Wicklow councillors' motion `invalid'

Wicklow County Council has declared invalid a motion passed by councillors this week demanding a High Court review of the county manager's decision to grant planning permission for a pet crematorium in Redcross.

Councillors voted on Thursday to seek the judicial review after the manager refused to accept a Section 4 motion directing him to reject planning permission for the controversial project.

The acting county secretary, Mr Michael Nicholson, said yesterday that legal advice received by the local authority indicated that both motions were invalid. He said councillors had breached guidelines by discussing non-planning matters during the debate on the Section 4 motion, which was unanimously agreed last July. As a result, the judicial review motion was merely a "face-saving exercise", he said.

"Anyone who feels aggrieved by the manager's decision has two choices. They can seek a judicial review themselves or they can go to An Bord Pleanala. That has always been the case and that is still the case", Mr Nicholson said.

Local residents who have objected to the project have until next Friday to lodge an appeal with the planning board.