Hospice appeal withdrawn by Tullamore company
A Tullamore company has said it has withdrawn its appeal against Offaly County Council's decision to grant planning permission for the construction of a 20-bed hospice for the Midlands at a site on Arden Lane, Tullamore.
John Condron, Managing Director of Condron Concrete, confirmed to the Offaly Independent on Friday evening that he had withdrawn the appeal, lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála, against the development having "come to an agreement with the HSE".
At the beginning of the year the HSE was granted permission by the local authority for the development in Tullamore, which has been allocated €24 million in capital funding from the Government.
The appeal against the planning approval granted to the HSE for the hospice at Arden Lane in Tullamore was submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála by Condron Concrete in January.
It was believed that the national independent planning body would be issuing its judgement on the appeal by Tuesday next, June 2.
In advance of the appeal being withdrawn from An Coimisiún Pleanála, the Managing Director said there had been "a lot of negotiations" with the HSE in the intervening period and that an "agreement" between both parties had finally been reached.
"We have come to an agreement with the HSE to put in an acoustic wall, extra landscaping and a fountain with water falling sounds to mitigate the impact of noise emissions on the hospice," Mr Condron stated.
Mr Condron said he has "always been fully supportive" of the development, but he did not want a situation to arise where the noise levels coming from his business would impact those visiting the hospice "in times of sensitivity".
Earlier this month the HSE lodged plans with the council for the erection of a three metre tall sound barrier around the western and northern boundaries of the planned Level 3 hospice.
A planning application for the acoustic barrier and associated landscaping was lodged with the local authority on May 7.
According to a cover letter submitted on behalf of the HSE by Coady Architects, the installation of the acoustic barrier is "intended to enhance the site setting on the western and northern boundaries, with the proposed three metre high aluminium acoustic wall offset within the site boundary to allow for the retention the existing hedgerows".
The applicant added that a new hedgerow is due to be put in place on the site side of the boundary wall in order to "provide a visual screening of the acoustic barrier".
A decision on the HSE's planning bid for the sound barrier is due on or before Wednesday, July 1.