An Bord Pleanala have granted the planning permission to land owned by local Fine Gael Councillor, Gerry Reynolds despite its own Inspector's report which strongly urged rejection.
Green Party Spokesperson on Housing and Planning, Tom Kivlehan said: "An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant permission for a petrol station to be built on a floodplain is shocking. This is clearly another case of development at all costs; we have learned nothing from past planning errors. This land is not suitable for a petrol station and could present a major risk to the surrounding environment and the River Shannon.
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"A previous planning application for this site, by Tesco Ireland in 2007, was rejected by Leitrim County Council and An Bord Pleanala on the grounds that the proposed site was on a floodplain which was prone to regular flooding.
"This decision is establishing a health risk as many surrounding towns and villages take their drinking water from the Shannon and there are also plans to use the Shannon to supply Dublin with its water.
"The River Shannon is the most prominent waterway in Ireland; it is a major tourist attraction for boating, fishing and wildlife. These activities are the lifeblood of Carrick on Shannon and this week’s decision is risking an ecological and economic catastrophe."
(CD/GK)
