Couple raise flooding fears for their scenic County Sligo home if planning is given to build a house higher than theirs nearby

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

An appeal has been lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to a decision by Sligo County Council to grant planning permission for the construction of a house, domestic garage, new site entrance and on-site wastewater treatment system together with ancillary site development works at Rathlee, Easkey.

The appeal has been lodged by David C. Mandy and Lorna McLoughlin with An Coimisiún Pleanála with a decision to be made by June 8. Planning was granted by the council to Tony Carrabine for the development.

In their submission to Sligo County Council, Mr Mandy and Ms McLoughlin outlined a number of concerns regarding the proposed development stating it would “unavoidably and irreversibly effect our property which we purchased in 2021.”

Concerns were raised with regard to the potential for flood damage with the objection noting, “We are located on a 10-15ft lower platform than this proposed development site and will incur all the storm water run-off causing significant flooding to our grounds.”

The submission added, “Furthermore, this area is naturally very exposed to extreme weather events, far more than inland because we are a positioned on a small unsheltered peninsula. We experience the worst weather and the most rainfall in the area of Easkey – our roads are constantly flooded from a lack of drainage.”

A junction close to the proposed development was also cited as grounds for the application to be rejected by Mr Mandy and Ms McLoughlin with their submission referring to “A blind bend with two narrow roads close to each other coming off it on the actual bend.”

In their submission they commented, “From living here for the past nearly five years we would be very aware of this being a very busy junction due to the lack of visibility especially at the top of this hill. We feel that a dwelling of any sort will impede on visibility and also on the safety of the junction.”

The location of the proposed development in relation to Rathlee Tower was also raised as a point of objection by the appellants who commented, “The historical Rathlee Tower, located 100 metres from the proposed site, is a navigation way point for all sea craft navigating both Sligo and Killala Bay – it helps with the guiding and safe passage of boats through compass readings aboard vessels. Fishing vessels, sailing boats and even the Irish Lights Vessel Granuaile, which comes to the bay twice a year to check safe water marks in the bay, would use Rathlee Tower as a mark or way point for navigation and for back-up of navigational software and equipment. This tower cannot be obstructed on the coastal side of the peninsula by any house for this reason.”

The appeal also contains a petition from Mr Mandy and Ms McLoughlin signed by a number of locals in support of their appeal. The petition contains 15 names of people who live in the vicinity.

The appellants say those who have signed the petition are “in support of every reason for this appeal.

"They too are in full objection to permission granted to Tony Carrabine by Sligo County Council,” the couple say in their appeal papers send to An Coimisiún Pleanála.

The Planner’s Report, compiled by Barry Ward, Executive Planner, Sligo County Council referred to the unusual road layout in proximity to the proposed development noting, “The subject site is unusual in that it has frontage onto three roads. There are existing dwelling houses to the east, west and north and it is considered that the proposed development will cluster with existing development at this location.”

Mr Ward’s report also noted, “It is considered that the proposed development is in accordance with rural housing policy.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.