Gormley zoning intervention 'undemocratic' - SF

A Monaghan councillor has called Minister for Environment John Gormley's intervention into the county's re-zoning plans undemocratic.

Sinn Féin County Councillor for South Monaghan Matt Carthy said that such a move could undermine the local authority system throughout the state.

"Minister Gormley has no mandate for this action. The Green Party candidate in the recent General Election stood on the basis of rejection of the democratic decisions of Monaghan County Council.

"He received just 3% of the vote clearly showing that his views are not supported by Monaghan people.

Minister Gormley has overturned a string of land re-zonings approved by Monaghan County Council and ordered that blueprints be changed in the interest of "proper and sustainable planning".

Carthy added: "During the development plan process we in Sinn Féin voted against many of the re-zoning decisions; in some cases we were successful. In cases where we were not, we accepted reluctantly the democratic decision of the council.

"We would have preferred if Minister Gormley would have done the same."

The planning document, which was initially approved against the recommendation of the council's planners, included housing re-zonings to cater for a potential population increase of 182% over a six-year period.

The minister's intervention means the council will now have to revert to the draft development plan drawn up by its planners last year.