Latest news with #CountyDevelopmentPlan
The Journal
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Journal
Planning permission refused for new filling station on site of Creeslough explosion
PLANNING PERMISSION FOR a new filling station on the site of the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal in which ten people were killed has been refused by An Coimisiún Pleanála. Donegal County Council granted permission to Vivo Shell Limited to redevelop a service station and shop at the site in February. The decision was appealed by a number of family members of those killed in the blast in October 2022. Today, An Coimisiún Pleanála – which has replaced An Bord Pleanála – revealed that they are turning down the application. The planning authority said the proposed plan was 'out of character' with its surroundings in the village. The body said: 'Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development in Creeslough, it is considered that the proposed development (as amended), by reason of its overall architectural treatment, scale and design, would be out of character with its surroundings, would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of Creeslough and the streetscape and approach from Letterkenny generally. 'It is considered therefore, that the proposed development would be contrary to Policy ED-P-9, of the County Development Plan, 2024 2023 being of inappropriate layout and building design in the context of the existing landscape. 'To permit the proposed scheme (as amended) at this prominent location could have such a negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider , long-term regeneration and renewal of the village. 'The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.' Advertisement The proposed rebuild had allowed for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new structure that includes a shop, post office, deli, off-license, and fuel forecourt. A memorial garden and light-based sculpture with ten metal poles commemorating those who perished in the tragedy was also planned for the site. However, many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy said this was an insult to their memory considering they died in the metal and rubble of the blast. The families are still digesting the news which was relayed to them by their legal team and was also delivered by Donegal County Council. In a statement on behalf of the families affected by the tragedy, Phoenix Law said they have welcomed the decision. 'Phoenix Law made detailed submissions to the planning panel on behalf of the families, which were accepted by the panel, granting the appeal,' they said in a statement. 'Proposing development on this site while a criminal investigation is still ongoing was deeply inappropriate. The families believe the ground should be treated with dignity and respect, given the scale of loss and trauma suffered. The initial decision to grant planning permission rubbed salt in the wounds of the families. Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said: 'Today's decision has restored faith in the rule of law, where victims are treated with dignity and respect. 'We continue to call for a full public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The families remain committed to seeking truth, accountability and justice.' One of the family members who lost a loved one in the tragedy said 'This is terrific news. When we got the news yesterday that there would not be an oral hearing we were so disappointed and feared the worst. 'This is tremendous news. We simply do not want a new service station on the site in which our loved ones died.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Independent
11 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
‘Lit up like a Christmas tree' – Calls for vape shop restrictions in south Dublin
The motion, brought by Sinn Féin councillor William Casey, said that the 'proliferation of vape shops" in the centre of villages and near schools was an 'undesirable development' that should be tackled with a ban. During the Clondalkin, Newcastle, Rathcoole, Saggart and Brittas Area Committee meeting, Mr Casey said the growing number of vape shops were targeted at school-going children. "It's our children that they're aiming at. They're no longer aiming them at the adults who have taken to vaping because they couldn't get off cigarettes, they're being aimed directly as a first-choice product for children,' he said. Other councillors agreed, with Independent Francis Timmins saying that he wasn't only worried about the number of vape shops, but also their lengthy opening hours. "At 11 or 12 at night, a vape shop open in the middle of Clondalkin is a bit bizarre to me. I don't get it, I don't understand it,' he said. "I'm concerned about the opening times, I'm concerned about the litter of the vapes around the shops, we've had an issue with that, we've had an issue with signage, particularly the signage around the ACA (architectural conservation area). 'One of the vape shops is lit up like a Christmas tree, and it's lit up from early morning to late at night, and it's just diabolical to be quite honest with you for a heritage village,' he added. Mr Timmins said he thought there were four or five such shops in Clondalkin village, with several selling vapes and sweets alongside one another, a tactic that 'really worries' him. Independent Ireland councillor Linda de Courcy said 'nothing good is going to come' from the number of vape shops now open in Clondalkin, and said she had seen children buying sweets in them. A response from SDCC given to Mr Casey said that no policy on vape shops existed in the County Development Plan 2022-2028. ADVERTISEMENT Even if it were in the plan, the council said it would have a 'very limited effect' on the ground because shops benefit from significant exemptions under the Planning and Development Act 2001. "This means a wide range of commercial and retail premises in our villages and communities could be changed to vape shops without planning permission. This makes the planning system unsuited to the management of vape shops.'
