The elected members of Monaghan Co Council on Monday went against the advice of senior planning and executive personnel on the local authority to vote through a number of potentially contentious changes to the new Monaghan Co Development Plan – the document that will act as the “bible” for planning and development policy in the county over the coming years. Members voted 9-7, on the proposal of Fianna Fáil local public representative Seamus Coyle, on a show of hands to zone land in the Coolshannagh area of Monaghan Town for industry, enterprise and employment purposes, despite Senior Planner Adrian Hughes pointing out that the lands in question were in an identified flood risk area and to make this zoning would be contrary to the recommendations of the OPR or Office of the Planning Regulator. A proposal by Seán Conlon, Sinn Féin, to amend the plan in order …
