Council say they have no way to stop serial objectors in Tipperary

The council has no way of stopping serial objectors, a senior planner at Tipperary County Council has said. 

Anne-Marie Devaney was responding to a query from councillor John O’Heney at a recent sitting of Tipperary County Council. 

Cllr O’Heney said there is a lot of frustration in the agricultural sector because farmers are facing constant objections which delay their builds.

“I just feel it has to be raised. It’s coming up time and time again.

“I am inundated with calls,” said Cllr O’Heney. Citing an article published in the Farmer’s Journal, councillor O’Heney said serial objectors make submissions for the sake of it, and measures were needed to tackle the problem.

The builds farmers are seeking permission for are important for the environment and animal welfare. 

Ms Devaney said any member of the public can make a submission, and the best thing they can do is make sure the planning process is “robust.

They are perfectly entitled to make that appeal,” said Ms Devaney. 

She said she understands the frustration, but An Bord Pleanála are getting through the backlog, and there is a “high correlation” between decisions made by Tipperary County Council and An Bord Pleanala. 

That suggests the process is working.