doesn't make planning sense, it doesn't make safety sense, it only makes sense if the agenda is to rezone Hempstown."

Ms Deirdre de Burca (Green Party) asked why planning permission had been granted in a locality classed as an "area of outstanding natural beauty".

Mr Dick Roche TD (Fianna Fail) said that he had tabled a number of questions to the council under the Freedom of Information Act, but had been told that the files relating to his questions could not immediately be found.

A letter from Blessington and District Community Council, alleging inconsistencies in a number of county council reports, was circulated among members. It urged them not to adopt the council's plans until a number of questions relating to lands purchased by the council for road improvements were answered.

The acting county manager, Mr Hubert Fitzpatrick, said that if Mr Cullen could supply a list of planning permissions which should not have been granted, he would have them investigated.

The existing road was dangerous and the NRA had decided not to finance remedial/realignment works. The reclassification of the existing road to a residential road did not mean any change in the zoning of surrounding land, Mr Fitzpatrick said. Any change in the zoning would have to be made by the members.