KILDARE COUNTY manager Michael Malone is seeking to set aside key measures in the county council’s draft development plan – designed to protect historic landscapes around Celbridge — following a submission by a development company.
The move follows a decision by An Bord Pleanála on February 16th to refuse permission to Devondale Ltd for a scheme to facilitate the development of Donaghcumper Demesne as an extension of Celbridge town centre.
Overturning a decision by the county manager, the appeals board said the scheme – which included a new bridge over the river Liffey – would constitute a “major intrusion” into the setting of Castletown House and its historic grounds.
Amendments to the Kildare Draft Development Plan, to strengthen the protection for Castletown and Donaghcumper, were agreed by councillors last December, on foot of some 4,000 submissions.
A further submission was made in late January by planning consultants RPS on behalf of Devondale – a company controlled by developer Brian Durkan – seeking to overturn these amendments so that Donaghcumper could be developed.
Mr Malone is now seeking to set aside the amendment and has recommended in a report that a specific reference to “the Donaghcumper lands” for the development of an extension of Celbridge town centre – dropped by councillors last December – should be reinstated.
Mr Malone’s report also recommends omitting references to protecting “views across the river and to the demesnes of Donaghcumper and St Wolstan’s” and to the “sensitive designed landscapes” of the two demesnes, as well as Castletown. Asked to explain the justification for these changes, a spokeswoman for Kildare County Council said the county manager had issued his report and his recommendations would be considered by councillors at meetings on April 4th and 7th.
Planning consultant Jeanne Meldon, who is also a director of the Castletown Foundation, said it was clear that “the threat to Donaghcumper and Castletown arising from the unfortunate and ill-conceived zoning of 2002” still existed.
She said Mr Malone’s report “takes no account” of the most recent ruling by An Bord Pleanála. “All of the groups and individuals who made submissions and appealed the applications are horrified that one vested interest appears to hold sway.” Ms Meldon also noted that the appeals board “did not accept the evidence put forward by RPS” relating to the designed landscapes of Castletown, Donaghcumper and St Wolstan’s. Instead, it had “validated the arguments” put forward by objectors.
The Castletown Foundation pointed out that local authorities were required by planning guidelines on protecting Ireland’s architectural heritage – issued in 2004 – to safeguard the wider setting of protected structures such as Castletown House.
“It is vital for Castletown that the key views from the house and demesne are fully protected,” it added.
“Millions of euro have been invested and are being invested in Castletown, most recently for restoration of the paths and walks in the demesne, for the benefit of all.”
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label KIldare County Council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KIldare County Council. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Appeal Withdrawn at Rathangan Demense, Rathangan, Co. Kildare
An first party appeal by Dundian Limited concerning conditions imposed by Kildare County Council when granting permission for a large-scale planning application at Rathangan Demense, Rathangan, Co. Kildare has been withdrawn from An Bord Pleanala. Dundian Limited received permission for 250 houses, retail units and a creche facility.
www.buckplanning.ie
www.buckplanning.ie
Tesco granted shopping centre on Monread Road in Kildare
Nass Town Council has granted permission to Tesco for a smaller version of the previously permitted district shopping centre on the Monread Road (1st Dec 2009). The office content of the permitted scheme has been omitted from the current scheme in response to the downturn in the market.
www.buckplanning.ie
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Permission for housing given near Castletown House
KILDARE COUNTY Council has granted planning permission for a housing development at Donaghcumper Demesne, opposite Castletown House, in Co Kildare.
In granting the application for 91 bungalows, the council imposed a number of conditions, including a stipulation that no rear gardens are to face Castletown House.
The proposed estate would be visible from the upper floors of Castletown House – described as Ireland’s most important stately home – as well as from its avenue of lime trees.
The Irish Georgian Society had warned the proposed development presented “the biggest threat” to the setting of Castletown House, since it was saved by Desmond and Mariga Guinness 40 years ago.
The society said it was “gravely concerned” at the proposal.
The planning application was one of two lodged by Devondale Ltd in March 2008. The second for a high-rise mixed development was withdrawn by the council earlier this year.
The site which surrounds the protected Donaghcumper House is elevated and on the opposite bank of the Liffey to Castletown House.
Dating from the 1720s, Castletown is the earliest Palladian house in Ireland and is of acknowledged international significance. Appreciation of the house is said to be greatly enhanced by the survival of its parkland setting, described as one of the finest created landscapes of its type here.
The house was designed for speaker William Connolly by Edward Lovett Pearce, architect of the old Parliament House (now Bank of Ireland) on College Green. It remained in the hands of the Connolly-Carews until 1965, when it was sold to developers.
Desmond and Mariga found the house empty with its doors wide open, they bought the property and set about restoring it.
Donaghcumper Demesne was recently listed by Kildare County Council on the basis of its national importance.
However, former North Kildare TD Catherine Murphy has challenged the council’s assertion that the development was in line with “proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.
Ms Murphy said the terminology was irreconcilable with the decision to list both Castletown and Donaghcumper for preservation. She also cited “the fact that the development is within the Liffey Valley and the large sums currently being expended on Castletown House through the Office of Public Works”.
Ms Murphy said she would be one of a number of local groups and individuals to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
“This planning application would not have arisen in the first instance had the land not been rezoned in July 2000” she said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
In granting the application for 91 bungalows, the council imposed a number of conditions, including a stipulation that no rear gardens are to face Castletown House.
The proposed estate would be visible from the upper floors of Castletown House – described as Ireland’s most important stately home – as well as from its avenue of lime trees.
The Irish Georgian Society had warned the proposed development presented “the biggest threat” to the setting of Castletown House, since it was saved by Desmond and Mariga Guinness 40 years ago.
The society said it was “gravely concerned” at the proposal.
The planning application was one of two lodged by Devondale Ltd in March 2008. The second for a high-rise mixed development was withdrawn by the council earlier this year.
The site which surrounds the protected Donaghcumper House is elevated and on the opposite bank of the Liffey to Castletown House.
Dating from the 1720s, Castletown is the earliest Palladian house in Ireland and is of acknowledged international significance. Appreciation of the house is said to be greatly enhanced by the survival of its parkland setting, described as one of the finest created landscapes of its type here.
The house was designed for speaker William Connolly by Edward Lovett Pearce, architect of the old Parliament House (now Bank of Ireland) on College Green. It remained in the hands of the Connolly-Carews until 1965, when it was sold to developers.
Desmond and Mariga found the house empty with its doors wide open, they bought the property and set about restoring it.
Donaghcumper Demesne was recently listed by Kildare County Council on the basis of its national importance.
However, former North Kildare TD Catherine Murphy has challenged the council’s assertion that the development was in line with “proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.
Ms Murphy said the terminology was irreconcilable with the decision to list both Castletown and Donaghcumper for preservation. She also cited “the fact that the development is within the Liffey Valley and the large sums currently being expended on Castletown House through the Office of Public Works”.
Ms Murphy said she would be one of a number of local groups and individuals to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála.
“This planning application would not have arisen in the first instance had the land not been rezoned in July 2000” she said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Bord refuses Sean Dunne's Kilcock plan
AN BORD Pleanála has overturned planning permission granted to developer Seán Dunne for a residential, retail and office development at the Zed Candy factory site in Kilcock, Co Kildare because it would have a detrimental impact on the “viability and vitality” of Kilcock town centre.
Mountbrook Homes acquired the Zed Candy factory in Church Street, one of the main streets in Kilcock, in 2006 and was granted planning permission earlier this year by Kildare County Council for 29 shops including an anchor store, 180 apartments, offices, a medical centre and community facilities. The development would have been spread over six blocks rising to six storeys.
