Residents voice concern over plans to construct warehouse on rural road

Residents living in the vicinity of a proposed commercial/warehouse development outside Kentstown have raised concerns over the proposal and say the narrow rural roads are totally unsuitable for heavy vehicles accessing the site.

Meath Co Council is currently considering the application by James Carroll for the first phase of a mixed-commercial, mixed use development located at the junction of roads L10132 and L5054 (Leganara Road), Brownstown, Navan.

The plans include a part one, part two-storey mixed-use commercial unit of 358sqm with office accommodation of 42sqm at first floor level; a one-storey mixed-use commercial unit of 191sqm; and two part-one, Part-two storey mixed use commercial units of 387sqm with office accommodation at first floor level of 106sqm.

Also proposed are a new vehicular entrance from the existing public road, a new internal vehicular access route to serve the site via a new controlled entrance gate, parking bays for cars, commercial vehicles, bicycles and e-vehicles and a wastewater treatment installation including percolation area and polishing filter.

The planning application was lodged on 15th December last and more than 40 submissions were made on the plans by concerned locals. There are several signs up in the area with slogans like 'rural road, ‘no industrial estate' and 'Do not destroy our only safe walk for our community' and a number of meetings have taken place locally since news of the development emerged.

Meath Co Council sought further information on the plans which was lodged by the applicant last month.

One of those who is opposed to the plans is Des Hegarty who lives across the road from the site who says the road network is totally unsuitable for what is being proposed and says the further information submitted does not address residents' concerns.

"Road safety is the big one. There are a number of houses on this road, which would be used by large articulated trucks visiting the site. There is nothing in place to deal with that. How large vehicles are going to manage to meet on a narrow road that is not even suitable for two cars to meet let alone two articulated trucks? The road network is totally unsuitable."

He explained that as it stands two cars can't meet without one pulling off the road and said they had experience of heavy vehicles using the road as a 'rat run' during the recent road closure of the Kentstown Road and "the nuisance they became".

"People use this road a lot for walking and there would be a lot of people walking with buggies. It is an amenity for the area. There is no footpath and no room for a footpath.

"Bringing vehicles off the main road and onto totally unsuitable roads is actually ludicrous. Safety has to be paramount," he said.

Des outlined other concerns including the sewerage system that was being proposed and said his own well is only about 40-50 yards away. He also said they don't know the working hours and if trucks would be coming and going during the night or causing noise and light pollution.

He also feels that there is not much benefit for the area as warehousing doesn't employ many people. Meath Co Council is due to make a decision on the application at the end of this month.