Council approves road upgrade for hospice project

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Offaly County Council has agreed to advance plans for road improvement works at Arden Lane in Tullamore as a key step towards enabling construction of the Midlands Hospice.

At a meeting of the council on Monday, the proposed scheme was presented to the elected members by Director of Services Paul McLoughlin, following a public consultation process between July and August of this year.

The recommendation to proceed with the development was accepted after the meeting heard that four submissions had been received during the consultation period, along with a further two submissions which arrived at a later date.

The planned works are due to upgrade approximately 320 metres of road at Arden Lane in order to "provide essential infrastructure to support the hospice development and surrounding area".

The scheme includes the construction of a 5.5-metre-wide single carriageway and a 1.8-metre-wide footpath on the right-hand side of the road when travelling towards the local pitch & putt facility.

It will also involve the installation of new foul sewer and watermain pipelines, with connection points to facilitate future domestic connections, as well as new surface water drainage infrastructure.

Other works include pedestrian crossings, dropped kerbs, tactile paving, public lighting, road markings and signage.

As part of the scheme, a cul-de-sac is to be created from the existing entrance at Arden Lane to its junction with the new road at the Kingswood Housing Scheme, where the upgraded road will tie into the existing network.

The majority of the councillors expressed strong support for the proposals on Monday and emphasised the importance of avoiding further delays to the hospice project.

Cllr Shane Murray said the development would provide “essential” and “dignified” care, stressing that nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of the new hospice being built.

Cllr Liam Quinn described the proposed work as “a pretty solid solution”, saying it would accommodate residents, service users and those using the pitch & putt facility.

“We lost a lot of time with all the to-ing and fro-ing. Hopefully it's the last piece of the puzzle,” he said.

Cllr Neil Feighery said the road improvements were a key part of clearing the way for the hospice project.

“The sooner the better when it comes to seeing the bricks and mortar being laid,” he said.

Cllr Aoife Masterson reiterated her longstanding support for the development and said further delays could not be afforded.

“The only thing that can stand in our way is ourselves,” she said. “The vast majority of the public are behind this. I look forward for the building beginning as soon as possible.”

One councillor, however, made his objection to the Arden Lane site for the Midlands Hospice clear.

Cllr Fergus McDonnell said he “won't be supporting” the development at this site, and he criticised the need for works to be carried out on the road ahead of the development of the hospice.

He made reference to a project in Edenderry, where the roads would be developed after the main site works concluded, and expressed his view that this would be more appropriate.

The District Manager responded by saying that one of the conditions attached to the planning permission for the hospice specifically relates to the Arden Lane road improvements.

The planning authority stated that “no development shall commence until all the necessary road improvement works are carried out... and confirmed in writing by Offaly County Council.”

An Coimisiún Pleanála granted planning permission in early August for the construction of the new 20-bed Midlands Hospice, subject to 14 conditions.