Local Papers Commentary
Mayo News - 4 December 2002
By Declan Holmes
Dec 5, 2002, 11:21

Residential rates on the way back?
Householders and businesses in Mayo are set to receive the worst possible New Year’s Gift when the County Council and three local Town Councils hold their Estimates meetings n January. It now looks likely that they will be forced to agree to substantial increases in refuse charges and commercial rates in an effort to raise badly needed revenue. Deputy Michael Ring has said that he is in receipt of information that suggests the Government is considering re-introducing the dreaded residential rates.

Anger grows over the endless list of planning refusals
“Crazy, incomprehensible and disgraceful” were just some of the emotive comments voiced by Mayo County Councillors at their meeting last week in relation to the ever-declining number of housing applications being granted throughout the county. With only one application being granted in the week prior to the County Council meeting, and the depopulation crisis that much of the county is suffering from Councillors asked if the planning authorities had finally gone crazy.

National Spatial Strategy launched
After months of talk and anticipation the National Spatial Strategy (NSS) arrived in its glossy and colourful package last Thursday. Two hundred and fifty-nine submissions were received by interested parties from all over the country resulting in a 160-page document that should be the blueprint for the way ahead, sub-titled “People, Places, Potential’. Castlebar and Ballina have been included in the strategy as a development hub.

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