The diggers are on site, and despite widespread local opposition to the building of 28 modular homes for Ukrainian refugees on a Claremorris town site, the OPW are pushing ahead with the development.

The diggers and machinery arrived at the controversial site along the Ballyhaunis road, in Claremorris town yesterday (Wed) and local Fine Gael councillor Tom Connolly says it’s not right, as the OPW, he claims, failed to listen to local concerns.

He says everyone wants to see displaced people/ refugees housed, but he argues, not at this particular site, as alternative sites in the Claremorris area were offered for this development.

In addition he says, under EU legislation, these modular homes can be built without going through the usual planning process, and will only have to seek permission three years after the development is in place.

Last October, at a special meeting of Mayo County Council, councillors unanimously voted against these modular homes being located at this particular site – and two viable alternative sites in the town were offered instead, but have not been accepted by government and so works are now underway on the OPW site.

Cllr Connolly has been speaking to Midwest News editor Teresa O’Malley…