"WITH a bit of luck they won't come back," was Una Lalor's wish when she spoke about the decision of An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to refuse planning permission to Eircom to erect a 25m mast at their exchange at The Mill, Chapel Lane in Stradbally.
The decision has been welcomed in Stradbally.
Local people met on Monday evening to discuss the decision and were guarded in their welcome.
Secretary of the Mast Appeal Group Dominic Hartnett, while glowing in his praise for the support from the people of the town in rejecting the mast, urged caution, telling people Eircom still had an opportunity to go to the courts in an attempt to challenge the decision made last week by An Bord Pleanála.
He said it had cost the community approximately 5,000 to lodge their objections to the mast which he said would have been located just five-meters from a residential area.
He said funding to support their campaign had come from the Stradbally Tidy Town's Group, the Stradbally Electric Picnic Committee and the Stradbally Community Development Association.
Mr Hartnett said the local campaign had attracted over 310 objections from all areas of the town.
The campaign's slogan was ‘Spot the Difference.' Mr Hartnett said the reason that was used was in 1998 Laois County Council had refused a planning application to Eircom which was similar to the recent one it had granted planning permission for.
"Our committee had developed our campaign around the poster showing the mast in 1998 and in 2007 and asked both Laois Co Council and An Bord Pleanála to ‘Spot the Difference'.
"We went back to the old records and showed that both Laois County Council and An Board Pleanála had refused the siting of a mast in the town, and now the new application wanted to move the mast closer into the town and beside a new local social housing scheme that was developed by Laois Co Council."
Seamus Lalor said he was delighted with the outcome and delighted so much support was shown to the campaign by people of the town.
Gerry Kelly said: "I'd like to thank ABP for having a bit of sense to put this down. The committee worked very hard on this for over five months."
Mr Hartnett described the funding spent on the community's "as a complete waste of money" and said it could and should have been used in developing the community.
"The spending of much needed community funding as a result of the planning department in the county granting permission, the same department who had refused the siting of a mast in the town in 1998 will now be looked at, and we will hope that the county manager will give us the same time and a meeting as he gave to the applicant when they first came looking for permission."
In assessing the approach taken by the community in their appeal Mr Hartnett said: "We didn't go out shouting and roaring. We kept focused on the issue and worked within the planning appeal guidelines set out. It was a totally focused campaign that paid off."
Joe Barrett
Laois Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label laois county council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laois county council. Show all posts
Friday, 30 May 2008
Stradbally campaign pays off as mast is turned down
"WITH a bit of luck they won't come back," was Una Lalor's wish when she spoke about the decision of An Bord Pleanála (ABP) to refuse planning permission to Eircom to erect a 25m mast at their exchange at The Mill, Chapel Lane in Stradbally.
The decision has been welcomed in Stradbally.
Local people met on Monday evening to discuss the decision and were guarded in their welcome.
Secretary of the Mast Appeal Group Dominic Hartnett, while glowing in his praise for the support from the people of the town in rejecting the mast, urged caution, telling people Eircom still had an opportunity to go to the courts in an attempt to challenge the decision made last week by An Bord Pleanála.
He said it had cost the community approximately 5,000 to lodge their objections to the mast which he said would have been located just five-meters from a residential area.
He said funding to support their campaign had come from the Stradbally Tidy Town's Group, the Stradbally Electric Picnic Committee and the Stradbally Community Development Association.
Mr Hartnett said the local campaign had attracted over 310 objections from all areas of the town.
The campaign's slogan was ‘Spot the Difference.' Mr Hartnett said the reason that was used was in 1998 Laois County Council had refused a planning application to Eircom which was similar to the recent one it had granted planning permission for.
"Our committee had developed our campaign around the poster showing the mast in 1998 and in 2007 and asked both Laois Co Council and An Bord Pleanála to ‘Spot the Difference'.
"We went back to the old records and showed that both Laois County Council and An Board Pleanála had refused the siting of a mast in the town, and now the new application wanted to move the mast closer into the town and beside a new local social housing scheme that was developed by Laois Co Council."
Seamus Lalor said he was delighted with the outcome and delighted so much support was shown to the campaign by people of the town.
Gerry Kelly said: "I'd like to thank ABP for having a bit of sense to put this down. The committee worked very hard on this for over five months."
Mr Hartnett described the funding spent on the community's "as a complete waste of money" and said it could and should have been used in developing the community.
"The spending of much needed community funding as a result of the planning department in the county granting permission, the same department who had refused the siting of a mast in the town in 1998 will now be looked at, and we will hope that the county manager will give us the same time and a meeting as he gave to the applicant when they first came looking for permission."