The proposal came up against considerable local opposition with five third party appeals submitted to An Bord Pleanála. Among the appellants was Emmet Stagg TD and Chris Rowland who said the scheme was out of character with the surrounding area and the mass and scale would negatively dominate the village.
They said the purpose of town centre zoning is to protect and enhance the character of Kilcock town centre.
Kilcock and District Community Council and Abbeyfield Residents Association were among the other appellants. By refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála overruled its inspector’s recommendation. It said the design fails to provide adequate links between Church Street and the Royal Canal which it is between, resulting in an “introverted” form of development out of character with the area.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Mountbrook Homes acquired the Zed Candy factory in Church Street, one of the main streets in Kilcock, in 2006 and was granted planning permission earlier this year by Kildare County Council for 29 shops including an anchor store, 180 apartments, offices, a medical centre and community facilities. The development would have been spread over six blocks rising to six storeys.
The proposal came up against considerable local opposition with five third party appeals submitted to An Bord Pleanála. Among the appellants was Emmet Stagg TD and Chris Rowland who said the scheme was out of character with the surrounding area and the mass and scale would negatively dominate the village.
They said the purpose of town centre zoning is to protect and enhance the character of Kilcock town centre.
Kilcock and District Community Council and Abbeyfield Residents Association were among the other appellants. By refusing permission, An Bord Pleanála overruled its inspector’s recommendation. It said the design fails to provide adequate links between Church Street and the Royal Canal which it is between, resulting in an “introverted” form of development out of character with the area.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
PROPOSED LOCAL AREA PLAN FOR CLANE
Kildare County Council proposes to prepare a Local Area Plan for Clane. Submissions must be made no later than 5pm on 3/12/08.
bps planning consultants is a firm of professional town planners who can make submissions on your behalf. Please call Brendan or Tony on 0404-66060 or email:
admin@buckplanning.ie. For further details of bps visit: www.buckplanning.ie
bps planning consultants is a firm of professional town planners who can make submissions on your behalf. Please call Brendan or Tony on 0404-66060 or email:
admin@buckplanning.ie. For further details of bps visit: www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Shopping centre part of major Celbridge redevelopment
A large extension to Celbridge town centre - to include a shopping centre, offices and some 756 residential units - is planned for a key 98-acre riverside site, writes Jack Fagan.
A planning application for a shopping centre as part of a major extension to Celbridge town centre is to be lodged shortly with Kildare Co Council.
The 98-acre development to be linked by three bridges over the River Liffey to main street in Celbridge is to be carried out by Devondale Ltd, a company controlled by Brian M Durkan and his father, Tony. It will have a development value of over €750 million.
Designed by Project Architects and O'Mahony Pike, the scheme will include a new town centre with a large public plaza, multiplex cinema, gym and cultural facilities, as well as banking and ancillary services. Several restaurants, cafés and bars will overlook the River Liffey and there will be two separate residential schemes.
The shopping centre will extend to 22,000sq m (236,808sq ft) and include two anchor stores which are likely to appeal to multiples such as Dunnes Stores and Marks & Spencer. Tesco is already trading from a new store at the opposite end of the town. These multiples are well aware that Celbridge is one of the most prosperous towns in the greater Dublin area due mainly to the large number of prestigious companies nearby including Intel and Hewlett Packard.
A study carried out on behalf of the developers of the new town centre has shown that expenditure per household is on a par with affluent areas such as Foxrock and Dundrum.
Eoin Feeney of agent HWBC is handling enquiries about the new shopping facilities.
The Durkan company bought the Donaghcumper lands three years ago for €78 million and recently handed over 31 acres to Kildare County Council for a public park which will be largely located along the Liffey.
The new town centre will include a total of 648 new homes varying from one, two and three-bedroom apartments to three and four-bedroom townhouses. The second residential quarter, located some distance away to the east of the site, will have 108 large four and five-bedroom detached family homes. Many of them will stand on individual sites of over a quarter of an acre with separate garages.
To broaden the appeal of the new centre, the developers are to provide 20,000sq m (215,278sq ft) of commercial space in an office and business campus. These will include own-door office facilities and live-work units to cater for start-up businesses.
Celbridge has been suffering from traffic congestion and a shortage of parking. These problems will be addressed in the new development where the main bridge over the river will link the Maynooth road with the old Dublin road, leading to Hazelhatch train station.
The two other bridges will be for pedestrian use. It is also planned to provide more than 1,700 car-parking spaces on the new site to facilitate both the old and the new town areas.
Donaghcumper House, which continues to be occupied, will be the subject of a future planning application.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A planning application for a shopping centre as part of a major extension to Celbridge town centre is to be lodged shortly with Kildare Co Council.
The 98-acre development to be linked by three bridges over the River Liffey to main street in Celbridge is to be carried out by Devondale Ltd, a company controlled by Brian M Durkan and his father, Tony. It will have a development value of over €750 million.
Designed by Project Architects and O'Mahony Pike, the scheme will include a new town centre with a large public plaza, multiplex cinema, gym and cultural facilities, as well as banking and ancillary services. Several restaurants, cafés and bars will overlook the River Liffey and there will be two separate residential schemes.
The shopping centre will extend to 22,000sq m (236,808sq ft) and include two anchor stores which are likely to appeal to multiples such as Dunnes Stores and Marks & Spencer. Tesco is already trading from a new store at the opposite end of the town. These multiples are well aware that Celbridge is one of the most prosperous towns in the greater Dublin area due mainly to the large number of prestigious companies nearby including Intel and Hewlett Packard.
A study carried out on behalf of the developers of the new town centre has shown that expenditure per household is on a par with affluent areas such as Foxrock and Dundrum.
Eoin Feeney of agent HWBC is handling enquiries about the new shopping facilities.
The Durkan company bought the Donaghcumper lands three years ago for €78 million and recently handed over 31 acres to Kildare County Council for a public park which will be largely located along the Liffey.
The new town centre will include a total of 648 new homes varying from one, two and three-bedroom apartments to three and four-bedroom townhouses. The second residential quarter, located some distance away to the east of the site, will have 108 large four and five-bedroom detached family homes. Many of them will stand on individual sites of over a quarter of an acre with separate garages.
To broaden the appeal of the new centre, the developers are to provide 20,000sq m (215,278sq ft) of commercial space in an office and business campus. These will include own-door office facilities and live-work units to cater for start-up businesses.
Celbridge has been suffering from traffic congestion and a shortage of parking. These problems will be addressed in the new development where the main bridge over the river will link the Maynooth road with the old Dublin road, leading to Hazelhatch train station.
The two other bridges will be for pedestrian use. It is also planned to provide more than 1,700 car-parking spaces on the new site to facilitate both the old and the new town areas.
Donaghcumper House, which continues to be occupied, will be the subject of a future planning application.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 17 December 2007
Newbridge development stalls over state of sewers
BUILDERS in the Newbridge area are losing out on millions of euro as local development is stalled owing to inadequate sewerage facilities.
While developers and builders are generally regarded as the chief beneficiaries of the recent boom years, it appears that some of those who purchased land in the Newbridge area, zoned for residential development, are now left sitting on literal-ly hundreds of acres as permission to build cannot be granted.
One builder told the Kildare Nationalist that he had purchased land three years ago and was still awaiting planning permission because the necessary infrastructure was not in place. Others have been given permission, but only on condition that development does not go ahead until the new sewerage facility is in place. In all, it is estimated that a land bank totalling around 300 acres in the Newbridge area is at present zoned residential but is unable to be developed for reasons of inadequate infrastructure.
