Kingscourt residential care home refused permission

 

The Planning Section of Cavan County Council has refused permission for a new 32-bed residential care home for adults “living with disabilities and challenging behaviour” in the Kingscourt area.
The proposed development by Northern Ireland-based The Beeches Professional and Therapeutic Services Ltd at Mullantra on the outskirts of the East Cavan town had, if given the go-ahead, the potential to create up to 70 new jobs for the local area.
A decision on the planned facility, which included a single storey resource centre with recreation and activity rooms and outdoor activity space, was made on Thursday last week, July 30.
Up to 20 local residents attended a meeting with The Beeches hierarchy last month where the company attempted to alleviate fears with regard the development.
Even still, several submissions were received by the Council from people living in area objecting to the plan. One, from residents in nearby estate St James Court stated that as the site adjoins the boundaries of counties Cavan and Monaghan, the county development plans of both should be considered.
They contended that as the site has no zoning under the statutory Cavan County Development Plan, the proposed use of the land would run contrary to sustainable planning in a rural location.
The Beeches had previously attempted to set up a similar centre located at Mullantlavan, just across the county boundary in Carrickmacross back in 2006, but for An Bord Pleanala to refuse permission two-years later on appeal.
An inspector at the national planning authority cited the care company failed to demonstrate sufficiently “why the proposed development would require a location in a rural unserviced area”, adding the proposed development would, if granted, also “endanger public safety” by reason of traffic.
The determination by the local authority’s planning section last week mirrored similar concerns having regard to traffic volumes, speeds, width and alignments along the Kingscourt to Carrickmacross Road (R179).
A Senior Staff Officer said: “It is considered that the proposed increase in traffic movements into and out of the site in question would give rise to serious traffic hazard, having regard to its unsuitability to carry the increased load.”
The Council also noted that it was not satisfied, based on the information submitted by The Beeches, that the proposed development could “satisfactorily dispose” of effluent on site “without giving rise to a serious public health risk.”