TII appeals approval of security gates along Laois road

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has appealed Laois County Council’s planning decision allowing two security gates on land near the N80 in Laois. 

Joe and Will Carmody had been granted conditional retention planning permission for the two security gates at existing entrances to land at Clonreher, Portlaoise on June 24 last. 

The planning approval was granted subject to three conditions.

In the plans lodged with Laois County Council, the planner noted applicants said gates were installed to restrict traffic and access onto the land. 

“Before the gates were erected the entrances were open to public access. There were historic issues with trespass and anti-social behaviour. The local authority also requested the owners on a number of occasions to secure and close the entrances to ensure that illegal dumping could not take place on the property.  

As a result of this action, the security gates have prevented unauthorised public access and the volume of traffic entering and leaving the site has been significantly reduced. The risk of dumping has been prevented,” the planner noted in a report. 

The applicants informed the council that the entrances will only be used occasionally and predominately by a security company to access the site once a week at most which has significantly reduced the traffic using the entrances to enter the land.

Both gates are located along the N80 with one being just over five metres from the road. 

TII had raised concerns over the gates with the council. It said they are at variance with official policy in relation to control of development on/affecting national roads, as outlined in the DoECLG Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012). 

They said the gates could adversely affect the operation and safety of the national road network. 

TII has now appealed Laois County Council’s decision to An Bord  Pleanala. The planning authority is expected to make a decision on the case in November.