AN EXTENSIVE seven bedroom house with an artist’s studio and swimming pool over-looking Lough Beltra in the scenic area of Glenisland, Castlebar, has been refused planning permission.
The North Western Regional Fisheries Board lodged an objection to An Bord Pleanala against the development, which was upheld by the board. Arnold Wijnen had been granted permission, subject to 17 conditions, by Mayo County Council on November 6 last for the development at Barnastang, Glenisland. It was for the construction of a seven bedroom house with an integrated relaxation area, a pool, an artist’s studio, gallery and garage area, including a septic tank, proprietary effluence treatment plant, percolation area, associated services and to form a new access from the public road.
From the house site there are extensive views down the valley to Lough Beltra. There are also extensive views north-eastwards towards the mountains where a wind farm was in view.
The proposals for the two storey building included an entrance hall, living and sitting rooms, a gallery with mezzanine, dining room, kitchen, stores and utility, four toilets, a four space car garage, studio, swimming pools, sunbed, relaxation area and gym and pool plant area on the ground floor.
In its appeal, the North West Regional Fisheries Board said a previous application was withdrawn and the site was in the sensitive Lough Beltra catch-ment. The lake is an important spring salmon and sea trout fishery.
In his report to An Bord Pleanala, Mr John Bird, Inspector said in the absence of clear evidence of housing need and of adequate visual analysis and of details of fail-safe mechanisms relating to surface water, foul sewerage and swimming pools, he considered that the appeal by the Fisheries Board was reasonable and should be upheld.
He said permission should be refused on the grounds that the development would be located with access to a regional route in an area under strong urban influence from the town of Castlebar and within the environmentally sensitive catch-ment area of Lough Beltra, an important spring salmon and sea trout fishery. He said having regard to the watercourse running along the north-western boundary of the site, which discharges to Lough Beltra, it was considered the proposed dwelling and the development of an additional private wastewater treatment plant, notwithstanding the proposed use of a proprietary waste water treat-ment system, within the Lough Beltra catchment, by itself and by the precedent which permission would set, might endanger the water quality of the lake.
The Board upheld this decision, stating the development would constitute a threat of water pollution and would therefore be prejudicial to public health.
Majella Loftus
© Western People
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