Appeal lodged against plans for sterilisation facility in Tullamore

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against a decision by Offaly County Council to grant permission for the construction of a sterilisation technology facility at Ballyduff, Tullamore,

The local planning authority gave the green light to Synergy Health Ireland Limited, in January of this year. A number of nearby residents have lodged an appeal.

The development will front the Clara Road at Ballyduff and include the repositioning and upgrade of the two existing entrances to the site from Clara road. The provision of internal roads, footpaths and a bicycle path and 42 car parking spaces.

Enda Scally is one of those appealing the application. He lives near the development site.

In his submission to Offaly County Council, Mr Scally said there was no indication of how the proposed industrial facility is designed to achieve compliance with the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation Regulations 2019 or International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines and standards).

In addition he said that the overall height of the proposed industrial sterilisation facility is 2.4 times the height of the nearby units in Axis Business Park. He maintained that if built the industrial facility would have a direct effect on the visual amenities of the dwellings to the north and adjacent properties. ''Such an overbearing facility is contrary to proper planning and sustainable development,'' he said.

He said the application proposes bulky, large, high units that would result in overshadowing and appear visually dominant as viewed from the amenity space of the dwellings to the north. ''It would seriously injure the residential visual amenities,'' he claimed.

Mr Scally stressed that under the county development plan, Arden Road and Ballyduff is zoned to facilitate strategic large-scale employment. He said that the proposed facility will employ just 32 staff members.

''The indicative masterplan will depreciate the value of domestic property in the vicinity and thereby be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the surrounding townlands. It will lead to unsustainable development on the land north of the grand canal and the town's northern environs,'' said Mr Scally.

An Bord Pleanala will make known its decision in June.