By Chris Ashmore
PLANNING permission has been granted by Donegal County Council for a six-storey apartment block in the heart of Letterkenny – despite a raft of objections from businesses in the area.
The local authority has given the green light for the construction of 30 apartments, comprising a mixture of one and two bedroom units on a site at the junction of the Paddy Harte Road and Pearse Road.
However, no fewer than nine submissions were made to the council in relation to the plans to build the apartments, with the principal reservations being expressed about the impact any further development will have in an area that experiences severe traffic problems.
Many local business owners have become exasperated by the lack of action regarding traffic in the area, and have highlighted the fact that the concrete island at the junction was installed as a “temporary measure” back in 2009.
The planned apartments site is opposite McDonald’s on the opposite side of Paddy Harte Road and across the Pearse Road, on the opposite side of the Auto Fast Fit premises.
In recent times, the cleared site – which also backs onto the River Swilly – has had a number of temporary uses, including car washing and a pop-up coffee shop.
Plans for the project – initially a five-storey building – were lodged in November 2023 by Gerald McCallion on behalf of Glenturas Construction Limited with an address at Beraghmore Road in Derry.
Further information, revised drawings and a natura impact statement were submitted last month, leading to more submissions, with traffic remaining the big issue.
Local business owner, Gary Cooney, criticised proposals for a pedestrian crossing at the junction and said that for the proposed development to have its entrance just beyond a corner off Paddy Harte Road onto Pearse Road, where traffic bottlenecks are a daily occurrence would “only exacerbate” the traffic issues.
Mr Cooney stated that he had seen “an incredible reduction in business within the past number of years as proposed customers cannot pass freely along the adjoining roadway”….and severely criticised the council for failing to resolve matters around the “temporary” concrete junction erected 16 years ago.
He bluntly stated: “I, as a business owner, feel that Donegal Co. Council has neglected the commercial and retail traders of this area and to permit this proposed development would reinforce the fact that any new infrastructure or new road layout for the benefit of businesses, motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and the general Lower Main Street area would become impossible due to the lack of space, area and road widening required to provide the necessary infrastructure measures needed to benefit this area and Letterkenny in general.”
He also questioned whether just 15 car parking spaces in the planned new development was sufficient.
Robert Ward of Auto Fast Fit Centre, in his submission, stated that the existing roads network in the area is “not fit for purpose”.
Submissions expressing concern were also submitted by Giles McGee of Charlie’s Cafe; John G. Larkin of behalf of Larkin’s Commercial Business Units; Paddy and Grainne McGranaghan of Mill View Bed and Breakfast, Leck Road; Patsy Gallagher of Pearse Road Tyres; and Stephen Harris of the Tyre Centre; and Richard McNamara of McDonald’s.
Brian Gallagher of the Station House Hotel, in his further submission, stressed that he had no objection to the site being developed as “additional development is a welcome addition in a growing town,” but he suggested that a redesign of the temporary junction could help alleviate some of the traffic congestion.
He felt that an additional lane could be created for traffic heading west to Oldtown.
In the official Planners’ Report, the claims in relation to traffic are “refuted” and in relation to the traffic island and any possible roundabout or other road configuration, it states that this is “a matter for the Roads Department.”
And it adds: “It is noted that Roads have offered no objection to this proposal, save for retaining space for future active travel projects contained in the Letterkenny plan.”
The proposed development is subject to conditions stipulated by the planning authority, and any appeals to the council’s decision may be made up to December 19.
As far back as 2006, planning permission was granted to build a four storey development comprising retail units offices and parking (including a basement car park for 50 vehicles) but this did not proceed.
In 2007, a revised proposal for an increased floor area was refused planning permission due to fewer parking places being planned.
The new proposals tie in with National Policy objectives for developments on brownfield/infill sites.
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