Permission to improve Lockes Distillery in Kilbeggan and Danny Byrnes in Mullingar are the two stand-out files in what looks like a reasonably active start to the planning year, with 21 domestic build applications at varying stages of the process in January.
The county council has granted the management committee of one of the biggest tourist attractions in Westmeath the go-ahead to repair and renovate the iconic external waterwheel at Lockes, whilst the parent company of Danny Byrnes pub and club has been given permission to re-locate the entrance to its nightclub to Pearse Street. This will include an extension to the first floor of the nightclub and some internal renovations, as well as an extension to an existing adjacent retail unit. The public files on both of these applications give no indication as to when this work might commence.
The only other green light of significance was given to Frank Bell to build a further two, 4-bed, detached houses at Ardmore Hills in Mullingar.
The most interesting application still in the process this month, is one from DAMX Ltd which has appealed to An Bord Pleanala in an effort to keep alive its plans for an international standard motocross circuit between Rochfortbridge and the Derrygreenagh works on the Rhode Road. The plans include provision for spectator area, paddock, and at least eight jumps.
Three primary schools - Coosan in Athlone, St Tola’s in Cloughan, and Loughnalley - are in the system to retain prefabs or to revise a previously granted permission, whilst the parish in Moate has applied to extend its sacristy to include a wheelchair ramp and accessible toilets.
In Athlone, Lidl has submitted additional information concerning its plans to add 27 sq m to a previously granted 48 sq m extension, While Michael Moore Motors on the Dublin Road has just applied for permission to extend its service area.
The only refusals of note in January include one to Sean Smyth Construction Ltd, which was hoping to build a childrens’ recreational area in an industrial unit in Moate Business Park, and one to Madeleine Flynn who was turned down in her application to convert an existing shop in Ginell Terrace, Springfield, Mullingar into a takeaway.