The builders are frustrated because they say that the council would have been aware for years that the sewerage system needed to be upgraded. Furthermore, they point out that huge sums of money have been handed over by developers towards infrastructure, in the spate of building that took place over the past decade. The builder who spoke to the Kildare Nationalist stated that his company had paid almost •2m in levies designed to fund infrastructure, as part of his last residential development.
Given the current slowdown in the housing market overall, the delay in getting new homes built and onto the market is a considerable concern to developers in the area. In recent weeks, a mixed residential and commercial development in the Rickardstown area was also rejected by Kildare Co Council, citing the inadequacy of the sewerage service as one of the major reasons for the refusal.
A recent statement from the local branch of Fine Gael, however, indicated that according to calculations it carried out, an estimated •150m was paid by Newbridge people in stamp duty and VAT on new houses built between 2002 and
2007. The Fine Gael state-ment was intended to highlight the need for money collected locally in this way to be spent in the area, in terms of providing local facilities and amenities.
Asked for a comment on the issue of the sewerage capacity for Newbridge, county council spokesman Charlie Talbot said on Monday: "We have a proposal that has been approved by the Department of the Environment for the improvement of the Osberstown waste water treatment plant, which takes the sewage from Newbridge.
"This is in design review at the moment and we hope to go to public consultation by the end of 2008. This major project will be completed in 2011/2012.
"In addition, there are two advance elements to be put into place at an earlier date. These include a storm water, storage and pump house facility at Kilbelin and a new pumping station and storage capacity for foul sewage at Newhall. We would hope that these works would be completed by June 2009."
Acknowledging that the Osberstown plant is at present operating at close to capacity, Mr Talbot said that the council was currently giving planning permission priority to projects that involved an element of longer-term employment. "We would assign high priority to developments which offer local employment beyond just the construction phase itself and that applies to Newbridge and to anywhere else served by the Osberstown plant."
Mr Talbot said the reason for this was that the council had a long-term aim of tackling the problems of commuting, and creating "sustainable local employment" was viewed as a key element in resolving this issue.
Kildare Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
While developers and builders are generally regarded as the chief beneficiaries of the recent boom years, it appears that some of those who purchased land in the Newbridge area, zoned for residential development, are now left sitting on literal-ly hundreds of acres as permission to build cannot be granted.
One builder told the Kildare Nationalist that he had purchased land three years ago and was still awaiting planning permission because the necessary infrastructure was not in place. Others have been given permission, but only on condition that development does not go ahead until the new sewerage facility is in place. In all, it is estimated that a land bank totalling around 300 acres in the Newbridge area is at present zoned residential but is unable to be developed for reasons of inadequate infrastructure.
The builders are frustrated because they say that the council would have been aware for years that the sewerage system needed to be upgraded. Furthermore, they point out that huge sums of money have been handed over by developers towards infrastructure, in the spate of building that took place over the past decade. The builder who spoke to the Kildare Nationalist stated that his company had paid almost •2m in levies designed to fund infrastructure, as part of his last residential development.
Given the current slowdown in the housing market overall, the delay in getting new homes built and onto the market is a considerable concern to developers in the area. In recent weeks, a mixed residential and commercial development in the Rickardstown area was also rejected by Kildare Co Council, citing the inadequacy of the sewerage service as one of the major reasons for the refusal.
A recent statement from the local branch of Fine Gael, however, indicated that according to calculations it carried out, an estimated •150m was paid by Newbridge people in stamp duty and VAT on new houses built between 2002 and
2007. The Fine Gael state-ment was intended to highlight the need for money collected locally in this way to be spent in the area, in terms of providing local facilities and amenities.
Asked for a comment on the issue of the sewerage capacity for Newbridge, county council spokesman Charlie Talbot said on Monday: "We have a proposal that has been approved by the Department of the Environment for the improvement of the Osberstown waste water treatment plant, which takes the sewage from Newbridge.
"This is in design review at the moment and we hope to go to public consultation by the end of 2008. This major project will be completed in 2011/2012.
"In addition, there are two advance elements to be put into place at an earlier date. These include a storm water, storage and pump house facility at Kilbelin and a new pumping station and storage capacity for foul sewage at Newhall. We would hope that these works would be completed by June 2009."
Acknowledging that the Osberstown plant is at present operating at close to capacity, Mr Talbot said that the council was currently giving planning permission priority to projects that involved an element of longer-term employment. "We would assign high priority to developments which offer local employment beyond just the construction phase itself and that applies to Newbridge and to anywhere else served by the Osberstown plant."
Mr Talbot said the reason for this was that the council had a long-term aim of tackling the problems of commuting, and creating "sustainable local employment" was viewed as a key element in resolving this issue.
Kildare Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Kildare ‘losing the pollution battle’
KILDARE’S environment has deteriorated in the last two years. A new report by Kildare County Council shows the amount of moderately polluted river channels has almost trebled, from 10% to 28%. But the number of seriously polluted rivers has fallen from a high of 16% in 2004 to 4% last year.
In what cllr John McGinley described as “disturbing reading”, there has been a reduction in full-time litter wardens from six to two. The number of prosecution cases taken for non-payment of on-the-spot fines has also dropped by almost a half in two years.
Cllr Paul Kelly added that the council “must be losing the (pollution) battle when we see percentages like these”.
In the council’s defence, county manager Michael Malone said: “Society must work with us both with litter and the courts. If people have witnessed others carrying out illegal dumping or littering, then they should be willing to come forward.”
Joanne O'Connor
© Kildare Nationalist
In what cllr John McGinley described as “disturbing reading”, there has been a reduction in full-time litter wardens from six to two. The number of prosecution cases taken for non-payment of on-the-spot fines has also dropped by almost a half in two years.
Cllr Paul Kelly added that the council “must be losing the (pollution) battle when we see percentages like these”.
In the council’s defence, county manager Michael Malone said: “Society must work with us both with litter and the courts. If people have witnessed others carrying out illegal dumping or littering, then they should be willing to come forward.”
Joanne O'Connor
© Kildare Nationalist
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Allen action group keeps pressure on Roadstone
RESIDENTS of the Mill-town, Kilmeague and Allen areas have called on Roadstone to formulate a proper restoration plan for the Hill of Allen, given the impact of quarrying there over several decades. The demand came following a public meeting held in the Milltown Inn last week, which was attended by around 50 concerned residents from the area. Public representatives also turned out for the meeting, including deputies Sean O’Fearghail (FF) and Jack Wall (Labour), along with Fianna F•il councillors Pat Black and Fiona O’Loughlin. A petition concerning public access to the hill was launched at the same meeting.
“Essentially, we are calling on Roadstone to place a height restriction barrier at the entrance to the carpark beside the hill. At present, there are boulders there which are effectively hindering local people from using it as an amenity,” said local committee spokes-person Miriam Mulcahy.
At the meeting, Ms Mulcahy outlined the relevant planning issues to the attendance. Kildare County Council notified Roadstone in March 2006 that, due to the size of the quarry and given concerns about the environmental impact of the works, the company would have to submit a planning application and an environmental impact statement. Roadstone insists that its quarrying on the hill has had no significant effect in environmental terms and has sought a judicial review of the matter.
Anne Davidson addressed the Milltown meeting on the subject of the county development plan, focusing in particular on the regulations and guidelines related to ‘extractive industries’, while Conor Mahony spoke about the historic and cultural significance of the hill. Those in attendance viewed a slide show and were shown a series of large maps which, the organisers claimed, indicated the areas of extraction proposed in Roadstone’s future plans.
