A County Councillor has asked the Donegal planning authority to sit down with families bereaved in the Creeslough tragedy to discuss the redevelopment of the explosion site.
An Bord Pleanála is currently considering an appeal on the granting of planning permission to Vivo Shell Ltd to construct a new fuel station and shop at the site where 10 people lost their lives in October 2022.
Planning permission was granted by Donegal County Council in February.
As with all appeals, the planning authority was required to make a submission addressing the issues raised by the appellants.
County Councillor Tomás Seán Devine has said that the council’s recent response to An Bord Pleanála, which stated that the planning decision should be upheld, is viewed by him as a “constant slap in the face” to families.
Cllr Devine said that families should be given updates on the planning application and appeal before it is reported in the media.
“The council needs to arrange a meeting with the families to try and put an end to this,” Cllr Devine told a meeting of the Letterkenny-Milford MD on Tuesday.
Mr Liam Ward, Director of Service, said the council was obliged to make the submission to An Bord Pleanála as part of due process.
“The reply to An Bord Pleanála is never meant to be a ’slap in the face to families’, far from it,” said Mr Ward.
“The council is very much aware of the sensitivities and the huge loss and grief of families in Creeslough. Indeed, the council has worked delicately with the families in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“As in any appeal process, where the council has made a decision, it is expected to make a report to An Bord Pleanála to set out the reasons for their decision and why they arrived at the decision
“I fully appreciate how families feel about this. It has to be recognised, the council is obliged to follow due process.”
Cllr Devine added that he plans to file a motion with Donegal County Council in the future to call on the council to seek a compulsory purchase order on the site of the former filling station.
