There was major disappointment in Boyle on Monday last when news was made public that an appeal had been lodged against the proposed multi million euro Aldi development on St. Patrick Street.
The third party appeal by Brian O’Sullivan, Kilgolan Upper, Ballyboy, Kilcormac, Co. Offaly was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála on Monday February 16th.
Brian O’Sullivan’s grounds for appeal came under three headings:
- Development Plan – Zoning
- Archaeology and Architectural Heritage
- Traffic Management and Entrance to Development
In summarising the three headings, the appellant states:
“A development on this scale would be seriously out of character with this historical area of the town and not in compliance with TC1- Core Town Centre Zoning Policy”.
“A largescale modern discount store partly located within the curtilage of an Architectural Conservation Area would be out of character and not respectful towards existing historical buildings with special architectural merit along Patrick Street together with the 18th Century Georgian Frybrook House located on the southern side of the proposed site”.
“The width of the existing carriageway along Patrick Street is inadequate to accommodate the volume of additional traffic generated by this development together with HGV deliveries to the store on a daily basis. The proposed car parking does not meet with the standards of the Development Plan and therefore would further contribute to traffic congestion in the area”.
“The footpath along Patrick Street is inadequate to accommodate additional pedestrian traffic which would be generated by this development. Due to the proximity of the building line in relation to the carriageway along Patrick Street particularly on the western side, sight lines at the junction of Patrick Street and the proposed entrance to the development are severely restricted and does not comply with DMURS Standards”.
“This historical town centre site with archaeological interest contained within the zone of archaeological potential Boyle historic town and also partially within Boyle Architectural Conservation Area is the wrong location for a largescale modern discount store and associated site works and would be contrary to the preservation of the archaeological heritage of the site and it’s environs”.
Mr. O’Sullivan concludes by requesting An Coimisiun Pleanala to “take into consideration all the reasons as outlined in the above paragraphs during their assessment process and that the Notification of Decision to Grant Permission as issued by Roscommon County Council under Planning Reg. Ref No. PD/25/60068 be overturned and that permission is refused for this development”.
(Image for illustration purposes only)
