Bord rules Oldcastle Plan does not impact European site
An Bord Pleanala has ruled that plans by Meath County Council to improve the public realm in Oldcastle town, with the addition of new public spaces, pedestrian crossings and reorganised parking, does not require the provision of a Natura Impact Statement (NIS).
First mooted back in 2021, Derek McCabe, The Corner Shop, The Square, Oldcastle, made a submission in August of last year highlighting the need for appropriate assessment screening.
Meath council's vision statement for the plan is to 'improve the public realm in Oldcastle through reorganising the heart of the town with the addition of new public spaces, pedestrian crossings and reorganised parking. Links to open amenity areas, heritage and tourism opportunities should be enhanced and celebrated'.
The objective is contained within the Meath County Development Plan 2021-2027.
The application made by Mr McCabe under Article 250(3) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001. He sought a determination from the board as to whether the proposed development would be likely to have a significant effect on a European Site.
He contended that the Appropriate Assessment Screening carried out on behalf of the local authority was flawed in that the list of works differed from those listed in a published Part 8 planning notice. That notice proposed the redevelopment of the Fairgreen Railway Yard to provide for a 4,980 sq m play park to include a multi-use games court, informal sports courts, skate/pump track, exercise equipment, play areas for under 12s, open green spaces, picnic seating and other infrastructure, as well as the retention of an existing 1.5m-4m high natural stone wall.
He said that the Screening Report identified no hydrological link to European sites within 15km. But Mr McCabe said that is contrary to existing Flood Risk Assessments. He also flagged the importance of the nearby River Inny as a habitat for critically endangered white clawed crayfish and European eel.
The council in response replied that the Fairgreen proposal is adjacent but outside the scope of the Public Realm Plan, which considers the Square as a 'significant space', but one that is 'focused on vehicular movements' and fails to 'emphasise the cultural and historical heritage' of the area.
The local authority countered that there is no hydrological link between the proposed development site and the Natura 2000 network - there is a buffer of 400m to the closest stream, which links in with the River Inny and Lough Sheelin SPA seven kilometres downstream.
The conclusion by the Bord inspector was that the preparation of an NIS in respect of the proposed Oldcastle enhancement scheme is 'not required' having regard for its nature and scale, location and separation from European Sites, and the submissions made by the local authority, including the AA Screening Report prepared on their behalf.