Appeal lodged over plans at former Laois pub
The pub was granted planning permission last month
Plans to turn a formerly busy Laois bar and restaurant into accommodation have been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.
The plans for McEvoy’s pub on Main Street in Abbeyleix had been approved by Laois County Council subject to conditions on September 5.
The applicant, Icolater Ltd Simon Stokes, had applied to Laois County Council to “retain change of use from Bar and Restaurant to a Guest House on the ground floor at McEvoys Bar and Restaurant, a protected Structure” on May 2, 2024.
On June 24, Laois County Council wrote to the Icolater Ltd seeking further information in relation to the application.
They pointed out that “that Policy 8.5.2 of the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2027 states that ‘the Council recognises that the provision of accommodation such as hotels, guesthouses, hostels, caravan and camping sites are essential…the Council will support the development and upgrade of accommodation to meet Fáilte Ireland Quality Standards, subject to development management criteria and will require that such relevant standards are met in development proposals where appropriate…’.The applicant shall, therefore, demonstrate that the accommodation is in compliance with Fáilte Ireland Quality Standards.”
In response a representative of Ilocater Ltd wrote, “ both we ourselves and the applicant contacted Failte Ireland regarding registering it for refugee accommodation, only to be told that the proposed use is not termed a guest house as it would have to be open to the general public to use the term guest house. The accommodation is for guests (being refugees from Ukraine) and as such would not have to register with them.”
The planning was subsequently approved subject to seven planning conditions on September 5.
However, those plans have now been appealed to An Bord Pleanala by Liam O’Faolain. He objected to the planning approval on a number of grounds. These included the fact that the accommodation was sought as a guesthouse and not to house Ukrainian refugees.
An Bord Pleanala is due to make a decision on the planning application by February 13, 2025