Tiernan dismayed at Lough Key decision
Issued : Sunday 29 January, 2006
Boyle Town Cllr, Willie Tiernan expressed his dismay at the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for the planned development at Lough Key. The Labour Councillor also called for a review of the planning process to allow a better balance between development objectives and environmental concerns.
“This is a bad day for Boyle. For years, we have waited for a significant project to provide employment and development in this area. And now, this latest opportunity, presented by the hotel and housing project, seems to have been lost. It is very frustrating that all the efforts of local elected representatives should come to nothing.
“I would call for a review of the planning processes and procedures. There must be a better way to balance the views and concerns of those who want to protect the environment with the legitimate desire of developers and the community alike to see the area prosper through development and creation of employment,” Cllr Tiernan said.
Labour’s general election candidate Hughie Baxter, also commented on the decision.
“There is huge disappointment in Boyle that this project will not proceed. In my view, this raised several questions. Why is it that Boyle, in common with many areas of Roscommon, has been neglected for so long? There has been no serious attempt by Government agencies to create major employment project in the area/
“Regarding the planning process, I think we need a more sensible approach to the way large projects, such as the Lough Key development, are handled. The current planning process seems to be a largely adversarial system, with developers pitted against those concerned about the environment. Involvement of the community and activists at an earlier stage would help to identify problems and resolve them.
“It makes little sense that planning requests should go forward to An Bord Pleanála with elements that the Bord concludes are in clear contravention of our own County Development Plan. We need to resolve these problems locally at the earliest possible opportunity. I believe there has to be a way to develop the potential of the Lough Key area, for the benefit of the community, without destroying the very amenity we want to develop,” Mr Baxter concluded..
