Crossmolina.ie

The meeting heard that because the estate was proposed for a site outside the “core boundary of Crossmolina”, there were no public footpaths or lighting, and the road has the maximum speed limit. For these reasons, the estate itself and the precedent it might set were “a threat to public safety by reason of traffic hazard,” planners said.

The estate was also considered to represent inappropriate “suburban-type development” that would go against the County Development Plan objectives for areas such as Crossmolina, where no Local Area Plan was in place.

Traffic hazard was the third reason, the meeting heard, for likely refusal of the estate plans. The local road is badly aligned, giving rise to potential problems with sight visibility at the entrance to the proposed estate.

Responding to the planner’s report, Fine Gael Councillor Eddie Staunton noted that there was another development on the same road. He noted that the applicant was a young local man hoping to develop the site, and asked if the size could be reduced. The planning official noted that there had been some pre-planning discussions on this issue.

Meanwhile, there are currently two objections to the proposed Gortskeddia estate. They come from local people concerned about the impact of a new estate on traffic in the area.

One objection points out that the site is close to a Special Area of Conservation and a game reserve, and raises questions about an increase in the dog population in an agricultural area.

The other submission notes that another estate in the area has added greatly to traffic and says people would be “in grave danger” if more houses were built. The document also refers to findings of the Crossmolina Parish Area Development Plan 2006, saying that local people do not see more housing in the area as a priority.

A decision from county planners is expected on June 25.