by Louise Doyle
PLANS for a wellness retreat in Termon have been refused on the grounds that public safety could be potentially endangered because of a greater volume of traffic.
The Chief Executive Order outlining reasons for refusing the proposed development also cites unsuitable accommodation.
Applicant Ms Helen Vickery submitted proposals to Donegal County Council in 2023 for the construction of a tourism based initiative comprising a mindfulness and wellness retreat garden area, consisting of meditation, yoga, steam room, sauna pods and outdoor ice bath area in Barnes Upper.
The proposed development also included the construction of 10 glamping pods, six stopover campervan pitches and the renovation, refurbishment and extension of existing derelict stone building into reception, laundry and toilet facility building.
Plans lodged also comprised the installation of a waste water treatment system, on-site car parking spaces and all associated site works.
But Donegal County Council has refused the proposed development. The Chief Executive’s Order states that the development proposes to access onto a section of the N56 national route at a point where the maximum speed limit applies.
“It is a policy of the Council (T-P-4) not to permit developments requiring new accesses or which would result in the adverse intensification of existing access points onto national roads where the speed limit is greater than 60kph.
“The Planning Authority considers that the proposed development would result in material adverse intensification of an existing direct access point to a national road, and would endanger public safety by means of a traffic hazard.”
An issue was also identified in relation to the proposed accommodation.
“Having regard to the substandard character of accommodation proposed, which are more akin to a holiday let chalets and not glamping pods, the Planning Authority considers that development fails to achieve high quality and would result in a poor precedent in terms of accommodation offered to the tourism sector.
“Having particular regard to the location of the site, located remotely, not within walking distance of any existing facilities or services at a location which is not served by a footpath or public lighting, the development is considered substandard in nature and would create an undesirable policy precedent for glamping developments in scenic rural areas that have the potential to cumulatively be severely detrimental to preservation of scenic and sensitive landscapes.”
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