No funds for medical centre in Athboy following planning delay

Plans by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to build a primary care centre in Athboy have been put on ice following a prolonged planning process and the drying up of funds within the HSE. The planned centre at the Cowpark in Athboy recently received planning approval from Bord Pleanala, having originally received permission from Meath County Council last summer. The downturn in the economy since the project was originally mooted, combined with the delay due to the planning appeal, has now caused the project to be long-fingered. The objection to the planned health centre was lodged by planning consultant Joe Casserly on behalf of unnamed 'concerned residents' of the Coille Dios estate off Lower Bridge Street. The centre is part of the Cowpark development planned by Athboy Social and Recreational Needs Company. The Coille Dios development is a local authority estate which was part of the same project. The objection argued, among other issues, that the zoning permits a doctor-dental surgery, not a large primary care centre, and that the proposed development is premature pending completion and commission of a local wastewater treatment plant and without proper and adequate water supply. Residents also objected to the height, scale and bulk of development, that it was completely out of character, dwarfing other buildings; it would create traffic hazards; there was inadequate capacity for HGVs loading and unloading; pedestrian hazards; a substandard junction at Bridge Street and conflict with school traffic. Bord Pleanala inspector Suzanne Kehely said she considered the proposed centre a step up from a local neighbourhood service that would be typically absorbed in a residential area. She said the support for siting a medical centre in this location is clearly evident in the specific objective in the local area plan. "I accept, however, that this permission should not conflict with protection of residential amenities," the inspector said. Ms Kehely considered the principle of a medical centre at the site between a housing development and a mixed used zone to be acceptable in principle, although predicated on meeting number of criteria, which she set out in the report. From an urban design perspective, she did not accept that the criticisms regarding height and scale stand up to scrutiny. Neither did she consider that the proposed development would give rise to a serious injury of residential amenity and that the development would not conflict materially with the residential zoning objective for the area. The grounds of appeal raised in this regard did not warrant grounds for amendment or refusal, she said. "In respect of wastewater treatment plant, I draw attention to the planning authority's most recent correspondence on 4th August 2009 which states the plant is anticipated to be completed in early 2010 which is well before the anticipated completion date of the of the proposed development," she pointed out. Similarly, in the case of water supply, it is argued, by reference to the council's technical reports, that water supply is restricted pending a new borehole and source of potable water. However, the technical reports in this regard acknowledge the problem of 50 per cent unaccounted for water and the potential to reduce this by repair work. Having regard to the nature of the proposed use and scale and layout of the proposed development and proximity of the site to the town centre of Athboy, and the current Local Area Plan objectives for the area in respect of community facilities, it was considered that, subject to 20 conditions, the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity, would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. One of the conditions listed seeks the engagement of an archaeologist to carry out pre-development testing on the site. The HSE welcomed the decision of Bord Pleanala and the granting of planning permission to construct the centre in Athboy. "Due to the current lack of capital funding, the HSE is not in a position to proceed with this project at this time," the HSE said, adding that it has identified Athboy as a location for primary care team services and will continue to explore all options to deliver this service in the town. Funding has not been diverted from this project to another project, it added.