Farmer cannot build home on his land

A farmer in Killala, Co Mayo, with 140 acres cannot find anywhere on his holding where he can secure planning permission to build…

A farmer in Killala, Co Mayo, with 140 acres cannot find anywhere on his holding where he can secure planning permission to build a house for his son.

Mr Brendan McLoughlin, whose son, Thomas, milks 80 cows daily on his father's farm in Moyne but lives 20 miles away in Straide, outside Foxford, is looking to build a house on his holding.

His plight was highlighted at this week's meeting of Mayo County Council when his application to construct a house on his land in Moyne, about six miles from Ballina, was among the planning applications set to be refused for December.

Councillor Brian Golden (FF) has described the decision as crazy.

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"This is a young, industrious farmer who has tried everything to meet the planning requirements of planning officials.

"His farm is located in an area of high scenic amenity but he is very conscious of keeping any construction in harmony with the surroundings.

"He is so frustrated that he has given Mayo planning officials a map of his entire 140-acre holding and asked them to come up with a suitable location to build the home, so far they have failed to do so," the councillor explained.

The planning meeting also heard of a farmer in Lacken, who had been advised by a planner in Mayo County Council that instead of looking for permission to build a single slatted shed, she should instead build four slatted houses, each to hold four to five cows, and stone face each of the buildings.

The farmer, Ms Joan Williams, situated in Carrowmore, Lacken,needs the slatted house to join the rural environmental protection scheme. However, a planning official told councillors that "the slatted house would be obtrusive on the landscape".

"This is planning gone mad," Mr Golden claimed.