Council"s fury after planning inquiry call

A furious row has erupted between members of Meath County Council and a Government Minister over planning in Meath. Former Environment Minister Dick Roche this week launched a call for an inquiry into planning decisions in Meath while Meath East Fine Gael TD Shane McEntee demanded an investigation of the local planning climate in which houses have been built 'without one school' to cater for the new young residents of his area. Meath County Councillors have reacted with dismay to the calls and strongly criticised their move at Monday"s monthly meeting of the council. In the background to the conflict between the councillors, Minister for Europe Mr Roche and Deputy McEntee is the proposed development of a 10,000-seater new stadium at Bryanstown, near Duleek, for the Drogheda Utd soccer club with associated leisure facilities. Mr Roche said this week that a number of public representatives, from different parties, had approached about planning decisions in Meath. It was not a case for him of impugning anyone"s integrity; rather, it was a healthy approach to shed light on issues when misgivings had been voiced about them, the minister said. He said he has asked Environment Minister John Gormley, his successor in the Environment & Local Govt portfolio, to hold an inquiry. Councillors earlier this year agreed to materially contravene the County Development Plan to grant planning permission for the project. The change of zoning would have allowed development also of some 2,500 residential units in the same area. However, the publication of the new South Drogheda Environs Local Area Draft Plan, now on public display, included zoning for 'open space and light industrial use" at the site, rather than the residential zoning required for the housing. Deputy McEntee, whose call to the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, for appointment of a planning inspector and an examination of planning decisions in Meath over the past decade was highlighted in a Sunday newspaper at the weekend, totally rejected any suggestion by county councillors that he was impugning their integrity. 'I am not having a go at anyone,' said the Meath East Fine Gael TD. However, he referred to the 'pure frustration' which many people continuously expressed to him at his clinics about planning, particularly the lack of schools provision in the Meath East area. He said he was taking this initiative on behalf of 'people from all walks of life' who had bought housing in the area but now found essential infrastructure such as schools were missing. The Drogheda Utd proposed development constituted a major item of infrastructure for Meath East. 'To me, it was a great plan to provide not alone Drogheda but Meath East with facilities,' he said. He said that 25,000 people had been moved to the 'far side of the N1' without the required facilities. Councillors, however, took umbrage at the report that Deputy McEntee had sought an examination of planning decisions over 10 years in Meath. Laytown Slane Area councillor Tom Kelly said that if the development could not now start, it was out of Meath County Council"s control. The council, he said, had materially contravened the Meath County Development Plan to grant permission for this project. Slane area councillor Jimmy Cudden added that the council had tried to help 'fast-track' the development. Councillors, including Slane area member, Ann Dillon Gallagher, were upset over the report in the Sunday Business Post on the basis that the council had helped Drogheda Utd at all times. Councillor Brian Fitzgerald wanted an investigation by the council into the entire matter, focusing on events leading up to the time when the members took their decision on the material contravention proposal. He said: 'We want to retain our integrity and protect it.' Councillor Tommy Reilly said he detected a slur against the members, staff and officials of the council and supported Cllr Fitzgerald in his call for an investigation. One of the issues discussed by councillors was a reported claim that 'verbal assurances' had been given to a developer regarding provision of residential zoning for the land. But councillors indicated that planning procedures in Meath would not give any validity or status to that type of communication. County Manager Tom Dowling said he regretted the publication of the Sunday newspaper report, noting that the LAP for the area was now at public consultation stage. Mr Dowling said that anyone purchasing land did so as a commercial transaction. Every councillor had enough experience to know that no communication (regarding future zoning) would ever be made by a planner, official or manager with regard to a LAP. He said he had watched the planning process in Meath for almost six years. 'I am absolutely satisfied with the way it works,' said Mr Dowling, adding that he was proud of all the county"s development plans. Regarding the investigation proposed by Cllr Fitzgerald, Mr Dowling believed that it would not be an appropriate course to take at a time when a LAP was in the public consultation stage. He said he would be very uneasy that this move could endanger the LAP process. Cllr Fitzgerald agreed to suspend his proposal on the basis that Mr Dowling would seek legal advice on the issue.