Planning issues on N56 a huge bone of contention at meeting

Planning restrictions on the N56 need to be addressed before schools are forced to close and people are driven away from their homes councillors warned at a municipal meeting on Tuesday. 

The N56 has proven to be a serious bone of contention with councillors in the Glenties Municipal District and with the increase on house prices and planning restrictions in other areas councillors feel that something has to be done. 

Fianna Fáil Councillor Anthony Molloy warned of a school closure as population declines in one area. He said that a generation of planning permissions being refused had caused a decline in the number of students at one school. He called for something to be done about the issue.

'The N56 is not the M50 and planning issues need addressed' - Cllr

Indepedent Councillor Michael Mc Clafferty said that people cannot afford to buy houses in Dunfanaghy and need to be afforded the option of building. He said members of An Garda Síochána, farmers, nurses and other professions will find it hard to buy homes in certain areas and may be reluctant to move to the county due to planning restrictions. He urged that the matter be looked at as a matter of urgency. 

Councillors discuss what can be done about quads at municipal meeting

Fianna Fáil Councillor Noreen McGarvey said she would like to see working groups in action again. Sinn Féin Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher said the longterm solution would be to allow people to build on their own land.