Retired consultant condemns objection by Offaly Hospice to proposed site for healthcare facility

A retired consultant in Palliative Medicine for the Midlands has sharply criticised a submission made by Offaly Hospice Foundation opposing the site for a proposed hospice development at Arden Lane in Tullamore.

In a letter to the Editor of the Tullamore Tribune this week, Dr Michael Cushen expressed his dismay at what he described as a ''vexatious'' attempt to block planning permission for a vital healthcare facility.

Dr Cushen claims that Offaly Hospice has ''persistently lobbied for the Wellwood site and against the Arden Lane site.'' The retired consultant said that he and his colleagues in the HSE, as well as other hospice groups in the Midlands were ''only interested in which would be the best site, which we agreed was Arden Lane.''

''I do not accept that the decision was ''illogical and contrary to best medical practice. I think that palliative care professionals are in a much better position to determine what constitutes best medical practice in this situation than lay people and non-palliative care healthcare professionals,'' said Dr Cushen.

Meanwhile, a number of new submissions have been lodged with Offaly County Council in relation to the proposed 20 in-patient bedroom facility at Arden Lane.

Trustee and owner of Pitch & Putt lands adjacent to the site, Thomas J Martin has described the application by the HSE as a ''fiasco'' In his submission Mr Martin says ''this proposed development is in fundamental breach of local, regional and national planning policies. He states that in ''his opinion.'' The council has ''no option but to refuse this proposed development.''

He writes - ''the council are on written notice that I am one of the current owners of the adjacent lands the 'Pitch & Putt club' required for access to this proposed development which consent was required from. How this application was validated without cognisance of this fact and in the absence of same, is difficult to comprehend.''

Arden Lane residents, in their submission, said they had no objections to the development, but made a number of observations which they asked be taken into consideration as part of the planning process. They requsted that a link between the road to the new housing development and the existing Arden Lane Road at the turn to O'Connor's be completed before major works start on the construction of the site. They ask that parking during construction be ''off road'' to avoid congestion.The footpaths and road heights should be such as to align with the levels of the existing dwelling driveways to ensure no major steps between both, they added.

Meanwhile, an observation by Declan Brassil on behalf of Condron Concrete says it has a ''legitimate concern that the location, siting and nature of the proposed hospice use in such close proximity to the Arden facility and surrounding industrial uses has the significant potential to adversely affect the amenities and operation of the proposed hospice use and the ongoing operation and expansion of the established Condron Facility.''

The Department of Housing. Local Government and Housing noted that the proposed development ''partly contains the site Recorded Monument Ringfort which is subject to statutory protection in the Record of Monuments and places.'' It said if the development is granted permission, ''a buffer of 20m shall be implemented around the Recorded Monument Ringfort. No groundworks shall be carried out within the buffer area, including boundary works, landscaping or ground reduction.''

READ NEXT: Offaly County Council steps in to revive derelict landmark building in Tullamore

In his submission, Dermot Kenny from Clara writes - ''Surely it makes more sense to locate the facility within walking distance of the Regional Hospital in Tullamore with all its services. Beside the hospital would make it easier for patients to get X-rays, scans, blood tests, chemotherapy and there are doctors available close by at all hours. Besides the hospital is also closer to late night shops, pharmacy, and drop off transport services which would make it much easier for families looking after their loved ones. Arden Lane on the other hand is isolated, remote and lacks public transport. ''

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.