Planning rejected for Longford glamping project

Longford County Council planners have refused to grant planning permission for the development of a proposed glamping tourism facility along the Royal Canal in Clondra.

It has also emerged that a planning application seeking to construct a marina and houses in Clondra has been withdrawn.

The proposed glamping development at Glebe, was due to consist of one cottage, four lodges, eight glamping pods, thirteen campervan parking facility bays, thirteen car parking bays and sixteen cycle stands.

The planning application was lodged with Longford County Council on December 20, 2021 by Raymond and Ann Brogan, and planners made their decision on the application on February 9.

The same applicants, also recently (February 1) lodged plans with the local authority seeking to construct eight detached two-storey houses, each with individual boating berths, and a forty berth marina, along with forty-three car parking spaces at Cloondara.

However, this application was withdrawn last Wednesday, February 16.

Local resident, Mick Wallace, has said there was much opposition to the marina development, with a large number of signatures collected from the locality since the application was lodged. The application was withdrawn before the objection was submitted.

Mr Wallace said that, while he is aware the application has since been withdrawn, he and his neighbours are concerned that it will be lodged again.

Their main concern, he explained, is that the marina was proposed for land that regularly floods in the winter months.

Even now, he said, the area has flooded following the wrath of three consecutive named storms over the past week.

"Opposite (to the location of the proposed development) is flooded slightly now but the other side of the road is completely flooded," he told the Longford Leader.

"Up until this period of weather, we've had a really dry winter. Usually the fields are like that in December and as the winter goes on, it comes across the road."

Mr Wallace stressed that no flood impact study has been carried out of the area yet, adding that he believed that any survey carried out should draw the conclusion that the area is not suitable for development.

"There were houses built in the old milling village and there are three tonne bridges in Clondra over the harbour and over the river," said Mr Wallace, referring to a previous development in the area.

"After they built that they had to close it for over a year because of the damage done by heavy traffic. If you had another development you'd have a lot of lorries causing a lot of damage."

A number of submissions were made in relation to the glamping development and planners provided five reasons as to why they rejected it.

They felt the application contravened the County Development Plan as there was no information submitted in relation to the environmental impact at a sensitive location where there was potential to impact adversely on the adjacent Royal Canal.

Concern was also expressed over the management of wastewater and sewerage, access to the site, the absence of a Natura Impact Assessment and an adequate water supply.

Planners stated, "As the current 50mm and 80mm diameter watermain networks are not sufficient to supply the proposed development the development would be contrary to the proper and sustainable development of the area."

It remains to be seen whether the applicants will appeal the glamping development decision of Longford County Council to An Bord Pleanála and whether the plans for the marina and houses will be resubmitted to the local authority at a future date.