Proposed site for Offaly Hospice 'illogical and contrary to best medical practice' says submission

A submission on a proposal by the Health Service Executive to construct a Palliative Care Facility for the Midlands Region on a site at Arden Lane in Tullamore has been described as 'illogical and contrary to best medical practice'.

O'Neill Town Planning on behalf of Offaly Hospice Foundation Ltd state that the observation has been informed by the ''ongoing commitment of our clients to deliver a sustainable community/homecare palliative care facility for the Midlands region.''

The proposed development currently being considered by Offaly County Council consists of the construction of a new hospice (3,805m2), with 20 in-patient bedrooms, daycare facilities, administrative areas, 80 car parking spaces, 7, accessible parking bays and 30 covered bicycle spaces. Road upgrades to a portion of Arden Lane to provide for a two-way carriageway and footpath, street lighting, and new utilities to extend to the site from a new junction with a distributor road, will also be developed.

Offaly Hospice has expressed concern about whether the proposed use of the subject land is appropriate, referencing previous decisions by An Bord Pleanala regarding similar developments on recreational zoned land.

O'Neill's on behalf of Offaly Hospice Foundation say this is ''particularly relevant when a land use proposal is being put forward on inappropriately zoned lands and remote sites with totally inadequate services and infrastructure, along with inadequate community connections or ancillary medical services, public transport and town centre facilities.''

''While our clients fully appreciate the necessity and urgency for the proposed Specialist Palliative Care Unit, this cannot be countenanced without a rigorous assessment of its location, which can only be considered when the site for such an important community facility is fully tested against a number of variables necessary to maximise its medical as well as its community benefits.''

The submission describes the Arden Lane site as only being accessible ''by a narrow lane, which can only be upgraded with the assistance of the Local Authority and private landowners, neither have included letters of consent with the planning application,'' they state.

They also maintain that ''no consent letter has been given by the pitch and putt club whose land is required for road widening.'' And that ''no consent letter from the local authority appears on file giving permission for land required for road widening.''

The submission argues that the development requires major infrastructure upgrades to the foul and surface water drainage system along with the roads network which includes footpaths and cycleways.

Public transport is distant from the site as is the nearest retail shop, cafe, or community facility.

They highlight that in the County Development Plan 2021-2026, the site is zoned as ''open space, amenity and recreation.'' They note that an objective of the council is to ensure that ''development progresses in accordance with the land use zoning objectives.''

Offaly Hospice say they were keen to carefully examine all the available sites in Tullamore for such a facility, and with this in mind reached out to Scottish Agency, Scott Hobbs Planning (SHP) who undertook an appraisal of the potential of three competing alternative sites in Tullamore – Alternative Site 1 was the Wellwood Campus, adjacent to the Tullamore Regional Hospital, Alternative 2 - the existing greenfield site, at Arden Lane, which is the subject of the current planning application adjacent to the Pitch and Putt and to the north of the town; the third - a site within the Tullamore Regional Hospital environs.

''SHP's professional opinion (was) that the preferred site for the hospice must be the readily available site within the Wellwood complex ( Site 1).''

Their rationale was that the land in question:

• Is zoned for the proposed purpose,

• Is available,

• Has a willing / supportive landowner (and developer)

• Is serviced and requires less infrastructural improvements

• Has immediate synergy to the existing Tullamore Regional Hospital and the approved nursing home / hospital proposals

• Is accessible by foot to the TRH (Tullamore Regional Hospital), the town centre and a wide residential area

• Is the sequentially favourable site to the outlying open space / amenity / recreational zoned site of the proposed alternative.

''In light of the above, it is difficult to understand how any exceptional case can be made in favour of Alternative Site 2, which by virtue of its characteristics will be subject to a more difficult and longer planning process.

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The Hospice development at Alternative Site 1 : Wellwood Community Site would be subject to the same considerations as a site within the existing Tullamore Regional Hospital complex and is the only known alternative site in accordance with the development plan and accordingly the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,'' the submission states.

Offaly Hospice will ''continue their efforts to see the Midlands Regional Hospice built and commissioned without delay or waste of public money. In that respect from 2014 to 2023, Offaly Hospice donated €1,329,000 to the HSE to support the Community/Homecare Palliative Care Team and will continue to do so.

''The only agenda Offaly Hospice has in all these matters is to improve the welfare and quality of life of patients and families enduring the trauma and upset of incurable life-limiting illness.''

The submission concludes that ''while our clients welcome the commitment by the HSE to finally commission a Specialist Palliative Care Unit for the region they cannot support the location of the facility on unzoned and remote lands, distant from medical and community facilities. Another site within the curtilage of the Regional Hospital has been identified for this facility, and is one which has been thoroughly tested against all of the parameters for same.''

A decision is due on May 29.

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