Westmeath councillors have voted to exclude 26 structures across the county from the Record of Protected Structures (RPS ).
The structures were recommended by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan for inclusion on the RPS as they are deemed to be “of regional importance”; however councillors agreed at Tuesday’s meeting on the County Development Plan not to include them.
They include Mornington House and stable block; Turin Church; Weirs public house, Multyfarnham; The Pitstop, Dominick Street, Mullingar; Dalystown House; Farra Cottage, Bunbrosna; and the post office in Horseleap.
Councillors also voted that a further 10 structures deemed to be “of local importance” be excluded from the RPS.
In addition, of a total of 15 areas proposed to be designated as Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs ), councillors agreed to add just four. These were Derrygreenagh Park, Rochfortbridge; Belvedere Orphanage, Tyrrellspass; four houses at Main Street, Moate; and four houses at Main Street, Glasson.
Conservation architect with Westmeath County Council, Bernadette Solon, explained that an ACA designation refers to the protection of a streetscape rather than an individual structure. Buildings in ACAs are subject to restrictions only in terms of external works, while buildings on the RPS are subject to more stringent guidelines on the entire building.
