Monday, 27 August 2012

Proposed crematorium refusal challenged at High Court


A HIGH Court challenge has been launched against An Bord Plenala's refusal to grant permission for a crematorium and burial grounds in South County Dublin.
Hantise Ltd and Ashman Properties Ltd sought permission to construct a crematorium and graveyard at a 3.64 hectare site they own at Kilternan.
In June An Bord Pleanala upheld a decision by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council to refuse permission for the proposed development that includes more than 1600 burial plots, a building with two cremators with a place for prayer, an urn and ash burial area, and remembrance walls.
The refusal was on the grounds that the proposed development was contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
However in its High Court action the developers, represented by Eamon Galligan SC, claim the Board did not afford them fair procedures in arriving at its decision to refuse permission.
They claim that they were not allowed to comment on or make submissions on two reports relied on by senior planning Inspector with the Board who recommended that permission be refused.
They also allege the Inspectors finding's are not fair or accurate and contain errors in fact.
The companies, with a registered address at The Herbert Building, The Park, Carrickmines, Dublin 18 are seeking orders from the Court quashing the Board's decision of June 29th last refusing planning permission for the development of a Burial Ground and Crematorium Park at Ballycorus Road, Kilternan Dublin.
They are also seeking an order that its application be remitted back to the Board, where it would be assessed by a senior planning inspector.
They also want the remitted application heard by a panel or division of the Board comprised of persons other than those who refused their application. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Council is a notice party to the proceedings.
The developers sought permission to bring their legal challenge against the board on an ex-parte (one side only) basis.
However today at the High Court Mr Justice Kevin Feeney directed that application for permission to bring the challenge be made in the presence of legal representatives of the Board.
The Judge the adjourned the case to a date in October.
- AODHAN O’FAOLAIN
Read the article @ The Irish Independent
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IFA to consult public over Windsor Park


The Irish Football Association has launched the first stage of its public consultation process for the redevelopment of Windsor Park.
Having already appointed planning consultants and a design team to present a formal planning application at the end of the year, the IFA is now canvassing the views of the wider community.
With the help of £25.2million of funding from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, the IFA plans to increase overall capacity to 18,000, create brand new south and east stands and relocate its headquarters to the national stadium they share with Linfield.
The consultation process will last for 12 weeks and plans will be available for public viewing at seven locations in the Belfast area.
A statement from the governing body read: "The Irish FA is today launching a Community Consultation Process, which is the first phase of the wider community engagement process required to deliver the sustainable, economic, social, equality and environmental returns as part of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure investment in the Regional Stadium Development Programme.
"[It will] provide an opportunity for the wider community and groups with an interest in the stadium redevelopment to become better informed about the proposal and to contribute their views before a formal planning application is submitted.
"The aim is to bring about meaningful public engagement which contributes to the project design, helps to address any community concerns and to mitigate potentially negative impacts."
Northern Ireland have a run of four consecutive World Cup qualifiers at Windsor Park between this November and September 2013 before finishing their campaign with away trips to Luxembourg, Azerbaijan and Israel - during which time construction work is expected to take place.
Read the article @ The Irish Independent
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€430m ski and leisure park fails to convince planners


AN ambitious proposal to build a new €430m leisure park featuring an artificial ski slope, concert arena and casino has been turned down by planners.
The project -- the 'Altitude' leisure and tourism park -- had been touted as a major attraction with the potential to draw more than one million visitors a year to the 32-acre site in Dundalk, Co Louth, close to the Dublin-Belfast M1 motorway.
However, following an appeal by Louth Environment Group, An Bord Pleanala refused permission on a number of grounds.
It said the scale of the development proposed -- which would attract 1.15 million visitors to Dundalk each year -- would result in an "unsustainable car-dependent development". The board deemed the development contrary to national transport policy, which seeks to cut private car travel.
The proposed development was also found to be in an area vulnerable to coastal flooding.
Innovative Leisure Systems, which were behind the project, had envisaged the park creating 1,200 full-time jobs when it was rolled out over seven years.
The businessmen behind the project -- Sam Curran and Pearse O'Hanrahan, a former Fianna Fail councillor in Dundalk -- had initially estimated Altitude would be completed by 2016.
A call to Mr O'Hanrahan and the firm that submitted the application went unreturned last night.
Mr Curran was also involved in delivering the Ice Dome skating rink in the town which later closed.
Heritage body An Taisce last night welcomed the decision to refuse the planning permission for the artificial ski slope and park.
- Louise Hogan
Read the article @ The Irish Independent

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Campaign to highlight 'barren' Liffey


A PROTEST involving a flotilla of boats in Dublin is planned during the tall ships’ visit to highlight the emptiness of the river Liffey and to seek proper provision for the mooring of leisure craft and houseboats.
Sam Field-Corbett, of the Irish Ship and Barge Fabrication Company, said the “Use the Water” campaign – supported by other boat users – will be directed against “forces that, over the years, have turned the river into a barren, lifeless and empty space”.
Read the article @ The Irish Times
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Gas fracking should not be allowed anywhere, says top environmentalist


THE GOVERNMENT would “become the shoeshine boy of the [shale gas] industry” if it allowed fracking to take place anywhere in Ireland, according to the Nigerian human rights activist who heads Friends of the Earth International.
Nnimmo Bassey said Ministers “should not be allowed to sacrifice the environment on the altar of corporate greed” – as they had done for decades in his own country, where “the entire nation was Shell’s concession”.
Read the article @ The Irish Times
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Mayo to levy power and waste projects


MAYO COUNTY Council is planning to impose “community benefit” levies on wind farms, power stations, quarries, gas pipelines, telecom masts and waste disposal facilities – but the move would not apply to the Corrib gas project.
The council, which has extended the deadline for public consultation on its proposals until September 28th, is planning to set the levies at exactly the same level – €2,500 per megawatt – for wind turbines and “industrial installations for carrying gas”.
Read the article @ The Irish Times
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Heritage Council grant restores rural cottage


A GRANT of €6,000 from the cash-starved Heritage Council has resulted in the restoration of a 300-year-old thatched cottage near Dungarvan, Co Waterford – and paying guests can now enjoy staying in this authentic Irish rural farmhouse.
“It is romantic,” says Margaret Flanagan, proprietor of Coole Country Cottages. “It reminds you of what it might have been like to have lived in this cottage hundreds of years ago, with rough, thick walls and thatch pouring over its doors and windows.”
Read the article @ The Irish Times
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