Tullamore funeral home plan appealed

A local funeral undertakers company which was given the green light for a new funeral parlour in Tullamore will now have to wait until November to learn the outcome of a planning appeal which has been lodged against the proposed development.

The appeal was lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly Bord Pleanála) by David Gibb, United Laundry, Unit 6F Axis Business Park, Tullamore, who said the development would “endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard or obstruction of road users,” as the proposed front doors open directly onto “a thin footpath”.

Offaly County Council granted planning permission on June 26 last to PJ Lambe, David Lambe and Edel Kenny to convert an existing commercial unit on Main Street in Tullamore into a funeral parlour.

Permission was also granted for minor changes to the front entrance of the premises.

In his appeal, which was prepared by BPS Planning and Development Consultants Ltd., David Gibb describes Main Street as “ a very busy thoroughfare” and questions where the people paying respects at the funeral parlour will be able to park. He points out that there is no available parking on Main Street.

He also asks “when a person is reposed what is the management plan for pedestrians for when the footpath is blocked and the businesses in close proximity are negatively affected?”

Mr Gibb says he has to ”object strongly” to the proposed development based on what he said was the lack of any proposals on how to deal with “pedestrians, increased traffic congestion (loading and unloading) and parking” and he also points to the fact that the pavement is “very narrow” outside the proposed funeral parlour.

The third party appeal also takes issue with the lack of parking provision, and the intention of the developers to use the nearest car parking space to the premises – if there is no parking space available outside - and transport the coffin “on the pavement a short distance by trolley.” Mr. Gibb argues that the applicant business “requires a loading bay to always be available to it” and points out that there is no such bay in the immediate vicinity.

“The occupants of coffins deserve more respect than to be wheeled along the footpath of Tullamore's Main Street,” states the appellant, who also expresses his concern about the width of the pedestrian path and adds that “a coffin would take up most of it.” He further describes the proposal to wheel coffins on trolleys along Main Street as “unseemly".

An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to deliver its decision on Mr. Gibb's appeal by November 12 next.