Planning rule 'last nail in coffin' of rural Carlow amidst debate over road access
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Councillors have hailed a planning stipulation around access to properties near national primary roads as the "last nail in the coffin" of rural Carlow after a debate over the issue at a recent meeting of Bagenalstown Municipal District.
Cllr Charlie Murphy brought up a matter about housing planning applications around the N80 and N81 and he accepted that it was "nearly impossible to get direct access" for a new housing development to these national primary roads.
However, he highlighted one case he was aware of where the applicant looked to build a house on a site adjacent to the N80 on a secondary road "which was about a mile away" from the N80 and the application was refused.
The planning decision referred to a Transport Infrastructure Ireland rule which related to properties within a certain number of metres of a national primary road.
"I don't think we have to refer all cases to TII," he said.
Cllr Tommy Kinsella said the stipulation and example given by Cllr Murphy would "kill rural Ireland" and would be the "last nail in its coffin".
He also described the rule as "unfair".
Members were told that all planning decisions were made according to the letter of the law.