New bridge proposed so Laois farmers can work during Electric Picnic
Early festival date results in need for new bridge and road for busy harvest season
Plans to build a new bridge in Stradbally to accommodate farmers during the busy harvest season as a result of this year's date change to Electric Picnic have been lodged with Laois County Council.
Landowner Thomas Cobsy is seeking permission to build the bridge over the Bauteogue River along with an access road connecting it to the Timahoe Road and to lands within the Stradbally Hall site.
The festival dates were brought forward to August 16 to 18, a busy time for farmers in the surrounding area. The bridge and access road is being proposed to give farmers on the Ballyroan and Portlaoise roads access to the Malthouse on Stradbally's Main Street.
The application lodged with the local authority said the development will also give the suppliers of wind turbine blades access to the proposed Cullenagh wind farm as they were seeking a route through the woods.
A letter lodged with the application also highlights the restricted timeframe the applicant has to put the roads and bridge in place before the major festival.
"Following site clearance works, construction of the new bridge, new road and associated works would commence. The expected construction timeframe would be approximately 6 weeks," the application said.
"No mature trees will need to be removed and the majority of the trees that will need to be removed are Fir, Sally, Hazel which did not thrive due to their proximity to existing mature trees, lack of good daylight, rain or groundwater."
The application has since been deemed invalid by Laois County Council because some information was outstanding including plans for the bridge's dimensions. The applicant will have to submit a new application for consideration.