AN AMBITIOUS PROPOSAL BY CASTLEBAR BUSINESS MAN AND INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR FRANK DURCAN LOOKS SET TO BE REJECTED BY MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL. FRANK DURKIN IS PROPOSING TO BUILD A 12 MILLION EURO STATE OF THE ART RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY JUST OUTSIDE CASTLEBAR IN THE TOWNLAND OF AUGHALUSKEY. HE SAYS THE FACILITY WOULD CATER FOR UP TO 100 RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE A WELCOME JOBS BOOST TO THE TOWN DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND THEN WHEN UP AND RUNNING.

HOWEVER, THE DEVELOPMENT IS PROPOSED ON AN 8 ACRE SITE ZONED AS “RURAL CHARACTER”, AND MR DURKIN’S PRELIMINARY PLANNING MEETINGS WITH THE LOCAL AUTHORITY ARE INDICATING STRONGLY THAT HE WOULD NOT BE GRANTED PLANNING PERMISSION FOR SUCH A DEVELOPMENT. HE CANNOT ACCEPT THE COUNCIL’S POSITION THAT THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS WITH SEWERAGE - AS HE KNOWS THE AUTHORITY HAS A BRAND NEW PUMPING STATION JUST OVER THE ROAD FROM THE SITE, LOCATED AT BALLYNEW.

MR DURCAN BELIEVES THAT IF HE WAS AN INDUSTRIALIST PROPOSING UP TO 100 PERMANENT JOBS IN THE COUNTY HE WOULD RECEIVE CONSIDERABLY MORE ENTHUSIASM FROM BOTH THE LOCAL AUTHORITY AND GOVERNMENT INTERESTS.