“There was a lot of shock when people actually saw exactly how much of the hill is about to be taken away,” said Miriam Mulcahy. The group wants to preserve the remainder of the hill and get Roadstone to commit itself to a public and detailed restoration plan. It also aims to keep local people informed, publicising all decisions made by Kildare CC in respect of the hill.
The committee, chaired by Brian O’Loughlin, has expressed dissatisfaction with Roadstone’s current approach to restoring those areas of the hill that have already been quarried. “It appears that at present it is just a matter of trucks tipping earth onto the face of the hill. What we are seeking is a proper, phased restoration plan,” Ms Mulcahy said.
In a statement issued last week, Roadstone said: “Roadstone Dublin Limited has operated a quarry at the Hill of Allen since the 1940s, providing essential raw materials to the local construction industry. Almost 70 people are directly and indirectly employed at the facility, which operates in compliance with all appropriate legislative, planning and environmental requirements. “On 26 April 2005, Roadstone Dublin Ltd registered its quarry with Kildare County Council as required under section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. A judicial review is currently underway in relation to this matter and Roadstone Dublin is therefore precluded from commenting any further until that process has reached a conclusion.”
The local committee, meanwhile, is currently active in setting up a website on which people can access information about this issue and an e-mail campaign is already underway, with people asked to contribute their views to hillofallen@eircom.net.
Vicki Weller
© Kildare Nationalist
“Essentially, we are calling on Roadstone to place a height restriction barrier at the entrance to the carpark beside the hill. At present, there are boulders there which are effectively hindering local people from using it as an amenity,” said local committee spokes-person Miriam Mulcahy.
At the meeting, Ms Mulcahy outlined the relevant planning issues to the attendance. Kildare County Council notified Roadstone in March 2006 that, due to the size of the quarry and given concerns about the environmental impact of the works, the company would have to submit a planning application and an environmental impact statement. Roadstone insists that its quarrying on the hill has had no significant effect in environmental terms and has sought a judicial review of the matter.
Anne Davidson addressed the Milltown meeting on the subject of the county development plan, focusing in particular on the regulations and guidelines related to ‘extractive industries’, while Conor Mahony spoke about the historic and cultural significance of the hill. Those in attendance viewed a slide show and were shown a series of large maps which, the organisers claimed, indicated the areas of extraction proposed in Roadstone’s future plans.
“There was a lot of shock when people actually saw exactly how much of the hill is about to be taken away,” said Miriam Mulcahy. The group wants to preserve the remainder of the hill and get Roadstone to commit itself to a public and detailed restoration plan. It also aims to keep local people informed, publicising all decisions made by Kildare CC in respect of the hill.
The committee, chaired by Brian O’Loughlin, has expressed dissatisfaction with Roadstone’s current approach to restoring those areas of the hill that have already been quarried. “It appears that at present it is just a matter of trucks tipping earth onto the face of the hill. What we are seeking is a proper, phased restoration plan,” Ms Mulcahy said.
In a statement issued last week, Roadstone said: “Roadstone Dublin Limited has operated a quarry at the Hill of Allen since the 1940s, providing essential raw materials to the local construction industry. Almost 70 people are directly and indirectly employed at the facility, which operates in compliance with all appropriate legislative, planning and environmental requirements. “On 26 April 2005, Roadstone Dublin Ltd registered its quarry with Kildare County Council as required under section 261 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000. A judicial review is currently underway in relation to this matter and Roadstone Dublin is therefore precluded from commenting any further until that process has reached a conclusion.”
The local committee, meanwhile, is currently active in setting up a website on which people can access information about this issue and an e-mail campaign is already underway, with people asked to contribute their views to hillofallen@eircom.net.
Vicki Weller
© Kildare Nationalist
Thursday, 19 April 2007
Warning over Kildare quarry effluent
A major quarry operation in Kildare has been ordered to stop pumping huge quantities of water into a local river after complaints from locals that excavations had polluted water supplies.
Officials at Kildare County Council responded to complaints yesterday that effluent was originating from a quarry near Monasterevin. In a statement, the council said that a notice under section 12 of the Local Government Water Pollution Act 1977 would be served to cease any discharge immediately.
The move is part of a major council investigation launched this week following complaints by locals over the discharge of water from two quarries. People living along the banks of the Grand Canal in the Ballykelly area of Monasterevin told the Leinster Express that they had experienced a decline in their water supply. The residents rely on private wells, but supplies to homes have begun to run dry.
While private wells have been affected, the council is understood to be checking wells which supply public mains. Reports emerged yesterday that the council was extending its investigation because of the scale of the discharge.
Residents in Ballykelly say that the quarrying has led to a significant build-up of spring water in the quarries. Locals claimed continuous blasting at one of the quarries had resulted in irreversible damage to supplies.
One of the quarries is unused but had filled with water until pumping began before Easter. Locals claim workers installed equipment to empty water from the site in anticipation of permission to restart quarrying.
Residents say that industrial-sized pipes have pumped water from the quarries into a ditch which runs parallel to the Grand Canal. This has been confirmed by the council.
Waterways Ireland also moved this week to investigate the complaints. A spokeswoman confirmed that it had not licensed work on land beside the canal. She said that the agency would be writing to the site operators.
Conor Ganly
© 2007 The Irish Times
Officials at Kildare County Council responded to complaints yesterday that effluent was originating from a quarry near Monasterevin. In a statement, the council said that a notice under section 12 of the Local Government Water Pollution Act 1977 would be served to cease any discharge immediately.
The move is part of a major council investigation launched this week following complaints by locals over the discharge of water from two quarries. People living along the banks of the Grand Canal in the Ballykelly area of Monasterevin told the Leinster Express that they had experienced a decline in their water supply. The residents rely on private wells, but supplies to homes have begun to run dry.
While private wells have been affected, the council is understood to be checking wells which supply public mains. Reports emerged yesterday that the council was extending its investigation because of the scale of the discharge.
Residents in Ballykelly say that the quarrying has led to a significant build-up of spring water in the quarries. Locals claimed continuous blasting at one of the quarries had resulted in irreversible damage to supplies.
One of the quarries is unused but had filled with water until pumping began before Easter. Locals claim workers installed equipment to empty water from the site in anticipation of permission to restart quarrying.
Residents say that industrial-sized pipes have pumped water from the quarries into a ditch which runs parallel to the Grand Canal. This has been confirmed by the council.
Waterways Ireland also moved this week to investigate the complaints. A spokeswoman confirmed that it had not licensed work on land beside the canal. She said that the agency would be writing to the site operators.
Conor Ganly
© 2007 The Irish Times
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Historic dolmen ‘damaged by builders’
IT has been alleged that there were attempts to remove a dolmen at Grangebeg between Monasterevin and Kildare Town recently.
“The dolmen is under severe threat of damage due to building work that is being carried out on the site,” said Barry Walsh, secretary of the Monasterevin Historical Society.
Another member of the historical society noticed that some work was being carried out on the site last Saturday week (3 March). He went back to the site on Monday at 7am and noticed that the earthwork surrounding the dolmen
had been bulldozed and the stones had been covered by hedges and trees that had been uprooted from another part of the site.
“I believe that hedges and trees had been gathered to be burned and this would have caused serious damage to the stones,” he told the Kildare Nationalist.
The concerned historian also alleges that a rath was removed from the site and is worried that another site of archaeological interest close by could also be in danger.
“I contacted the council offices when they opened at 9am and they sent out an enforcement officer from the planning department at 11am,” he said.
According to Barry Walsh: “Work stopped immediately on the site and as far as I am aware work is still suspended.” On Tuesday, when the men returned to the site, all the shrubbery had been cleared away, but it appeared that there had been some damage done to the stones. Members of the historical society feel that the dolmen should be restored to its original position. “We would also like to see a public access route to it and a protective fence put around it,” said Mr Walsh. “It is important to protect it as there aren’t many in Kildare and it could be developed as a tourist attractions.”
