Cootehill housing development hangs in balance

A proposed social housing project planned for Cootehill hangs in the balance after councillors opted not to approve Part 8 planning for the development in its current guise.

The decision regarding plans for 28 houses at Magheranure, Tullygarvey, was taken at a meeting of Bailieborough-Cootehill MD members on Monday last, December 7.

The proposal for the 1.4 hectare site, which was purchased by the Cavan County Council, involved an entrance off Drumlin Drive, a cul-de-sac road servicing an existing residential estate in the area.

But residents in the area had expressed concern, with meetings taking place between them, members of the council’s executive and local elected members.

Compromises had been reached regarding the size of the proposed development, reduced to 24 units, but a demand was made for a new entrance to be provided from Drumlin Drive onto the Cootehill-Cavan Road. This has been objected to by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII),The Anglo-Celtunderstands.

At Monday’s meeting, Sinn Féin’s Paddy McDonald proposed to go ahead with the amended development, but his motion did not receive a seconder.

Fianna Fáil’s Aiden Fitzpatrick counter-proposed that the council further amend the plans or opt not to go ahead with the project at all. This was supported by the remaining five members present.

The matter will now be left with the executive of the council to decide on how to proceed with the contentious development plan in a town, which currently has more than 100 people on a waiting list for social housing.