D-day for ambitious Shannonbridge tourist and community plans
Offaly County Council is due to make a decision this weekend on ambitious plans for a new tourist offering in the picturesque village of Shannonbridge, consisting of a tourist hostel, cafe and community office space.
The plans, which were lodged with the planning authority on November 8 last year by the Shannonbridge Action Group, would see the new development being constructed on the site of the of the former Oliver Plunkett National School site in Shannonbridge.
According to the planning documents, the plans would involve the demolition of an existing single-storey extension to the former school house, which is a protected structure, and refurbishment of the premises and minor alterations for community use.
Another single-storey extension to the protected structure, also for community use, is envisaged to encompass office space and a cafe. A standalone building for use as a tourist hostel is the other major element of the project, to be housed in a new part single-storey and part two-storey building with dining facilities.
External works would consist of public road improvements including widening and resurfacing of the existing footway and carriageway, realignment of the R357 Cloghan Road between Raghra Park and the R444 to facilitate off-site car parking.
A new vehicular entrance would also be provided to the site from the Cloghan Road. The planning notice also refers to the creation of a public realm to the front of the old school house and landscaping throughout the site.
The ambitious plans to provide a tourist offering in Shannonbridge arose as a result of the compilation of a wide-ranging report which was commissioned to investigate possible future uses for the landmark historic school housing building in the town, and consultation with the local community.
In a request for further information on the proposed development in January of this year, Offaly County Council expressed concerns with regard to the level of parking provision proposed, and said it could “generate unsafe parking practices.” They requested the applicants to submit a report addressing these concerns, or to provide a revised car parking proposal.
Concerns were also expressed about the 12 cycling spaces proposed on the site, which the planning authority said was “not sufficient to cater for the potential demand.” They said the number of spaces should be “at least doubled.”
Among the other issues raised in the further information request letter were concerns about the issue of sufficient natural light being available to ground floor bedrooms at the proposed standalone building, and the safety measures in place to prevent falls from the high retaining walls proposed.
The council also sought further information in relation to the drainage layout, and asked the applicants to submit an “appropriately designed energy efficient LED lighting proposal” fort he proposed site.
A condition survey report on the existing mature trees along the western boundary of the site was also sought by council planners, and the applicants were also asked to provide for the inclusion of 20 Swift nest bricks and caller (lure) system within the development to provide nesting opportunities for common swifts.
The further information request was complied with on June 28 last, and the council wrote to the applicants again on July 11 to state that the further information received was deemed to contain “significant additional data” which would necessitate the publication of a further newspaper notice.
The council is due to make its decision on the proposed development on Sunday, September 8.