MUNICIPAL DISTRICT BACKS GLASLOUGH ANTI-MAST CAMPAIGN

The members of the Monaghan Municipal District have passed a motion in support of Glaslough Development Association’s campaign against the erection of a mobile phone mast in the village moved at the October Monaghan Municipal District meeting. The motion, proposed by Sinn Fein Councillor and Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Co Council Sean Conlon and seconded by Independent local public representative Paudge Connolly, seeks the passing by the local authority of a vote of no confidence in An Bord Pleanála regarding “the multiple failures with internal procedures, improper decisionmaking and non-declared conflict of interest issues at this Government agency.”

It also makes a request of Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Dara O’Brien TD and the Office of the Planning Regulator to have An Bord Pleanála overturn their decision to grant permission for telecommunications mast in Glaslough village, noting that an intervention by Deputy Chair of An Bord Pleanála Paul Hyde had overruled both Monaghan Co Council’s and his Board’s recommendations that the application be refused.

The motion adds: “We request that the circumstances relating to this planning debacle are included within the scope of the three separate inquiries currently investigating repeated governance violations within An Bord Pleanála.” In a statement to The Northern Standard, Councillor Conlon said, “From its inception, the proposal to erect a mobile phone mast in the village of Glaslough, designated as an…