A
major issue arose on Wednesday August 8th at the Oral Hearing into
the proposed Waterford Bypass. The Waterford County Action Plan
adopted as a variation of the County Development Plan on July 9th
last contains a map of the proposed bypass that is different to the
map that has been the subject of the hearing to date. Waterford
County Council's witness, Mr. McCarthy, claimed under cross-examination
that an 'error' had been made. Charges of concealment were made from
the floor.
In
effect therefore, the enquiry has been considering a route different
to that in the Waterford Development Plan, something it should not
have done.
A
scheme was put before the Hearing that is in material contravention
of the Waterford County Council development plan.
A
Local Authority is bound by its Development Plan and is not allowed
to breach or allow to be breached any element of the such Plan.
The
hearing is now in its second week and has completed its fifth full
day. It is scheduled to resume at 11am on Thursday 9th. August.
The
issue arose late in the afternoon of Wednesday 8th and so the
implications for the remainder of the hearing are unclear at this
time.
Wednesday
August 8th 2001
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