A COUNCILLOR has branded a decision to grant planning permission for an apartment complex in a residential area of Letterkenny as "a disgrace".
Victor Fisher was reacting to a decision by Letterkenny Town Council to grant permission for an apartment development near the town centre despite ten local objections.
The council granted permission to McEleney Construction Ltd for 17 apartments on a 0.61 acre site at the junction of Beechwood Road and New Line Road.
A pervious council decision to grant planning for 25 apartments and three retail units on the same site adjacent to Letterkenny Garda Station was successfully appealed by local residents to An Bord Pleanála (ABP).
Cllr Fisher said that he was furious that the planning application did not come before a meeting of the local councillors first.
"That is a very sleeked way of doing things. There was supposed to be a council meeting on Monday but that was deferred because it was a Bank Holiday. What is going on here," Cllr Fisher said.
'BEHIND BACKS'
He added that he was "totally against" the building of apartments in the area and said he would raise the matter at the next Town Council meeting.
"This is a disgrace and that decision was taken behind our (councillors) backs. I wonder why that decision was made without contacting us first. Planners don't realise that we have to go knocking on these people's doors," Cllr Fisher said.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the local residents group said that they will "more than likely" appeal the decision to ABP.
Ms Mary Hegarty said that the residents had a meeting Tuesday night and decided that they are going to appeal the decision to ABP after they talk to their planning consultant. She said that a detailed statement would be released to the media next week.
Hill Bungalow, which was home to the late Charles Vincent (CV) McLaughlin, a former Town Surveyor and well known architect, was one of the first timber framed houses to be built in the country. It realised ¤810,000 when it is sold at public auction in the Mount Errigal Hotel in March.
A spokesman for the developers declined to comment when contacted this week.