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
An Bord Pleanála blocks Creeslough service station plan on site of tragic 2022 explosion
An Bord Pleanála has overturned planning permission for a new filling station on the site of the 2022 explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal, where ten people were killed. Donegal County Council had granted permission to Vivo Shell Limited in February to redevelop the service station and shop at the site. The decision was appealed by several family members of those killed in the October 2022 blast. Today, An Bord Pleanála announced it was rejecting the application. The planning authority said the proposed development was "out of character" with its surroundings in the village. The body said "Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development in Creeslough, it is considered that the proposed development (as amended), by reason of its overall architectural treatment, scale and design, would be out of character with its surroundings, would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of Creeslough and the streetscape and approach from Letterkenny generally. "It is considered, therefore, that the proposed development would be contrary to Policy ED-P-9 of the County Development Plan, 2024, 2023 being of inappropriate layout and building design in the context of the existing landscape. "To permit the proposed scheme (as amended) at this prominent location could have such a negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider, long-term regeneration and renewal of the village. "The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area." The proposed rebuild included the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new structure comprising a shop, post office, deli, off-license, and fuel forecourt. 'Deeply inappropriate' Families affected by the Creeslough tragedy have welcomed the decision to overturn planning permission on the site of the fatal 2022 explosion. In a statement issued through Phoenix Law, which represented them in the appeal, the families said the proposal to redevelop the location while a criminal investigation remains ongoing was "deeply inappropriate." They said the site, where 10 people lost their lives in an explosion at an Applegreen service station, should be treated with "dignity and respect" in light of the scale of loss and trauma experienced by the community. Phoenix Law's Darragh Mackin said the outcome had "restored faith in the rule of law, where victims are treated with dignity and respect." He added that the families continue to call for a full public inquiry into the circumstances of the disaster, and remain committed to pursuing 'truth, accountability and justice.' A memorial garden and light-based sculpture featuring ten metal poles to commemorate those who died in the explosion were also planned for the site. However, many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy viewed the redevelopment as an insult to their memory, especially considering that their relatives died in the metal and rubble of the original blast. The families are still processing the news, which was relayed to them by their legal team and communicated by Donegal County Council. One of the family members who lost a loved one said, "This is terrific news. When we got the news yesterday that there would not be an oral hearing, we were so disappointed and feared the worst. "This is tremendous news. We simply do not want a new service station on the site in which our loved ones died."
Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Red light for new service station on site of Creeslough disaster
An Bord Pleanala has overturned planning permission for a new filling station on the site of the explosion in Creeslough, Co Donegal in which ten people were killed. Donegal County Council granted permission to Vivo Shell Limited to redevelop a service station and shop at the site in February. The decision was appealed by a number of family members of those killed in the October, 2022 blast. Today An Bord Pleanala revealed that they are turning down the application. The planning authority said the proposed plan was "out of character" with its surroundings in the village. The body said "Having regard to the existing character and the prevailing pattern of development in Creeslough, it is considered that the proposed development (as amended), by reason of its overall architectural treatment, scale and design, would be out of character with its surroundings, would seriously detract from the architectural character and setting of Creeslough and the streetscape and approach from Letterkenny generally. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week "It is considered therefore, that the proposed development would be contrary to Policy ED-P-9, of the County Development Plan, 2024 2023 being of inappropriate layout and building design in the context of the existing landscape. "To permit the proposed scheme (as amended) at this prominent location could have such a negative effect on the visual amenity and local character of Creeslough as to negatively impact on the wider , long-term regeneration and renewal of the village. "The proposed development would, therefore, seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area." The proposed rebuild had allowed for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new structure that includes a shop, post office, deli, off-license, and fuel forecourt. A memorial garden and light-based sculpture with ten metal poles commemorating those who perished in the tragedy was also planned for the site. However, many of the families who lost loved ones in the tragedy said this was an insult to their memory considering they died in the metal and rubble of the blast. One of the family members who lost a loved one in the tragedy said "This is terrific news. When we got the news yesterday that there would not be an oral hearing we were so disappointed and feared the worst. "This is tremendous news. We simply do not want a new service station on the site in which our loved ones died." In a statement, relatives of those who died said: "The families affected by the Creeslough tragedy welcome the decision to quash the application for a new building on the site where this devastating event occurred. Phoenix Law made detailed submissions to the planning panel on behalf of the families, which were accepted by the panel, granting the appeal. "Proposing development on this site while a criminal investigation is still ongoing was deeply inappropriate. The families believe the ground should be treated with dignity and respect, given the scale of loss and trauma suffered. The initial decision to grant planning permission rubbed salt in the wounds of the families." Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law said - 'Today's decision has restored faith in the rule of law, where victims are treated with dignity and respect. We continue to call for a full public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. The families remain committed to seeking truth, accountability and justice.'
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Glenveagh Homes claims contentious Dundalk site is still zoned for housing despite efforts to change its status
Glenveagh Homes recently resubmitted a planning application to build 502 homes near Dundalk, Co Louth. The land has sparked plenty of tensions between the listed housebuilder and a group of councillors in the county. In November, Louth councillors voted to de-zone the land for residential purposes and make it a 'strategic reserve' in the Dundalk Local Area Plan. In March, councillors voted to confirm the de-zoning despite an intervention from the planning regulator. Glenveagh launched a judicial review of the decision in April. However, in Glenveagh's latest planning application, consultants for the housebuilder said the Louth County Development Plan 'takes precedence' over the Dundalk Local Area Plan. As a result, the consultants claim the lands 'continue to be zoned' for residential purposes as Glenveagh presses ahead with plans to build the homes, subject to council approval. A spokesman for Louth County Council said members had 'exercised their reserved function to rezone certain lands owned by Glenveagh Homes' from a residential zoning to strategic reserve. However, he added that a 'formal variation' to the Louth County Development Plan will be required. 'Until a variation is adopted, the County Development Plan remains the prevailing statutory document for planning purposes.' A decision will be made on Glenveagh's latest application toward the end of June. The site first got planning permission for 483-homes in 2019, but this expired at the beginning of the year. Glenveagh previously applied to build 500 homes at the site, but this plan was rejected.
