Council eliminates three sites from preferred bypass route

PROPOSED Zoning changes in Virginia

Councillors have voted to remove three sites located within Virginia’s environs from zoning maps as they conflict with the preferred route chosen for the proposed N3 bypass of the town.

The council’s chief executive, Tommy Ryan, recommended amending the Virginia Land Use Zoning Map to include the preferred route of the long-awaited bypass project, which is currently edging through Design and Environmental Evaluation. Following that, subject to Government approval, a formal planning submission will be submitted, before proceeding to Compulsory Purchase Orders stage.

A key commitment for the region under the Government’s Ireland 2040 plan, JB Barry Transportation Ltd is tasked with guiding the project through the initial phases. The final phases (5-7) will require a multi-disciplinary consultancy team and take into account the substantial increase in traffic volume along the M3/N3. This will be the subject of a separate tendering process, not expected until at least 2024.

The so-called ‘Emerging Preferred Option Corridor’ (EPOC) was published back in August last year, linking Derver to Lisgrey, and running north of Lough Ramor.

‘Route C’ will also connect to Burrencarragh and the R195 Oldcastle road, and could include as many as three roundabouts, located at either end, with another forming a junction at the R178 Bailieborough Road unless overpassed.

Councillors were told that there were three plots of land located within the town boundary that conflicted with the bypass path, and the decision to remove them was approved unanimously.

Separately, councillors voted to support the wishes of two local landowners - former Fine Gael Councillor Paddy O’Reilly and his brother Brendan - in respect of land proposed to be zoned for ‘Enterprise and Employment’ north of the town.

It was requested that the lands remain in “agricultural” use.

Despite Mr Ryan’s recommendation that the zoning on the lands remain unchanged, due to their importance in the economic development of Virginia, councillors opposed the assessment by vote.

Fine Gael’s TP O’Reilly was the first to propose that the lands be removed, seconded by Independent Shane P O’Reilly.

Elsewhere in the town a submission was made by Hanley Taite Design Partnership Architects and Design Consultants on behalf of Richard Corrigan’s Virginia Park Lodge; while Karl O’Dowd sought to have lands at Cranadillon, Virginia zoned as ‘Proposed Residential’.

Despite the executive informing councillors that the move would “exceed” the residential limits as underpinned by the Core Strategy and accompanying Housing Strategy for the Virginia, elected members voted to allow the zoning change.

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