Ashling Mackey
© Kildare Nationalist
“The dolmen is under severe threat of damage due to building work that is being carried out on the site,” said Barry Walsh, secretary of the Monasterevin Historical Society.
Another member of the historical society noticed that some work was being carried out on the site last Saturday week (3 March). He went back to the site on Monday at 7am and noticed that the earthwork surrounding the dolmen
had been bulldozed and the stones had been covered by hedges and trees that had been uprooted from another part of the site.
“I believe that hedges and trees had been gathered to be burned and this would have caused serious damage to the stones,” he told the Kildare Nationalist.
The concerned historian also alleges that a rath was removed from the site and is worried that another site of archaeological interest close by could also be in danger.
“I contacted the council offices when they opened at 9am and they sent out an enforcement officer from the planning department at 11am,” he said.
According to Barry Walsh: “Work stopped immediately on the site and as far as I am aware work is still suspended.” On Tuesday, when the men returned to the site, all the shrubbery had been cleared away, but it appeared that there had been some damage done to the stones. Members of the historical society feel that the dolmen should be restored to its original position. “We would also like to see a public access route to it and a protective fence put around it,” said Mr Walsh. “It is important to protect it as there aren’t many in Kildare and it could be developed as a tourist attractions.”
Ashling Mackey
© Kildare Nationalist
Friday, 16 March 2007
Planning board urged to reopen landfill hearing
A High Court judge has "strongly recommended" that An Bord Pleanála reopens an oral hearing into a proposed landfill development in Co Kildare following the board's acceptance that its decision granting permission for the landfill should be quashed because of the "unusual circumstances" leading to that decision.
The board had conceded that the failure to record its decision of July 24th, 2006, approving conditions attached to the planning permission for the landfill at Usk, Kilcullen, meant that it could not establish its decision was made in accordance with law, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said. He said he would quash the granting of permission on that basis.
While the Usk and District Residents Group, which had challenged the decision, had argued there were other grounds for quashing, he said it was not in anyone's interest that court time should be spent addressing those.
While he could not order the board to reopen its oral hearing, he was strongly recommending it do so and was also suggesting the issue of permission for the development should be determined by board members who were not involved in the original decision.
That suggestion, he stressed, did not mean he accepted the criticisms of the five board members involved in the original decision. There might or might not be substance in the criticism but he did not have to adjudicate on that and his suggestion was to minimise the risk of further judicial review.
On that basis, he granted the board's application for the matter to be returned to it for a fresh determination. He also directed that the board pay the costs of the residents group and of Greenstar Recycling Holdings Ltd, the developer of the proposed landfill.
The residents group had opposed the matter being returned to the board and had urged the court simply to quash the permission.
Mr Justice Kelly said his discretion whether to remit had to be exercised with the overall objective of achieving a just result. In this case, the board had disagreed with its inspector's recommendation to refuse and an imperfection in the way it had dealt with the disagreement had led to the permission being quashed.
If the case was not remitted, Greenstar would have to start all over again, he said. The residents had no complaint about how the board had dealt with the matter until August 2005, after the inspector's first report. In those circumstances, it would be disproportionate to Greenstar's rights not to return the matter to the board.
While the residents group had said it had no faith in the board's impartiality and alleged it dealt with the application in a "peculiar" and "incredible way", he would make no findings on those claims.
The case arose from an An Bord Pleanála decision to grant permission for the landfill development at Usk to process 200,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste annually for 10 years.
Mary Carolan
© 2007 The Irish Times
The board had conceded that the failure to record its decision of July 24th, 2006, approving conditions attached to the planning permission for the landfill at Usk, Kilcullen, meant that it could not establish its decision was made in accordance with law, Mr Justice Peter Kelly said. He said he would quash the granting of permission on that basis.
While the Usk and District Residents Group, which had challenged the decision, had argued there were other grounds for quashing, he said it was not in anyone's interest that court time should be spent addressing those.
While he could not order the board to reopen its oral hearing, he was strongly recommending it do so and was also suggesting the issue of permission for the development should be determined by board members who were not involved in the original decision.
That suggestion, he stressed, did not mean he accepted the criticisms of the five board members involved in the original decision. There might or might not be substance in the criticism but he did not have to adjudicate on that and his suggestion was to minimise the risk of further judicial review.
On that basis, he granted the board's application for the matter to be returned to it for a fresh determination. He also directed that the board pay the costs of the residents group and of Greenstar Recycling Holdings Ltd, the developer of the proposed landfill.
The residents group had opposed the matter being returned to the board and had urged the court simply to quash the permission.
Mr Justice Kelly said his discretion whether to remit had to be exercised with the overall objective of achieving a just result. In this case, the board had disagreed with its inspector's recommendation to refuse and an imperfection in the way it had dealt with the disagreement had led to the permission being quashed.
If the case was not remitted, Greenstar would have to start all over again, he said. The residents had no complaint about how the board had dealt with the matter until August 2005, after the inspector's first report. In those circumstances, it would be disproportionate to Greenstar's rights not to return the matter to the board.
While the residents group had said it had no faith in the board's impartiality and alleged it dealt with the application in a "peculiar" and "incredible way", he would make no findings on those claims.
The case arose from an An Bord Pleanála decision to grant permission for the landfill development at Usk to process 200,000 tonnes of non-hazardous waste annually for 10 years.
Mary Carolan
© 2007 The Irish Times
Monday, 26 February 2007
Board to quash permission for landfill
An Bord Pleanála has agreed before the High Court that its decision granting planning permission for a landfill site in Co Kildare must be overturned.
A local residents group which challenged the permission had claimed the manner in which the board had dealt with the planning application had been "peculiar throughout". The board yesterday conceded that its permission, granted on the basis of certain conditions, should be quashed because the board had reached that decision on the basis of inadequate records.
The court heard there was no record of any meeting of the board as to how the planning conditions as finally prepared were approved. The issue of how the matter should now proceed will be decided later.
The Usk and District Residents Group said the conceded shortcomings in the board's decision failed to address other matters relating to how the board had reached its decision, including the group's concerns relating to further information being sought from the landfill developer by the board after an inspector had recommended that permission be refused for the development.
The board had not followed the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission but instead directed that a further information request prepared by the inspector be issued in its entirety, the group said.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday heard submissions from the sides as to how the matter should now be addressed in light of the board's concession that its permission should be quashed. The judge said he would reserve his decision on how the planning application should be dealt with in the future.
The challenge to the board's decision of July 24th, 2006, had been brought by the residents group and related to a proposed landfill at Usk, Kilcullen, being developed by Greenstar Recycling Holdings Ltd for 200,000 tonnes per year of non-hazardous waste for 10 years.
An inspector who conducted a four-day oral hearing into the proposed landfill, submitted a report to the board in July 2005 recommending that permission be refused on four grounds. The board later sought further information from
the developer and that was assessed by the inspector who, in a second report, reduced the number of grounds for her refusal to three.
The board decided in July 2006 to grant permission on certain conditions. It said that, in deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, it had regard to national policy; a waste licence granted by the Environmental Protection Agency on June 8th, 2004; the previous use of the site as a sand and gravel quarry and the location close to the national road system.
The residents group suggested the second of the inspector's reports was delivered after the board meeting of June 20th and, therefore, it did not have the required information when it made its decision. The board later said the conditions were prepared after the June 20th meeting which, it said, was not unusual because no conditions had initially been prepared by the inspector because she had recommended refusal of permission. It said the conditions were fully discussed at the June 20th meeting.
