Politician does about-face on planning

A KILKENNY county councillor who had his county manager intervene to block construction of a house close to the councillor’s farm has now applied for permission to build a house on the same stretch of road.

Kilkenny councillor Dixie Doyle claimed two years ago there were already too many entrances along the narrow road on which he lives. He asked Kilkenny Co Council to refuse Judith Ashton permission to build her house on the road.

The Independent Fianna Fáil man started a petition against the Ashton house. It was signed by 49 people and lodged with the planning authority. He also asked former city and county manager Paddy Donnelly to try to persuade Ms Ashton to sell the site to him instead for £47,500 (60,325).