In assessing the approach taken by the community in their appeal Mr Hartnett said: "We didn't go out shouting and roaring. We kept focused on the issue and worked within the planning appeal guidelines set out. It was a totally focused campaign that paid off."
Joe Barrett
Laois Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
The decision has been welcomed in Stradbally.
Local people met on Monday evening to discuss the decision and were guarded in their welcome.
Secretary of the Mast Appeal Group Dominic Hartnett, while glowing in his praise for the support from the people of the town in rejecting the mast, urged caution, telling people Eircom still had an opportunity to go to the courts in an attempt to challenge the decision made last week by An Bord Pleanála.
He said it had cost the community approximately 5,000 to lodge their objections to the mast which he said would have been located just five-meters from a residential area.
He said funding to support their campaign had come from the Stradbally Tidy Town's Group, the Stradbally Electric Picnic Committee and the Stradbally Community Development Association.
Mr Hartnett said the local campaign had attracted over 310 objections from all areas of the town.
The campaign's slogan was ‘Spot the Difference.' Mr Hartnett said the reason that was used was in 1998 Laois County Council had refused a planning application to Eircom which was similar to the recent one it had granted planning permission for.
"Our committee had developed our campaign around the poster showing the mast in 1998 and in 2007 and asked both Laois Co Council and An Bord Pleanála to ‘Spot the Difference'.
"We went back to the old records and showed that both Laois County Council and An Board Pleanála had refused the siting of a mast in the town, and now the new application wanted to move the mast closer into the town and beside a new local social housing scheme that was developed by Laois Co Council."
Seamus Lalor said he was delighted with the outcome and delighted so much support was shown to the campaign by people of the town.
Gerry Kelly said: "I'd like to thank ABP for having a bit of sense to put this down. The committee worked very hard on this for over five months."
Mr Hartnett described the funding spent on the community's "as a complete waste of money" and said it could and should have been used in developing the community.
"The spending of much needed community funding as a result of the planning department in the county granting permission, the same department who had refused the siting of a mast in the town in 1998 will now be looked at, and we will hope that the county manager will give us the same time and a meeting as he gave to the applicant when they first came looking for permission."
In assessing the approach taken by the community in their appeal Mr Hartnett said: "We didn't go out shouting and roaring. We kept focused on the issue and worked within the planning appeal guidelines set out. It was a totally focused campaign that paid off."
Joe Barrett
Laois Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Council backs €275m mixed-use project at Portlaoise GAA club
A €275 million retail, residential and leisure development for Portlaoise GAA club grounds has been granted planning permission by Laois County Council.
A shopping centre, cinema, office block, bars, restaurants and apartment scheme will be built on the 18-acre site beside O'Moore Park on the fringes of the town.
The club struck a deal to sell the facility to Cork-based firm Firestone Developments for a record €19 million last year. The contract will be finalised in four weeks' time when the the date for appeals to An Bord Pleanála has been passed, according to John Hanniffy, chairman of the club's relocation committee.
Firestone intends to build a shopping centre with 12 retail units and a large foodstore, restaurants, a bar, creche and medical centre. A seven-storey office block, two own-door office blocks, 52 apartments and 1,350 parking spaces will be provided at the scheme, which is expected to take five years to build.
The club has already secured planning permission to develop a €10 million sporting facility for its 400 members on a site at Rathleague, a mile away. It intends to build six full-sized playing pitches, including an astroturf pitch, spectator stands, a fitness centre, lounge and restaurant.
The project is being watched closely by other GAA clubs which are reported to be considering cashing in on their well-placed pitches. While other GAA clubs, including Nemo Rangers and Mallow, have in the past sold or swapped their pitches, this is the first time that a GAA pitch is to be redeveloped as a mixed-use scheme rather than a solely residential development.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
A shopping centre, cinema, office block, bars, restaurants and apartment scheme will be built on the 18-acre site beside O'Moore Park on the fringes of the town.
The club struck a deal to sell the facility to Cork-based firm Firestone Developments for a record €19 million last year. The contract will be finalised in four weeks' time when the the date for appeals to An Bord Pleanála has been passed, according to John Hanniffy, chairman of the club's relocation committee.
Firestone intends to build a shopping centre with 12 retail units and a large foodstore, restaurants, a bar, creche and medical centre. A seven-storey office block, two own-door office blocks, 52 apartments and 1,350 parking spaces will be provided at the scheme, which is expected to take five years to build.
The club has already secured planning permission to develop a €10 million sporting facility for its 400 members on a site at Rathleague, a mile away. It intends to build six full-sized playing pitches, including an astroturf pitch, spectator stands, a fitness centre, lounge and restaurant.
