Go-ahead for Letterkenny apartments despite 'traffic mayhem' concerns of businesses

Planning permission has been granted for a Letterkenny apartment block that was strongly opposed by local businesses.

Donegal County Council has given the go-ahead for the development of a now six-storey block containing 30 apartments on site at the junction of the Pearse and Paddy Harte roads.

Conditional planning permission has been given to Gerald McCallion of Glenturas Construction Ltd, who had initially sought permission for a five-storey building containing 28 apartments.

A series of businesspeople submitted objections to the proposed development in a busy area of Letterkenny.

Giles McGee of Charleys Cafe cited an increase in traffic congestion and a backup of vehicles in a submission to the local authority. This, he said, added “to the torture of going back into traffic jams”.

“A temporary island junction is entirely obsolete for the function that it was temporarily constructed some 16 years ago,” he said, adding that the development would cause “traffic mayhem” and would go against proper planning policy.

Gary Cooney, the owner of Cooney's Home & Garden and Gary's Pet World, said there was already a lack of infrastructure and a proper road layout in the area.

Businesses, he said, have already seen “an incredible reduction in business as proposed customers cannot pass freely along the adjoining roadway and have no confidence in free movement or parking areas”

Mr Cooney said the development would significantly add to “cramming and jamming of traffic on a daily basis”.

He said that Donegal County Council has “neglected” the commercial and retail traders of this area and pointed out that the proposed entrance was located at a “traffic bottleneck”.

An impression of the original planned apartment block

John G Larkin said it was “unacceptable” that the development would be proposed using the infrastructure currently in place. He said it “is absolutely unbelievable and beggars belief” that no traffic survey was conducted.

That view was shared in a submission by Patsy and Grainne McGranaghan of Mill View B&B while Patsy Gallagher, the proprietor of Pearse Road Tyres shared concerns over the existing concrete island.

This, he said, impeded users entering as it heavily hampers and restricts traffic flowing freely. This has reduced business which he added: “In today's climate, is totally unacceptable where it is tremendously difficult to run a profitable business without the addition of patrons not being able to safely access and egress the business unit.”

Richard McNamara of McDonald's, Robert Ward from Auto Fast Fit and Stephen Harris at the Tyre Centre were among the others who voiced displeasure.

Donegal County Council granted planning permission, subject to 25 conditions.

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They include an agreement that restricts all residential units to first occupation by the individual purchasers.

The developer is to be responsible for the management and maintenance of the development and will also be responsible for the provision, upkeep and maintenance of all common services and areas, including public realm, communal seating and benches, unless an alternative arrangement is agreed with the local authority.