It's decision time in the far west as An Bord Pleanala get set to reveal its revised decision on a hotly debated bridge development.

The way ahead for Sligo County Council's eastern bridge proposal should be known next week.

This week saw the final day of a three-day oral hearing on the development, taking place in the Clarion Hotel, Sligo.

Local radio station, Ocean FM has reported a spokesperson for an Bord Pleanala outlining the timetable.

He said that the application for this development - which will see a bridge and relief road constructed at the eastern end of the Garavogue river - was lodged in December 2007.

-- Advertisement --

He said that while the final decision was due to be made next Tuesday, June 10, the spokesperson said on Friday that because of the oral hearing, a revised decision date will now need to be set.

Some residents are strongly opposed to the location of the development as they say it will 'split their communities' with a motorway and introduce heavy volumes of traffic.

They are also opposed to the construction of a 10-foot high wall, which is being built to ease noise pollution, as they say it will block natural sunlight from the front of their homes.

The group totally rejected the Council's plan and proposed an alternative route, namely route E1.

However, Sligo County Council told the an Bord Pleanala hearing this alternative route cannot be used for the development as it includes an area of conservation.

(BMcC)