Dismay as important tourism project in Offaly village blocked by Council

PLANS for a major development including a community centre and a tourist hostel at a former school in Offaly have been blocked by Offaly County Council, causing dismay amongst the local people

Shannonbridge Action Group had sought permission for the large scale development at the former school in the village that closed in 2007 and that has since fallen into a state of disrepair.

Planning permission had been sought for a community centre and tourist accommodation on the site and the application said the project would establish Shannonbridge as 'a viable destination town for tourists'. The site is classed as 'an Opportunity Site' in the Shannonbridge Village Plan.

Vincent Darcy, Chairperson of the Shannonbridge Action Group, told the Midland Tribune that the County Council's decision can be viewed on its e-planning website.

He said a lack of car parking and traffic safety were the two main concerns which led to planning permission being denied.

“The Council is supportive of our project,” said Vincent, “but they felt 15 car parking spaces at the schoolhouse site was too few and they were also worried about traffic safety when traffic would be exiting from the schoolhouse car park onto the main road.

“Shannonbridge is a bit of a victim of its success at the moment. Our businesses on the main street are doing well which is attracting a lot of traffic, but leading to a lack of car parking space. We are more or less a single road town and the Council will hopefully engage with us to try and solve this parking problem. They will probably also want some sort of traffic calming system at the exit from the schoolhouse onto the main road.

“We got Just Transition funding for the preparatory work on our project, on the feasibility study etc. We have spent €100,000 already on it. Now it's back to the drawing board. We will need to come up with more money now to fund this next stage of tackling the parking and traffic safety problems.”

He said the Action Group had met the Council staff some months ago and amended their project's plans after they were told about the traffic and parking problems. But the amendments didn't satisfy the Council officials.

“Fortunately, the Council supports our project,” said Vincent. “They just have to have all their 't's crossed and 'i's dotted. We are a little bit in a state of shock and upset but we will rally and go at it again. It's important to remember as well that our project is feasible, it's financially viable, sustainable.”

Permission had been sought for the demolition of an existing single-storey extension to the former school house and the refurbishment of, and minor alterations to, the protected structure for community use.

Permission was also sought for the construction of a new single-storey extension to the structure also for community use, to include office space and café.

The plans also included the construction of a new, part single-storey and part two-storey, stand-alone building for use as a a tourist hostel with dining and ancillary facilities. Other elements of the plan included public road improvements comprising widening and resurfacing of existing footway and carriageway, realignment of the R357 Cloghan Road for approximately 88m between Raghra Park and the R444 to facilitate off-site car parking.

There would also have been a new vehicular entrance to the site and the creation of a public realm to the front of the structure as well as other hard and soft landscaping throughout the site.