Smith calls for enhanced status for Lavey in CDP

Cavan County Council is being urged to recognise Lavey as a rural node or cluster within the Cavan County Development Plan.

The call was made by Cllr Val Smith (FG) at the January meeting of the Bailieborough-Cootehill MD. He said the proposal is a “modest and proportionate” planning designation, which would reflect how Lavey “already functions as a rural community”.

He told the meeting that a rural node/cluster is a recognised community that contains a concentration of services and facilities and serves a “surrounding rural hinterland”.

“It is distinct from open countryside but does not carry the same implications as village or town designation,” said the Lavey man.

Cllr Smith said Lavey already has a “strong parish and community identity”, as well as a hardware shop, a B&B, The Lavey Inn pub and restaurant, a petrol station and deli, a garage, and a lakeshore and parking amenity, making it a “clear focal area where development has clustered naturally”.

Addressing why this recognition is important, Cllr Smith explained that currently Lavey is treated as “rural countryside” for planning purposes, which he feels could lead to “ribbon development”, “inconsistent decision making” and “scattered one-off housing”.

He said the proposal would “provide clarity and fairness” when it comes to planning decisions and fair allocation of resources.

Developments associated with a rural node designation would remain “small scale” and subject to “normal planning assessments”, he said.

“Environmental protection and landscape character would remain central considerations.”

“If there is community support, a plan can be made during the next County Development Plan consultation period,” he said.

“This proposal is about recognition rather than expansion. It seeks to align planning policy with the reality of Lavey as an established rural community while protecting its character and setting.”

While Cllr Smith described Lavey as a “great” place, he said it “needs a bit more funding to keep it going”.

Stiofán Conaty (SF) “fully” agreed with the proposal, and seconded the motion “wholeheartedly”, telling those gathered that his father’s family is from Lavey.

Director of Services Paddy Connaughton described the proposal as “interesting”.

“We’ll take that back to the planning department and revert,” he said.