Decision due from Offaly planners this week on big housing plan

A CONTROVERSIAL plan for further traffic access off a busy road in Tullamore to a new residential development project has been dropped.

Collins Lane Housing Development Ltd, a company controlled by Golden Vale Co-operative Mart Ltd, is awaiting the green light to build 102 houses, 24 apartments and a childcare facility at Collins Lane in the north of Tullamore.

The estate is on a greenfield site between Scally's Centra on the Arden Road and the junction at Ballin Ri and the road into the lands around the Educate Together school.

Residents of the area, especially those living in the many bungalows along the southern side of Collins Lane, were alarmed at a proposal for vehicular access off the road into the new development.

This proposed road would be in addition to the existing access road towards the Educate Together school and the Jehovah Witness hall, where there are two roundabouts.

The development company is also applying for an internal access road to link with the Hawthorns houses.

A number of residents wrote to Offaly County Council opposing the plan for a new road off Collins Lane into the 226-unit residential site.

One said the existing roads “should be more than sufficient” and others referred to increased congestion on Collins Lane in recent years between the traffic lights at Scally's Centra and the Ballin Ri junction.

There are already 15 access points from individual residences along that stretch of road and the additional one would “further impede traffic flow” according to residents.

Another submission, made by Liam Walsh, Green Party candidate, referred to concerns about road access from the Hawthorns and its playground where he said “rat running” is already a problem.

Mr Walsh suggested pedestrian and cycle access off Collins Lane instead of vehicular and also asked for use of the Irish language in naming the new estate.

On November 30 the applicant's agent wrote to the council and said the proposal for vehicular access off Collins Lane had been dropped.

A landscaped pedestrian entrance will be provided instead. There will be a cycle path to the rear of Scally's Centra.

The development company also said apartments which were originally to be located along Collins Lane will instead be built on the western side of the scheme.

The development proposes seven two-storey detached houses, 50 two-storey semi-detached houses, 21 two-storey terraced houses and 24 three-storey (dormer) semi-detached houses. The houses will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom dwellings.

Apartments will be in two-storey and single-storey buildings, with eight one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-beds.

A decision is due from the council planners this Saturday, January 6.