By Chris Ashmore

HOLD off on any enforcement proceedings – that’s the clear message to Donegal County Council from local councillors in relation to the controversy that has surrounded a popular foot truck operator in Ramelton.

There has been considerable public support for Johnny Patterson, the owner of the Johnny’s Ranch takeaway outlet on the town’s Gamble’s Square since it emerged that he is the subject of proceedings from the local authority who have deemed him to be “an unauthorised development.”

Raising the issue at this week’s September meeting of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council, Cllr. Pauric McGarvey pointed out that Mr. Patterson had been operating in Ramelton for a number of years and was highly respected.

He felt that Mr. Patterson had been “treated unfairly” by the council and maintained that the bye-laws are out of date.

Cllr. McGarvey noted that since Covid there had been a big increase in casual trading outlets and he felt that the council should be “supporting business and not putting them out of business.”

He also noted that under the Planning Act “there was no scope for continued use” and added that the whole controversy had taken its toll on Mr. Patterson, his livelihood and his family members.

“We should cease the enforcement until there is a review of the bye-laws,” he stated.

Seconding his motion, Cllr. Liam Blaney said that there were “plenty of examples” of casual traders where no action had been taken against them, and he questioned why Mr. Patterson had been singled out.

He also made the point that the Donegal Co. Council is in the process of bringing in new bye-laws which will govern casual trading. However, an approved draft will have to go to public consultation and must be adopted by the council.

It is anticipated that the draft byelaws will be adopted before the end of March next year.

Cllr. Blaney expressed the view that if the council goes down the court route with Mr. Patterson to enforce the current bye-laws and to get a court date, it could take six months, and this would also have cost implications for the council.

He backed the motion calling on the council to refrain from escalating the enforcement order until the new casual trading by-laws are agreed and in place.

“All councillors are agreed, the message is clear,” commented the Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District Council, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, as the debate concluded.