Planning decision 'a hammer blow' for Brawny residents

A group representing local residents in Brawny has disbanded this week after what it described as the "hammer blow" of planning permission being awarded for 576 housing units on the Lissywollen site adjacent to their existing homes.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent, local resident Keith Dowling said many were completely disillusioned by the outcome of the planning process and felt the concerns they had raised were not adequately taken into account by An Bord Pleanála when making its decision.

This morning (Tuesday), he announced the dissolution of Brawny Homes residents' committee following resignations of a number of its senior members over the previous 48 hours.

The Lissywollen development, by Alanna Roadbridge in conjunction with Westmeath County Council, was granted planning approval last week.

During the public consultation stage, the Brawny group made a submission to the planning board outlining a range of concerns around the density, layout and societal impact of the proposed development.

There were also submissions from a number of individual residents in Brawny, and from Retreat Park and Clonbrock Court residents' groups.

In a statement provided yesterday (Monday) on behalf of what's now the former Brawny Homes committee, Mr Dowling said it was "deeply disappointed that none of the legitimate concerns outlined in its submission were validated or given note," in the planning decision.

"The committee endeavoured to work tirelessly with all arms of the planning process, with the council executive, the elected representatives, the planners, the developers, and An Bord Pleanála.

"At each point, as has been the case for many years, a group of voluntary individuals gave freely of their time in the interest of their community and other respective communities and bodies directly impacted by this decision."

He said those who had given their time to engage with the process had never sought to oppose housing or to prevent the creation of affordable family homes.

Instead, they had hoped to reach a mutual understanding with the developer and Westmeath County Council in order to agree "a palatable consensus" for all parties involved.

"Alas, following this decision, we feel as a community and committee that Brawny has been dealt a hammer blow," he stated.

This morning's statement announcing the dissolution of the residents' group said it would now "transfer responsibility of all matters pertaining to the community back to the council with immediate effect," as it felt it could not continue working to try to help manage or maintain the estate when the area would soon become a live building site.

* For more coverage of the Lissywollen planning decision, see this week's Westmeath Independent.