Contentious plan for Laois nightclub refused

A contentious plan for a nightclub gangway ‘oversailing’ the Old Fort Wall in Portlaoise has been rejected by planners.

Lilly’s Bar applied to “erect a gangway emergency exit from upper storey night club, oversailing Old Fort Wall (Protected Structure RPS 468) to neighbouring property and erect a new external stairwell and associated site works” early last year. 

The development at 25 Main St, Portlaoise and, Music Generation, Church Avenue, Portlaoise proved controversial due to the protected status of the Old Fort Wall. 

Chairman of the Laois Heritage Society, Sean Murray objected to the application in a submission to the council. 

He said: “On behalf of the Laois Heritage Society, we would like to express our concerns for the proposed planning works at the Old Fort in Portlaoise-Planning Application Ref. 21/864, submitted by Casindor Limited.”

“We believe that such a proposal would compromise the integrity of the architectural and archaeological features associated with the earliest structure in the town. The recent Conservation Plan (Phase One) outlines the Fort as being of National historic importance and therefore in our view such works would hinder its potential development moving forward. It would constitute further erosion of the Fort, which the Conservation Plan was prepared to prevent. We hope that you will consider our objection to the proposed planning application,” Mr Murray stated in the submission last January. 

https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/local-news/981459/hundreds-of-metres-of-laois-road-washed-away-in-flash-flood.html

Laois County Council, who had sought an archaeological assessment in relation to the proposed development, refused permission this week.