Hotel plan refusal bad for Tullamore says councillor

An Bord Pleanala's refusal to grant planning permission for a multi-million euro expansion to the Bridge House Hotel is bad news for the wider local economy, a Tullamore councillor has said.

The planning authority upheld Offaly County Council's January decision to refuse planning permission for the Bridge House's ambitious plans for the development for 85 new bedrooms, a casino and a conference centre. If the project had been given the green light, the hotel says that nearly 100 jobs would have been created.

In its report, the An Bord Plenala inspector said that due to its “design, bulk and scale”, the proposed development on Distillery Lane would “materially and adversely affect the character and setting” of the protected structures on the site and “would adversely impact on the visual amenities of its immediate area”.

The inspector also noted there is an “absence of car parking provision for the proposed development” and that the proposed development could increase the possibility of flooding in the vicinity.

Cllr Tommy McKeigue said that he was “surprised” that a compromise could not have been reached by planners and developers. The Bridge House's expansion plans show their “commitment” to Tullamore, Cllr McKeigue says and if given the go ahead would have benefitted the wider economy.

“During the summer months there is a shortage of beds in Offaly for events like the Tullamore Show. The addition of 85 new bedrooms would definitely have added to the infrastructure of Tullamore and there would have been a spin off for local businesses during the construction phase.”

Referring to the board's concern for the listed buildings on the site of the proposed development, Cllr McKeigue says that in the current state they are an “eyesore” and have been the subject of negative comment by Tidy Towns judges in the past.

When contacted by the Offaly Independent, a spokesperson for the Bridge House said that it needed time to “review”  the situation.

Cllr McKeigue hopes that the owners of the hotel, the Leneghan family, will revise the plan and issue a new planning application.

 “It would be a pity to lose this investment for Tullamore. The town has been on the up in recent times and this would have been a flagship project that could have attracted additional investment. Success follows success.

“Nearly everyone in Tullamore was hoping that it could be sorted and that the application would be granted by either the council or An Bord Pleanala,” he ended.