The project is being watched closely by other GAA clubs which are reported to be considering cashing in on their well-placed pitches. While other GAA clubs, including Nemo Rangers and Mallow, have in the past sold or swapped their pitches, this is the first time that a GAA pitch is to be redeveloped as a mixed-use scheme rather than a solely residential development.
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Contentious plan gets the go-ahead in Mt’mellick
OWENASS Developments has been given the green light to proceed with their plans to develop 43 acres of lands at Derrycloney after councillors adopted the Mountmellick Local Area Plan on Monday.
Amid reference to “inducements” and “deals done in smoke-filled rooms” all councillors present at the meeting, with the exception of independent Cllr Michael Moloney, voted to accept the draft plan with amendments.
Owenass Developments had first proposed to develop 70 acres of lands, and had sought rezoning for this.
However this proposal was turned down by the controlling group of the council comprised of Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent councillors, because of concerns they had around adverse impacts such a development would have on the town.
Since that decision was made a number of meetings took place between a delegation from the controlling group (Cllrs David Goodwin and Brian Stanley) and the company to resolve the impasse.
Agreement was reached and the company’s new plan which will now go ahead, sees 43 acres of lands zoned for industrial/enterprise use.
The delegation told councillors at Monday’s meeting the company had given them commitments to include five acres in their plan for the development of an amenity park, upgrading of junctions to allay fears on traffic flows and a non-refundable €40,000 to provide traffic calming measures in the town.
Reacting to last Monday’s meeting a company spokesperson said: “We very much welcome the decision by Laois County Council to grant industrial rezoning status to our site at Derrycloney.
“This now clears the way for us to apply for planning permission for the proposed Laois Centrum Business Park development which we believe will be an extremely important addition to Mountmellick and Co. Laois in general.”
The company said their proposals will create in excess of 1,000 jobs and will be worth in the region of €100 million to the local economy.
The spokesperson said: “Owenass Developments has a proven track record and a reputation for complying with planning conditions and for keeping their promises.”
The company refused to be drawn on the accusations made at the council meeting only to state: “Owenass Developments has a very strong track record of abiding by the planning process and complying with any planning conditions laid down.
“In this case, as always, we will implement any conditions which Laois County Council may lay down in the course of this planning process.”
Joe Barrett
© Laois Nationalist
Amid reference to “inducements” and “deals done in smoke-filled rooms” all councillors present at the meeting, with the exception of independent Cllr Michael Moloney, voted to accept the draft plan with amendments.
Owenass Developments had first proposed to develop 70 acres of lands, and had sought rezoning for this.
However this proposal was turned down by the controlling group of the council comprised of Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and Independent councillors, because of concerns they had around adverse impacts such a development would have on the town.
Since that decision was made a number of meetings took place between a delegation from the controlling group (Cllrs David Goodwin and Brian Stanley) and the company to resolve the impasse.
Agreement was reached and the company’s new plan which will now go ahead, sees 43 acres of lands zoned for industrial/enterprise use.
The delegation told councillors at Monday’s meeting the company had given them commitments to include five acres in their plan for the development of an amenity park, upgrading of junctions to allay fears on traffic flows and a non-refundable €40,000 to provide traffic calming measures in the town.
Reacting to last Monday’s meeting a company spokesperson said: “We very much welcome the decision by Laois County Council to grant industrial rezoning status to our site at Derrycloney.
“This now clears the way for us to apply for planning permission for the proposed Laois Centrum Business Park development which we believe will be an extremely important addition to Mountmellick and Co. Laois in general.”
The company said their proposals will create in excess of 1,000 jobs and will be worth in the region of €100 million to the local economy.
The spokesperson said: “Owenass Developments has a proven track record and a reputation for complying with planning conditions and for keeping their promises.”
The company refused to be drawn on the accusations made at the council meeting only to state: “Owenass Developments has a very strong track record of abiding by the planning process and complying with any planning conditions laid down.
“In this case, as always, we will implement any conditions which Laois County Council may lay down in the course of this planning process.”
Joe Barrett
© Laois Nationalist
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Bitter blow for Greencore as €1bn plan
LAOIS County Council has blasted a big hole in Greencore's controversial €1.1bn development of its land bank in Carlow/Laois. In a shock move last week, a local area draft plan failed to include a hundred acres of land in Laois owned by Greencore in its rezoning plans.
Greencore sources are playing down the move, maintaining that it is in separate discussions with Laois County Council. According to a spokesman, "it was agreed that the sugar factory would be considered separately."
