Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Controversial Cratlagh planning applications refused- Sinn Féin welcomes victory for Cratlagh residents

Published: 31 July, 2006

Sinn Féin Councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has welcomed news that the two controversial planning applications on lands above Cratlagh Woods in Milford have been refused permission by Donegal County Council. He has described it as a victory for the local community

Cllr Mac Lochlainn:

" I shared the concerns of the local community about these planning applications. I had been monitoring this situation since I observed the desecration of important upland bog land and hundreds of trees on these privately owned lands behind Cratlagh Woods last year. A road has been built on these lands and much environmental damage done. At the time, I was assured that planning enforcement would deal with this unauthorised work. My concerns were heightened by the fact that Donegal County Council had accessed this road to remove the trees from Cratlagh Woods. In the eyes of the public, the council were condoning the unauthorised work carried out by this landowner, who is a well known property developer and this was potentially very damaging."

"This decision to refuse planning permission was absolutely essential in the process of winning back the confidence of the local community in Cranford and the wider Milford area. It is a victory for the local community who had strenuously objected to the proposed developments. However both the local community and I will continue to monitor the situation in Cratlagh. I also repeat my earlier call on Donegal County Council to complete their investigation in to the allegations about missing logs at Cratlagh as soon as possible as it is now almost 11 months since it began".