Glanduff NS appeal refused by planning board on safety grounds

An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused an appeal from the Board of Management of Glanduff National School for the construction of a new school entrance from the public road, a car park and a community garden with all associated site development works at Carnagh West, Kiltoom.

The school's Board of Management of Glanduff National School had appealed the decision by Roscommon County Council to refuse planning permission for the proposed development "on the grounds of safety".

Citing their reasons and considerations to refuse the planning permission appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála said it considered that the proposed development "would be likely to prejudice the safety and convenience of road users, including school children, and would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".

The National Planning Board stated that there was a "reliance on traffic management measures and driver behaviours which are outside the control of the school authorities", adding that a "comprehensive redesign, in consultation with the roads authority, is required in order to identify a satisfactory solution."

In its original planning application, submitted in October 2024, the school, in conjunction with the Board of Management, had identified a number of risks with the existing traffic measures in place during drop-off and collection time which required attention.

The school said it did not have any space on its existing grounds to use as a car park which gave cause for "uncontrolled parking outside the school and houses on the opposite of the road, "uncontrolled crossing of pedestrians" and "uncontrolled parking outside gates in the bus parking and disabled parking areas".

As a result, theproposed development, on a 0.2 hectare site opposite Glanduff National School, outlined the construction of a a 30-space car park with new access from the local road. A community garden, was also part of the proposed site development and included a walkway, a water feature and planting.

In its decision to refuse planning permission on June 30, Roscommon County Council stated that the "proposed development had the potential to endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard and obstruction of road users, altering mobility arrangements associated with the school", the local authority said the proposed development was contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

In its appeal against the local authority decision, the board of management of Glanduff National School described the council's refusal of planning permission on the grounds of safety as "baffling".

Stating that they had spent a "substantial amount of time" sourcing a site for a potential car park and community garden, the Board of Management's appeal noted that it was the "only site available to the school within easy access of the school" and would address the traffic and pedestrian safety measures for which the planning permission application was initially sought.

"We have concerns that without the proposed car park an accident resulting in serious injury or potential fatality is imminent," the appeal submission concluded.