Narconon Trust 'seeking advice' after ABP rules against drug rehab centre

Representatives of Narconon Trust overseeing the construction of the €5.6m drug rehab centre in Ballivor are said to "seeking advice"  after An Bord Pleanala ruled that the controversial detox facility is not exempted development and will require a new planning permission.

In a statement issued to Meath Chronicle tonight, a spokesperson for Narconon Trust stated: "Planning permission was received from Meath County Council in December 2014 to change the use of the National School building in Ballivor to a nursing home."

"In August 2016 Narconon Trust requested Meath County Council to make a declaration in accordance with part V of the Planning and Development Act as to whether or not a change of use from a nursing home to a residential drug rehabilitation facility was exempted development.

 

"The Council issued a declaration on the 2nd October 2016 that the change of use as outlined was "exempted development" and therefore would not require planning permission.  

"It was on that basis that Narconon Trust concluded the property was suitable for its' use and it purchased the property subsequent to that approval, in December 2016. 

"Now today, over 2 years since Meath County Council issued that declaration in 2016, the building is nearly complete. Narconon Trust is presently considering its position and seeking advice on this matter."

"Narconon Trust is presently considering its position and seeking advice on this matter."

The news is being seen as a massive victory locally for campaigners who are opposed to Narconon's plans to open a rehab centre to cater for 34 recovering addicts in the south Meath village. 

Planning permission was in place for a nursing home on the site of the former national school and it emerged earlier this year that Meath County Council had ruled back in 2016 a drug rehabilitation centre would not require a change of use in planning.

However, this view was challenged with the lodging of two separate 'section five' referrals by Trim Municipal District Councillors and the Ballivor Community which were referred on to An Bord Pleanala by Meath County Council in February. In the meantime, work has been ongoing on the €5.6m facility.

Today, it has been confirmed that an Bord Pleanala has ruled that the change from a nursing home to a drug rehabilitation centre is not exempted development and would be a "factual change of use".

In correspondance to the parties, it stated: "An Bord Pleanala has decided that the change of use of the permitted nursing home to a residential drug rehabilitation facility is development and not an exempted development. The proposed use as a residential drug rehabilitation facility would be a factual change of use from use as a nursing home and such change of use would raise material planning considerations including different patterns of traffic, and pedestrian activity/movement, a different service to a different user group, including a population with a broader age profile and who are drug dependant, and with limited interaction with the local community, and is, therefore, a material change of use, and is development."

Local Councillor Noel French, who was to the fore of the campaign against the facility welcomed the decision. He said: "It's wonderful news. It's a brilliant day for Ballivor. It's a brilliant day for common sense. I am absolutely delighted that this ridiculous planning decision that it was exempt development has been reversed and now people have an opportunity to object to this development and we will be objecting to this development. We have a long list of reasons why a drug rehabilitation centre is not suitable for the village of Ballivor."