Objections to Virginia campsite plans

Development has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála.

Plans for a holiday village on the outskirts of Virginia have been appealed.

Maria Graham had been granted planning permission by Cavan County Council for the tourist campsite in July, a year after first applying.

The proposed development, earmarked for Lurgan Glebe, Oldcastle Road, Virginia, have been appealed to An Bord Pleanála after local residents referred the application to the board.

The plans provide for vehicular access from the existing public road, a parking area for cars and camper vans and pathways leading to tent, yurt and log cabins in the grass camping area.

The application includes submissions for a single-storey, check-in cabin building, a wastewater treatment plant, a single-storey Winter storage building for yurts and tents and toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Other features include stables, a sand area, an all-weather pitch and a playground area. Services and all other ancillary works are also included.

The equestrian aspect of the holiday park would be opened to local schools for therapies for children with special needs.

Five full-time jobs would be created by the business when operational.

Seven submissions were made to the planning board on the development, with three of those deemed invalid.

Among the appellants were Dagmar E. Termehr who lives nearby and “vehemently opposed” the development and raised concerns over potential environmental damage, flooding and the presence of two other campsites nearby.

In his submission to the council, local resident Martin Cosgrove highlighted concerns over flooding at the site and says the development “could have a serious impact on the water quality of Lough Ramor”. He also cites work over the past two decades to improve water quality and replenish fish stocks.

“It would be a travesty if this development proceeded and set all that good work to nought,” he said.

Liam Roche in his submission also highlighted similar developments nearby, the potential for impacts on local wildlife and flora, traffic concerns and the potential increase on traffic on Lough Ramor.

Cavan County Council, as part of its deliberation on the plans, requested further information and a redrawing of some aspects of the plans.

It sought a revised site layout map outlining the surface water drainage system, a resubmission of the site assessment to meet with EPA guidelines. Information on the wastewater treatment earmarked for the development was also requested, along with the need for a noise assessment to be carried out.

The noise assessment noted the expected increase in noise levels during the construction phase of the project. It noted 15 “noise sensitive locations” within 250 metres of the proposed site including a nursing home and residential homes.

It recommended putting in place a hedgerow to act as a noise barrier along the boundary with the neighbouring St Joseph’s Nursing Home.

It also recommended a “respect your neighbour” campaign once the park is operational, a log of all complaints and the use of “noise damping materials” during construction. No music or events requiring amplification will be permitted.

A traffic assessment, using data from Center Parcs in Ballymahon and Cabu by the Lakes in Killykeen, predicted 47 arrivals and departures from the Virginia site on “changeover days”, equating to 10.5% of traffic on the Virginia-Oldcastle Road.

The planner's report notes the “applicant proposes that the site be a very family oriented experience, with the site being fully supervised at all times to prevent any anti-social behaviour”.

It also notes the noise assessment and the mitigation measures “address any potential negative impact on nearby residential amenities”.

Conditions attached to the planning permission by Cavan County Council included a ban on rentals of more than 30 days. A maximum of 14 log cabins, seven yurts, 21 tents and six campervans will be permitted on site at any one time.

Restrictions on noise and light levels were also included and measures to address the potential environmental impact.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make its decision on the plans by mid-December.