But a senior Laois planning source has told the Sunday Independent that "we have an adequate amount of zoned lands within the area and we do not consider that we need to zone any more."
The Greencore lands are mostly located in Carlow but a hundred acres of the land bank is controlled by the local authority in Laois. The Greencore lands straddle the river Barrow which marks the border between the two counties. The Carlow and Laois lands owned by Greencore run adjacently along the river.
The decision by Laois County Council not to include the Greencore lands for 'mixed use' zoning could stymie the company's aim to become the major
property developer in the Carlow area. As currently proposed, the lands will now remain unzoned.
Political sources in Carlow have said that the decision by Laois County Council to frustrate the Greencore plans will boost political opposition to the company on next-door Carlow County Council.
Greencore faces a marathon task in persuading Carlow councillors to further its ambitions to become a big property player. Last night a leading Carlow politician told the Sunday Independent that "in current circumstances, Greencore hasn't a snowball's chance in hell of being given rezoning".
Greencore has won few friends in the Carlow region since its decision to close down the sugar factory and its failure to see local beet farmers compensated. Carlow has been the location of several popular protests against the company's behaviour with a battery of disaffected former workers, pensioners and beet farmers lobbying politicians to fight Greencore's plans.
The final decision on the zoning of Greencore's lands will rest with the county councillors (some of whom are themselves ex-employees) and not with the planners. A decision could be made as early as June. Carlow County Council has already employed consultants O'Mahony Pike to advise on the development of the town.
News of the danger to Greencore's plans came in a week when Greencore's shares saw another mystery buyer. Analysts were surprised to see bulk buying on Wednesday when the rest of the market was in retreat. A single transaction of 3.3m shares is understood to have taken place through Goodbody Stockbrokers. Speculation centred around developer Liam Carroll who already holds 22 per cent, but some brokers were suggesting that Mr Carroll had decided to reduce his interests because of the difficulties of developing the Carlow land bank.
Last November Greencore made an exotic submission to Carlow County Council with its proposals for its land bank. This included a promise to create 2,000 jobs by building "a sustainable enterprise-based community".
It promised a network of streets, squares and public parks and a mix of retail,commercial and residential buildings.
Shane Ross
© Irish Independent
Greencore sources are playing down the move, maintaining that it is in separate discussions with Laois County Council. According to a spokesman, "it was agreed that the sugar factory would be considered separately."
But a senior Laois planning source has told the Sunday Independent that "we have an adequate amount of zoned lands within the area and we do not consider that we need to zone any more."
The Greencore lands are mostly located in Carlow but a hundred acres of the land bank is controlled by the local authority in Laois. The Greencore lands straddle the river Barrow which marks the border between the two counties. The Carlow and Laois lands owned by Greencore run adjacently along the river.
The decision by Laois County Council not to include the Greencore lands for 'mixed use' zoning could stymie the company's aim to become the major
property developer in the Carlow area. As currently proposed, the lands will now remain unzoned.
Political sources in Carlow have said that the decision by Laois County Council to frustrate the Greencore plans will boost political opposition to the company on next-door Carlow County Council.
Greencore faces a marathon task in persuading Carlow councillors to further its ambitions to become a big property player. Last night a leading Carlow politician told the Sunday Independent that "in current circumstances, Greencore hasn't a snowball's chance in hell of being given rezoning".
Greencore has won few friends in the Carlow region since its decision to close down the sugar factory and its failure to see local beet farmers compensated. Carlow has been the location of several popular protests against the company's behaviour with a battery of disaffected former workers, pensioners and beet farmers lobbying politicians to fight Greencore's plans.
The final decision on the zoning of Greencore's lands will rest with the county councillors (some of whom are themselves ex-employees) and not with the planners. A decision could be made as early as June. Carlow County Council has already employed consultants O'Mahony Pike to advise on the development of the town.
News of the danger to Greencore's plans came in a week when Greencore's shares saw another mystery buyer. Analysts were surprised to see bulk buying on Wednesday when the rest of the market was in retreat. A single transaction of 3.3m shares is understood to have taken place through Goodbody Stockbrokers. Speculation centred around developer Liam Carroll who already holds 22 per cent, but some brokers were suggesting that Mr Carroll had decided to reduce his interests because of the difficulties of developing the Carlow land bank.
Last November Greencore made an exotic submission to Carlow County Council with its proposals for its land bank. This included a promise to create 2,000 jobs by building "a sustainable enterprise-based community".
It promised a network of streets, squares and public parks and a mix of retail,commercial and residential buildings.
