Local T.D and Minister for Children and Youth
Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald, has welcomed the upholding of her and Cllr. Tony
Delaney’s objections to An Bord Pleanala with respect to a controversial
planning application for a cemetery in Calliaghstown, Rathcoole. Frances
Fitzgerald backed local residents concerns and successfully objected to the
proposal for this cemetery when planning permission was first sought. The
Council upheld the concerns of locals and refused permission for the project but
the developers later appealed their decision to An Bord Pleanala. Fitzgerald and
Delaney again made detailed submissions on the proposal and highlighted the huge
concern locally. Their concerns were taken into account by An Bord Pleanala who
this week have refused permission for the cemetery in what Fitzgerald has
described as a victory for the people of Rathcoole.
“This is a victory for the people of rural Rathcoole. The scenic surrounds of Rathcoole are, unfortunately, often the setting for inappropriate planning applications. Together with residents in Rathcoole Village and Windmill Hill we are currently fighting plans for a waste processing facility at Behans Quarry and the people of Calliaghstown and I have been fighting against this proposed cemetery for a number of years. It is great to at last have closure on this issue and I hope that we will have as successful a result in our An Bord Pleanala case on Behan’s Quarry,” said Minister Frances Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald, along with her Fine Gael Colleagues Tony
Delaney and Emer Higgins, has made a detailed submission on a planning decision
at the nearby Behan’s Quarry.
“A cemetery at this location would have been very
concerning for the area and had the potential to have detrimental consequences
on this water supply. The cemetery was to be situated on a hill above the water
supply and in a very strong limestone area. This had the potential for huge
consequences on the local water supply.”
Minister Fitzgerald also highlighted the issue of
traffic congestion, explaining that the roads locally are not suitable.
“The Council, in their refusal of this application,
acknowledged that a development on the site would pose a serious threat to road
safety in the area. As the roads are narrow around Calliaghstown, cars would
have to give way and there were concerns that this could cause accidents,
considering the increase in traffic volume,” explained Fitzgerald.
“The refusal of permission for this development is
the right decision for the area,” said Fitzgerald’s colleague Cllr. Tony
Delaney.
“The minor roads in the surrounding area are in poor
condition and for the most part very narrow. These roads would be incapable of
handling traffic associated with funerals which could pose serious safety
hazards. There was much concern locally also regarding potential health risks of
the opening up of a cemetery in land near waterbeds,” said Cllr. Tony
Delaney.
“I would like to thank all the residents in
Calliaghstown who took the time to object as well as my colleague Cllr. Tony
Delaney. We all believed that this was not in the best interests of either the
local environment or residents and I am glad that the Council recognised that,"
concluded Fitzgerald.