Zone lands for community say councillors

mayo | environment | news report Monday September 12, 2005 15:18 by Sports Fan

Zoning campaign gets underway in Westport

Westport Town Councillors begin Campaign to have land zoned for Community and Recreational Facilities and not just housing in Westport Area Plans.

Joint Press Statement

from

Cllr. Dave Keating, Cllr. Keith Martin and Cllr. Martin Keane

11th September 2005





Local Area Plans and the Need for Community Amenities



Section 19 (2), Chapter II of Planning and Development Act 2000 which deals specifically with Local Area Plans states;



“A local area plan shall consist of a written statement and a plan or plans…including detail on community facilities and amenities and on standards for the design of developments and structures.”



Therefore, as elected representatives on Westport Town Council we felt obliged to put forward a motion at our September meeting calling for specific lands in the South Westport Local Area Plan to be zoned for community and sport facilities. Sadly, our motion did not succeed as the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors present voted against it. Prior to this, our motion had been given further urgency when it became apparent that a portion of land in the Westport Environs Local Area Plan earmarked for community facilities had, earlier in the day, been rejected by the four Westport Area County Councillors, against the advice of the Manager.


This now leaves the wholly ridiculous and unacceptable situation that the only lands (excluding the harbour area of Roman Island) zoned for community, sport and leisure facilities in all three Local Area Plans are a graveyard, a fire station, and a reservoir!


In conclusion, we would urge members of the public to make submissions on the amended draft Local Area Plans – currently on public display – highlighting the need for community facilities and amenities to cater for existing and future populations in and around Westport.

Submissions should be sent to
Town Clerk Westport Town Council, Co. Mayo

and

Director of Services Westport, Co. Mayo

Just a few lines requesting lands zoned for Community use will make the difference.