Mayo Sailing Club granted planning permission for new pontoon
Mayo Sailing Club propose to develop a new pontoon and hardstand outside Westport
MAYO Sailing Club has been granted planning permission to improve the infrastructure around the club including the construction of a new floating pontoon.
Mayo County Council approved a planning application by Mayo Sailing Club to construct a hardstand/boat storage area and a floating pontoon with a link to the shore at Rosmoney, Westport. They were also granted permission to alter the western side of the existing slipway with a vertical wall and increased slipway width as well as rehabilitation works.
The Mayo Sailing Club was established in 1976 and increased participation in recent years has resulted in a high volume of dinghy and punt traffic using the club slipway and there is now inadequate space on the existing hardstand for all the yachts.
The Club stated that the new pontoon will support their operation by improving access to the moorings to the north of the proposed pontoon while the hardstanding and widened slipway will also improve existing club infrastructure.
The new pontoon will be 36 metres in length with a 15m cross piece secured in position via chain anchorages to nine precast concrete anchor pads on the seabed. It will be designed to last up to 40 years with regular maintenance and can be removed during the winter months if necessary.
An application for a Marine Area Consent was granted subject to four conditions by MARA (Marine Area Regulatory Authority) prior to the planning application being submitted by the applicant.
As the proposed project is located within the Clew Bay SAC, environmental studies had to be carried out and Mayo County Council stated that provided mitigation measures proposed in the Natura Impact Statement are implemented, the proposed development would not adversely affect the integrity of European sites.
As a result, Mayo County Council planners stated that having accessed all matters in the application, they found that the proposed development was acceptable and planning permission was granted subject to seven conditions.