Locals ‘furious’ over Longford County Council decision

Townspark locals were left “absolutely furious” this week after learning that Longford County Council had given the green light to a three-storey “monster” block of apartments, an application local residents had staunchly objected and petitioned against on various grounds.

Despite a report detailing Longford County Council’s multiple road safety concerns with regard to the proposed development, in addition to noting the specific objections made by locals, the apartment block was granted permission with 23 conditions attached.

Planning permission for the site - which is located on Killashee Street and Bog Lane - was sought by Kerns Ltd, c/o Shannon Bros Longford Ltd. According to company records, the directors of Kerns Ltd are Damien Shannon, Gerry Shannon, and Kathleen Smyth.

Damien and Gerry Shannon are also two of the four directors of Shannon Bros Longford Ltd, a family run joinery business based on the Athlone Road.

In their proposal, the applicants sought permission to demolish an existing disused industrial building and in its place construct a 3 storey residential development consisting of 5 one-bed and 5 two-bed apartments.

The application also sought to include external private and public amenity areas, fencing, EV charge point, hard and soft landscaping, and carparking.

Infuriated locals however argue that the site is not suitable for a development of its height, and poses a wide range of problems.

Speaking to the Longford Leader, resident Debbie Duke said, “I have no problem with new people moving in. The problem is, we can't justify this particular development because it's not suitable for the area.

“Why not put up three nice houses that are within the same height and style of the houses around them? Why put a monster in? There's a whole scenario that comes with this and I just can't understand how the council could justify putting this planning permission through.”

Ms Duke added, “The plans reference a green space and public amenity areas, but where are they supposed to go?
“Once the block of apartments go up, there’s physically nowhere left to put in a green space or amenity space!”

Ms Duke explained that the development would also “block in” a house belonging to an elderly resident and that the construction noise in the interim would be especially intolerable for her as she's had to endure building work taking place on a property the other side of her house for five years now.

Ms Duke also went on to point out that with the proposed development being situated “right beside the roads”, construction traffic would be “a nightmare for everyone” considering the location of the site on a one-way lane leading out onto a busy road.

The element of road safety is one of the many pressing concerns for locals when it comes to this proposed development.

Concerns regarding road safety were also mentioned by the Longford County Council planner in her inspection report of the site. Residents say they are now considering their options on how to best fight the council's decision.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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