However, because there was no record of any meeting of the board at which the planning conditions as finally prepared were approved, the board conceded its decision granting permission should be overturned.
John Collins, solicitor for the residents group, said his clients have no faith in the objectivity or impartiality of the board relating to the landfill development appeal. The manner in which the appeal had been dealt with "has been peculiar throughout", he said.
© 2007 The Irish Times
A local residents group which challenged the permission had claimed the manner in which the board had dealt with the planning application had been "peculiar throughout". The board yesterday conceded that its permission, granted on the basis of certain conditions, should be quashed because the board had reached that decision on the basis of inadequate records.
The court heard there was no record of any meeting of the board as to how the planning conditions as finally prepared were approved. The issue of how the matter should now proceed will be decided later.
The Usk and District Residents Group said the conceded shortcomings in the board's decision failed to address other matters relating to how the board had reached its decision, including the group's concerns relating to further information being sought from the landfill developer by the board after an inspector had recommended that permission be refused for the development.
The board had not followed the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission but instead directed that a further information request prepared by the inspector be issued in its entirety, the group said.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday heard submissions from the sides as to how the matter should now be addressed in light of the board's concession that its permission should be quashed. The judge said he would reserve his decision on how the planning application should be dealt with in the future.
The challenge to the board's decision of July 24th, 2006, had been brought by the residents group and related to a proposed landfill at Usk, Kilcullen, being developed by Greenstar Recycling Holdings Ltd for 200,000 tonnes per year of non-hazardous waste for 10 years.
An inspector who conducted a four-day oral hearing into the proposed landfill, submitted a report to the board in July 2005 recommending that permission be refused on four grounds. The board later sought further information from
the developer and that was assessed by the inspector who, in a second report, reduced the number of grounds for her refusal to three.
The board decided in July 2006 to grant permission on certain conditions. It said that, in deciding not to accept the inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, it had regard to national policy; a waste licence granted by the Environmental Protection Agency on June 8th, 2004; the previous use of the site as a sand and gravel quarry and the location close to the national road system.
The residents group suggested the second of the inspector's reports was delivered after the board meeting of June 20th and, therefore, it did not have the required information when it made its decision. The board later said the conditions were prepared after the June 20th meeting which, it said, was not unusual because no conditions had initially been prepared by the inspector because she had recommended refusal of permission. It said the conditions were fully discussed at the June 20th meeting.
However, because there was no record of any meeting of the board at which the planning conditions as finally prepared were approved, the board conceded its decision granting permission should be overturned.
John Collins, solicitor for the residents group, said his clients have no faith in the objectivity or impartiality of the board relating to the landfill development appeal. The manner in which the appeal had been dealt with "has been peculiar throughout", he said.
© 2007 The Irish Times
Sunday, 18 February 2007
PROPOSED LOCAL AREA PLAN FOR PROSPEROUS
Pursuant to Sections 18-20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), notice is hereby given that Kildare County Council, being the Planning Authority for the area, proposes to prepare a Local Area Plan for Prosperous, Co. Kildare.
A Local Area Plan is a statutory document that sets out the planning and development objectives of the Council for the designated area. This is prepared in accordance with the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and is in line with the objectives of the County Development Plan 2005-2011.
A copy of the proposed Local Area Plan may be inspected for a period of 6 weeks between 8 February 2007 and 22 March 2007.
The proposed Local Area Plan is also available for inspection on the Council’s website www.kildare.ie/countycouncil
Submissions or observations in writing should be marked Prosperous Local Area Plan and addressed to Mary Foley, Administrative Officer, Forward Planning Section, Kildare County Council, at the address below or via email to : mfoley@kildarecoco.ie to be received no later than 22/03/07
Submissions or observations in respect of the proposed Local Area Plan made to the Planning Authority (Forward Planning Unit) during the stated period will be taken into consideration in deciding upon the proposal.
A Local Area Plan is a statutory document that sets out the planning and development objectives of the Council for the designated area. This is prepared in accordance with the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and is in line with the objectives of the County Development Plan 2005-2011.
A copy of the proposed Local Area Plan may be inspected for a period of 6 weeks between 8 February 2007 and 22 March 2007.
The proposed Local Area Plan is also available for inspection on the Council’s website www.kildare.ie/countycouncil
Submissions or observations in writing should be marked Prosperous Local Area Plan and addressed to Mary Foley, Administrative Officer, Forward Planning Section, Kildare County Council, at the address below or via email to : mfoley@kildarecoco.ie to be received no later than 22/03/07
Submissions or observations in respect of the proposed Local Area Plan made to the Planning Authority (Forward Planning Unit) during the stated period will be taken into consideration in deciding upon the proposal.
Saturday, 17 February 2007
St Valentine's remains on the move after 150 years
This story has taken me a few days to get up, but it's a good one - article by Breda Heffernan in the Irish Indo':
AFTER more than 150 years ensconced in a Dublin church, the relics of St Valentine are on the move . . . to Kildare.
The small black and gold casket, which contains the remains of the martyr and a small vessel tinged with his blood, is to be transported in a limousine from the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street to Whiteabbey Carmelite Church in Kildare town this week.
While the journey will be a somewhat nervous one for the relic's custodians, because the items lose their authenticity if the seal is broken, there are no fears of a tiger raid.
"They're valueless monetary-wise. They are only of use to believers. The casket's so heavy that I don't think we need have any fears for it," chuckled Fr Christopher Crowley, prior of the Dublin monastery. The casket will remain on the altar before being transported to Kildare on Friday or Saturday.
The sacred relics arrived in Dublin in 1836 when Pope Gregory XVI, so impressed with the preaching of Irish Carmelite priest Dr John Spratt, offered them as a token of his esteem. But many Dubliners have no idea that the earthly remains of the patron saint of lovers are in their city.
Where locals fear to tread, however,the international media is blazing a trail. "We had an Australian television crew in yesterday. All day we have had people dribbling in. We're really delighted with the level of interest," said Fr Crowley.
"I had one woman who has seven children and 17 grandchildren, who comes in here every week, tell me this week that she never knew the relics were here."
A large number of tourists laid red roses at the foot of the shrine to St Valentine yesterday.
Friends Carl and Joseph from Washington DC were eager to catch a glimpse of the casket. "We were on a city tour and the bus driver told us about it. It's Valentine's Day so we thought we'd better come and have a look," said Carl.
Two popular Masses for blessing of the rings drew crowds of several hundred. They were asked to hold their rings while the priest gave a blessing before sprinkling the congregation with Holy Water.
The Christian priest Valentine rose to prominence during the reign of Emperor Claudius II who, having difficulty recruiting soldiers, outlawed marriage.
St Valentine secretly blessed the marriages of all those who flocked to him. When caught he was beaten and beheaded on February 14 in 269 or 270 AD.
AFTER more than 150 years ensconced in a Dublin church, the relics of St Valentine are on the move . . . to Kildare.
The small black and gold casket, which contains the remains of the martyr and a small vessel tinged with his blood, is to be transported in a limousine from the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street to Whiteabbey Carmelite Church in Kildare town this week.
While the journey will be a somewhat nervous one for the relic's custodians, because the items lose their authenticity if the seal is broken, there are no fears of a tiger raid.
"They're valueless monetary-wise. They are only of use to believers. The casket's so heavy that I don't think we need have any fears for it," chuckled Fr Christopher Crowley, prior of the Dublin monastery. The casket will remain on the altar before being transported to Kildare on Friday or Saturday.
