AN BORD PLEANALA refused permission for a 120 bed hostel, a caravan park and 16 self catering houses at Knock Shrine when informed of a 260 per cent over loading of the existing sewage system, the High Court was told yesterday.
Knock Shrine Association has challenged the board's decision. Mayo County Council, with the North Western Fisheries Board, and hotel owner Mr Edward Curry, Main Street, Knock, were notice parties.
Mr Philip O'Sullivan SC, for the association, said the planning inspector said the central issue was the capacity of the existing treatment plant at Knock to deal with effluent. The fisheries board was concerned about possible water pollution.
Mayo County Council granted permission in June last year subject to conditions, which the fisheries board appealed to Bord Pleanala. Last August, the council wrote to Bord Pleanala that the proposed development would increase tourist potential and suggested ways of improving the treatment plants and pump house.
Following the findings of planning inspector, Mr Simon Clear, that the development would be premature because of the lack of sewage facilities, Bord Pleanala refused permission. Knock Shrine Association then appealed that decision to the High Court.
The association claims Bord Pleanala erred in law in holding permission could not be granted subject to a condition that the development could not discharge into the sewage system until interim improvements were carried out. It also claimed there was no basis in law in which the board could refuse permission for the development.
The fisheries board has claimed the existing sewage system is already overloaded and the pumping station tended to overflow during heavy rain. It claimed that, ultimately, there would be water pollution and proposed interim works would not solve the problem.
The planning inspector, said Mr O'Sullivan, had rejected Mayo Co Council's decision to grant permission subject to applying for licences under the Local Government (Water Pollution) Acts.
Mr Bernard McHugh, a town planner, said in an affidavit on behalf of the association, that it employed 43 full time and 53 parttime staff and managed about two million visitors to the shrine each year.
A condition of the county council to grant permission for the three developments was that the association contribute £188,000 to the interim improvement works (costing £390,000) on the sewage treatment plant.
Mr McHugh said the county council, in a submission to An Bord Pleanala, had stated there were plans for a new sewage treatment system in Knock costing some £7 million.
Mr McHugh said the planning inspector found the proposed development was part of an integrated visitor plan for the area.
Mr Paul Mullally, secretary to An Bord Pleanala, said there was no provision for a licence under the Water Pollution Acts where the discharge was domestic. In refusing permission, the board had been influenced by evidence that overloading of the existing sewage treatment plant was about 260 per cent and would increase to 300 per cent in summer.
The board also had an internal report of the county council which concluded the overhaul of the treatment system was not on the Department of the Environment's priority list.
The hearing continues today.