Shane Ross
© Irish Independent
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Durrow Courthouse Part VIII
Planning & Development Act (2000) and Planning & Development Regulations (2001)
In accordance with Part VIII of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, Laois County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to carry out the following development and associated site works.
Location
Durrow Courthouse, Chapel Street, Durrow
Nature of Development
Refurbishment and adaptation of the Existing Courthouse and rear Ancillary Accommodation to provide a Community Facility which will include Entrance Lobby, Public Library/Community Room, Internal Hallway affording access to new Toilets, Meeting Room & Kitchenette. The works include removal and re-slating of existing roof to the existing rear lean-to, repairs/replacement of existing windows/doors, provision of new windows and doors to the rear and side of the building, provision of new mechanical & electrical services with oil storage tank, repairs to iron railings together with drainage and general siteworks.
Durrow Courthouse is a Protected Structure – Ref RPS155
Plans and particulars of the above proposed developments may be inspected within the four week period commencing Wednesday, 14th February 2007 at Áras an Chontae, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise, during office hours, Monday to Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and ending 13th March 2007.
Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed developments, dealing with the proper planning and development of the area in which the developments are to be located, may be addressed to the undersigned to be received not later than 14 days from 14th March 2007.
Declan Byrne, Director of Services, Housing, Social and Cultural Services.
Phone: (057) 8674335, Fax: (057) 8674382
In accordance with Part VIII of the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, Laois County Council hereby gives notice of its intention to carry out the following development and associated site works.
Location
Durrow Courthouse, Chapel Street, Durrow
Nature of Development
Refurbishment and adaptation of the Existing Courthouse and rear Ancillary Accommodation to provide a Community Facility which will include Entrance Lobby, Public Library/Community Room, Internal Hallway affording access to new Toilets, Meeting Room & Kitchenette. The works include removal and re-slating of existing roof to the existing rear lean-to, repairs/replacement of existing windows/doors, provision of new windows and doors to the rear and side of the building, provision of new mechanical & electrical services with oil storage tank, repairs to iron railings together with drainage and general siteworks.
Durrow Courthouse is a Protected Structure – Ref RPS155
Plans and particulars of the above proposed developments may be inspected within the four week period commencing Wednesday, 14th February 2007 at Áras an Chontae, James Fintan Lalor Avenue, Portlaoise, during office hours, Monday to Friday, 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. and ending 13th March 2007.
Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed developments, dealing with the proper planning and development of the area in which the developments are to be located, may be addressed to the undersigned to be received not later than 14 days from 14th March 2007.
Declan Byrne, Director of Services, Housing, Social and Cultural Services.
Phone: (057) 8674335, Fax: (057) 8674382
Friday, 24 November 2006
Laois residents and council reach agreement of sorts on landfill
Laois residents and council reach agreement of sorts on landfill
RESIDENTS from the Derryguile and Kyletalesha area and Laois Co. Council have reached agreement in part on a way forward in addressing the odours coming from the landfill site at Kyletelisha.
Following a sometimes heated and emotional meeting early last week in the Macra Hall in Mountmellick where locals vented their anger at the ongoing odour emissions and health concerns from the landfill a further meeting took place between senior council personal and the Kyletalesha Monitoring committee in County Hall last Friday.
At that meeting a progress report was given by the council’s senior engineer John O’Donoghue on the capital works at Kyletalesha. He said the construction of the new landfill cell 14 was 90% complete and the new gas collection system, including state-of-the-art flaring, is operational since November 6. He said the council is employing a landfill gas specialist to carry out a report on the landfill and joint odour controls with gas monitors would be carried out with local residents.
County manager Peter Carey accepted a nuisance had been caused by the odours and said improvements had been made. He confirmed the council’s commitment to carry out works to minimise the nuisance.
Director of services John Daly said the Health Services Executive (HSE) would be commissioned to carry out an independent report into health issues the residents may have.
In reply the Derryguile and Kyletalesha Residents Association welcomed some of the council’s initiatives.
They welcomed the appointment of two independent specialists to deal with the health aspect and gas and odours systems. The arrival of the equipment to monitor the gas emissions and the closure of the landfill to commercial waste were also welcomed.
Mr Daly confirmed the council has ceased taking in waste from commercial operators and emphaised this had nothing to do with the gas or odours but the landfill was reaching its annul licenced capacity.
The residents say: “We believe the cell currently under construction (cell 14) must not be opened until the current odour and gas problems are resolved.
“We have no faith in the flare system currently in place as the odour problems are still there and at the same severity.â€
The residents’ spokesperson, Anne Dickinson, said the association is still concerned the council still have plans to take in waste from outside the county.
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