The sacred relics arrived in Dublin in 1836 when Pope Gregory XVI, so impressed with the preaching of Irish Carmelite priest Dr John Spratt, offered them as a token of his esteem. But many Dubliners have no idea that the earthly remains of the patron saint of lovers are in their city.
Where locals fear to tread, however,the international media is blazing a trail. "We had an Australian television crew in yesterday. All day we have had people dribbling in. We're really delighted with the level of interest," said Fr Crowley.
"I had one woman who has seven children and 17 grandchildren, who comes in here every week, tell me this week that she never knew the relics were here."
A large number of tourists laid red roses at the foot of the shrine to St Valentine yesterday.
Friends Carl and Joseph from Washington DC were eager to catch a glimpse of the casket. "We were on a city tour and the bus driver told us about it. It's Valentine's Day so we thought we'd better come and have a look," said Carl.
Two popular Masses for blessing of the rings drew crowds of several hundred. They were asked to hold their rings while the priest gave a blessing before sprinkling the congregation with Holy Water.
The Christian priest Valentine rose to prominence during the reign of Emperor Claudius II who, having difficulty recruiting soldiers, outlawed marriage.
St Valentine secretly blessed the marriages of all those who flocked to him. When caught he was beaten and beheaded on February 14 in 269 or 270 AD.
Thursday, 15 February 2007
Kildare sewage plant stalls slowing house building
This from Pal Melia in the Irish Indo' - MORE than 160 construction workers have lost their jobs because a developer cannot get planning permission to build new homes in one of the fastest-growing towns in the county.
And thousands of houses in Co Kildare might not be built because the sewerage system serving the county is overburdened and will not be upgraded until 2011.
Developers revealed yesterday that they had been told planning permission was unlikely to be granted for homes in Newbridge, Naas and Clane because the Osberstown sewage treatment plant cannot handle any more waste.
And one company let go 161 staff in the past two months because it cannot develop a site in Newbridge.
Denis McIntyre, of Roseberry Construction, said yesterday: "It's very strange for a blocklayer to be asking for work. Some of the guys we've had to let go are with us for 20 years."
He added that the company's 43-acre site in the town would lie idle until the new sewage treatment plant came on stream, which was unlikely to happen until at least 2011.
"The amount of levies being paid (to the council) is enormous, but the infrastructure isn't being put in place. This is totally out of our hands, it's up to
the council," Mr McIntyre added.The shortfall in new homes coming on stream is sure to push house prices up for hard-pressed first-time buyers. Other Kildare towns earmarked for expansion over the coming years include Sallins, Clane and Kilcullen and housing may also be curtailed here. Developers have warned that further job losses are likely unless a sewerage treatment plant servicing the county is upgraded.
In one case, a developer was granted planning permission to build 24 homes despite having applied to complete over 70. A condition of planning was that the remainder could not be built until the treatment plant was upgraded.
The Osberstown plant is already operating at capacity, and upgrading plans were put to the Department of the Environment in 2002. However, no work is expected to begin until at least 2008, although funding for the €17.4m scheme has been approved.
Kildare County Council is understood to be finalising contract documents with a view to putting the project out to tender. The council could not be reached for comment yesterday.
"I have 43 acres in Newbridge and it's not serviced," Mr McIntyre said. "I sought planning permission in January last year for 196 houses and a creche, and I'm now at the third request for additional information. My engineers are tearing their hair out, we've got the same questions back for clarification again."
The Kildare County Development Plan expects that 2,500 new homes will be built in the county every year up to 2011.
In Naas, Newbridge and Kilcullen - all of which rely on the Osberstown plant - 7,300 houses are supposed to be built. On Clane, Sallins and Kill over 1,000 are due to come on stream.
A spokesman for the Construction Industry Federation said last night that the situation had reached "crisis point", warning that house prices would "rocket" in the county.
"Kildare County Council has indicated that it has sufficient zoned and serviced lands to meet all projections of need," spokesman Kevin Flavin said.
"It is clear that this isn't the case. The council indicates that there are 160 hectares of zoned and serviced lands in Newbridge. We know this land is not serviced and cannot be developed.
He added that there was an absence of "joined-up, strategic thinking" on the issue and that houses could not be built because there was no basic infrastructure.
And thousands of houses in Co Kildare might not be built because the sewerage system serving the county is overburdened and will not be upgraded until 2011.
Developers revealed yesterday that they had been told planning permission was unlikely to be granted for homes in Newbridge, Naas and Clane because the Osberstown sewage treatment plant cannot handle any more waste.
And one company let go 161 staff in the past two months because it cannot develop a site in Newbridge.
Denis McIntyre, of Roseberry Construction, said yesterday: "It's very strange for a blocklayer to be asking for work. Some of the guys we've had to let go are with us for 20 years."
He added that the company's 43-acre site in the town would lie idle until the new sewage treatment plant came on stream, which was unlikely to happen until at least 2011.
"The amount of levies being paid (to the council) is enormous, but the infrastructure isn't being put in place. This is totally out of our hands, it's up to
the council," Mr McIntyre added.The shortfall in new homes coming on stream is sure to push house prices up for hard-pressed first-time buyers. Other Kildare towns earmarked for expansion over the coming years include Sallins, Clane and Kilcullen and housing may also be curtailed here. Developers have warned that further job losses are likely unless a sewerage treatment plant servicing the county is upgraded.
In one case, a developer was granted planning permission to build 24 homes despite having applied to complete over 70. A condition of planning was that the remainder could not be built until the treatment plant was upgraded.
The Osberstown plant is already operating at capacity, and upgrading plans were put to the Department of the Environment in 2002. However, no work is expected to begin until at least 2008, although funding for the €17.4m scheme has been approved.
Kildare County Council is understood to be finalising contract documents with a view to putting the project out to tender. The council could not be reached for comment yesterday.
"I have 43 acres in Newbridge and it's not serviced," Mr McIntyre said. "I sought planning permission in January last year for 196 houses and a creche, and I'm now at the third request for additional information. My engineers are tearing their hair out, we've got the same questions back for clarification again."
The Kildare County Development Plan expects that 2,500 new homes will be built in the county every year up to 2011.
In Naas, Newbridge and Kilcullen - all of which rely on the Osberstown plant - 7,300 houses are supposed to be built. On Clane, Sallins and Kill over 1,000 are due to come on stream.
A spokesman for the Construction Industry Federation said last night that the situation had reached "crisis point", warning that house prices would "rocket" in the county.
"Kildare County Council has indicated that it has sufficient zoned and serviced lands to meet all projections of need," spokesman Kevin Flavin said.
"It is clear that this isn't the case. The council indicates that there are 160 hectares of zoned and serviced lands in Newbridge. We know this land is not serviced and cannot be developed.
He added that there was an absence of "joined-up, strategic thinking" on the issue and that houses could not be built because there was no basic infrastructure.
Monday, 15 January 2007
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO NEWBRIDGE LOCAL AREA
By Order of the High Court made on the 21st February 2006, in proceedings entitled Newbridge Community Development Limited –v- Kildare County Council, Judicial Review Record No. 254JR/2004, the High Court quashed the following part of clause 2.6.2. of the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 as adopted by Kildare County Council on the 29th September 2003 :-
“The amenity strip along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning.”
The High Court also ordered Kildare County Council to propose and advertise, in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 –2004, an amendment to Clauses 2.6.2 and 4.1.4. of the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 with the consequential amendments to the map forming part of the Plan.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 – 2004 that Kildare County Council proposes to make an amendment to the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 as follows:
The existing terms of Clause 2.6.2 of the Plan consequent upon the said High Court Order provide as follows:
Clause 2.6.2 “No development will be permitted on either bank within 80m of the River Liffey. Development along the river should front onto the river so as to ensure the passive supervision of the proposed linear park.”
