THE Wicklow County Council chairman was entitled to see files' from the council in relation to a planning dispute in the Blessington area, the High Court ruled yesterday.
Mr Justice McCracken issued an order requiring the council to make available files relating to lands occupied by Roadstone and related companies in the Blessington area.
The judge ruled that the council chairman, Mr Thomas Cullen, had a statutory right to such documentation as the word "information" under planning legislation was not defined so as to limit its scope.
Mr Cullen, of Deerpark, Baltinglass, said there was local opposition to some aspects of the development plan for the area. The council is to meet next month to discuss the plan, which has not yet been formally adopted.
The council chairman had sought access to files in relation to the lands on February 14th last and was refused because they they were the subject of High Court litigation.
Mr Justice McCracken said he was satisfied that the council chairman was entitled to access to the files once he had made a written or verbal request to see them.
The judge refused a request made by Mr Dermot Flanagan BL for the council for a stay on the order to allow the authority consider his important ruling.
Mr John Rogers SC, for Mr Cullen, objected to the request.