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 2.6.2 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
“The amenity strip and the area where development will not be permitted along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning. The area between the 50m strip and the adjacent lands zoned New Residential to be zoned New Residential. “
The existing terms of the Clause 4.1.4 of the Plan provide as follows:
Clause 4.1.4. No development will be permitted within 80m of the banks of the River Liffey in order to facilitate the creation of a riverside linear park.
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 4.1.4 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
Along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin, the area where no development will be permitted shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey.
The proposed amendments together with the map relating to the proposed amendments may be inspected for a period of 6 weeks between 14/12/06 and 25/01/07
“The amenity strip along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning.”
The High Court also ordered Kildare County Council to propose and advertise, in accordance with the provisions of Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 –2004, an amendment to Clauses 2.6.2 and 4.1.4. of the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 with the consequential amendments to the map forming part of the Plan.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 20 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 – 2004 that Kildare County Council proposes to make an amendment to the Newbridge Local Area Plan 2003 as follows:
The existing terms of Clause 2.6.2 of the Plan consequent upon the said High Court Order provide as follows:
Clause 2.6.2 “No development will be permitted on either bank within 80m of the River Liffey. Development along the river should front onto the river so as to ensure the passive supervision of the proposed linear park.”
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 2.6.2 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
“The amenity strip and the area where development will not be permitted along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey and public access to same shall be provided at the southern end of the zoning. The area between the 50m strip and the adjacent lands zoned New Residential to be zoned New Residential. “
The existing terms of the Clause 4.1.4 of the Plan provide as follows:
Clause 4.1.4. No development will be permitted within 80m of the banks of the River Liffey in order to facilitate the creation of a riverside linear park.
It is proposed to amend the terms of Clause 4.1.4 by the addition of the following text at the end thereof:
Along the west side of the River Liffey at Kilbelin, the area where no development will be permitted shall be reduced to 50m of the River Liffey.
The proposed amendments together with the map relating to the proposed amendments may be inspected for a period of 6 weeks between 14/12/06 and 25/01/07
Friday, 15 December 2006
Coolmore stud opposes animal waste facility
From Irish Times:
A planning application for a major new animal waste processing facility, which will process up to 250,000 tonnes of animal and organic waste a year into biodiesel, gas and fertiliser, is to be lodged with Tipperary South County Council later today.
In what is expected to be a long planning process, the proposed plant will be located at a controversial site of a disused rendering facility, which was also the location of an aborted attempt five years ago to build a meat and bonemeal incinerator.
The country's top stud farm group, Coolmore, is to object to the facility, which is being proposed close to its operations in south Tipperary. The site at Castleblake near Rosegreen between Cashel and Clonmel, is adjacent to Coolmore's Ballydoyle stables, which is operated by champion trainer Aidan O'Brien.
The development is being promoted by Green Organics Energy (GOE), a joint venture company owned by Dawn Meats, National Toll Roads subsidiary Bioverda, and National Byproducts owned by the Ronan family.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Coolmore, owned by millionaire businessman John Magnier, confirmed that Coolmore and Ballydoyle would be objecting to the facilities, but declined at this stage to comment on the details of the group's objections.
Coolmore and Ballydoyle combined with local activists to mount a successful campaign against a proposed incinerator for the site when it was granted planning permission in 2002.
National Byproducts, owned by the well-known local Ronan family, which operated a rendering facility at the site for 40 years, withdrew its proposals following a major publicity campaign and the instigation of a High Court case by Ballydoyle. Coolmore and Ballydoyle mounted the campaign because of concerns about the potential impact of the proposed incinerator on its stud farm and training operations.
The earlier campaign focused on the previous environmental record of the prior facility, which had been the subject of a number of prosecutions by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Yesterday, GOE said the proposed new plant would operate to strict standards laid down by the planning authorities and the EPA. If built, it will be one of the largest waste processing facilities in the country, and will process a similar amount of waste to that of an incinerator.
The plant will use a process of rendering to turn animal byproducts such as offal into biodiesel and other oils. A process of anaerobic digestion will also be used on a mixture of green waste and animal offal byproducts.
The resulting gas will be used to power a small electricity generation plant which will contribute 15 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. A further 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser will also be produced from the process.
John Mullins, speaking as the head of the GOE venture, said the Castleblake site had been chosen as it had "50 years' experience as an industrial site".
He said the whole process was aimed at generating products and energy from products that are now being incinerated.
Mr Mullins said local concerns about the facility were being taken on board and that the company had already undertaken wide consultation with local groups. "We've consulted with the local people, including politicians and the Coolmore interests as well," Mr Mullins said.
The Coolmore group is estimated to have a turnover in excess of €100 million. It is considered to be the most successful stud operations in the world, with its stallion Sadler's Wells having been champion sire on 14 separate occasions.
A planning application for a major new animal waste processing facility, which will process up to 250,000 tonnes of animal and organic waste a year into biodiesel, gas and fertiliser, is to be lodged with Tipperary South County Council later today.
In what is expected to be a long planning process, the proposed plant will be located at a controversial site of a disused rendering facility, which was also the location of an aborted attempt five years ago to build a meat and bonemeal incinerator.
The country's top stud farm group, Coolmore, is to object to the facility, which is being proposed close to its operations in south Tipperary. The site at Castleblake near Rosegreen between Cashel and Clonmel, is adjacent to Coolmore's Ballydoyle stables, which is operated by champion trainer Aidan O'Brien.
The development is being promoted by Green Organics Energy (GOE), a joint venture company owned by Dawn Meats, National Toll Roads subsidiary Bioverda, and National Byproducts owned by the Ronan family.
Yesterday, a spokeswoman for Coolmore, owned by millionaire businessman John Magnier, confirmed that Coolmore and Ballydoyle would be objecting to the facilities, but declined at this stage to comment on the details of the group's objections.
Coolmore and Ballydoyle combined with local activists to mount a successful campaign against a proposed incinerator for the site when it was granted planning permission in 2002.
National Byproducts, owned by the well-known local Ronan family, which operated a rendering facility at the site for 40 years, withdrew its proposals following a major publicity campaign and the instigation of a High Court case by Ballydoyle. Coolmore and Ballydoyle mounted the campaign because of concerns about the potential impact of the proposed incinerator on its stud farm and training operations.
The earlier campaign focused on the previous environmental record of the prior facility, which had been the subject of a number of prosecutions by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Yesterday, GOE said the proposed new plant would operate to strict standards laid down by the planning authorities and the EPA. If built, it will be one of the largest waste processing facilities in the country, and will process a similar amount of waste to that of an incinerator.
The plant will use a process of rendering to turn animal byproducts such as offal into biodiesel and other oils. A process of anaerobic digestion will also be used on a mixture of green waste and animal offal byproducts.
The resulting gas will be used to power a small electricity generation plant which will contribute 15 megawatts of electricity to the national grid. A further 20,000 tonnes of fertiliser will also be produced from the process.
John Mullins, speaking as the head of the GOE venture, said the Castleblake site had been chosen as it had "50 years' experience as an industrial site".
He said the whole process was aimed at generating products and energy from products that are now being incinerated.
Mr Mullins said local concerns about the facility were being taken on board and that the company had already undertaken wide consultation with local groups. "We've consulted with the local people, including politicians and the Coolmore interests as well," Mr Mullins said.
The Coolmore group is estimated to have a turnover in excess of €100 million. It is considered to be the most successful stud operations in the world, with its stallion Sadler's Wells having been champion sire on 14 separate occasions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)