School board appeals refusal of new car park and community garden plan

The Board of Management of Glanduff National School has appealed a decision by Roscommon County Council to refuse planning permission 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 South Roscommon national school originally lodged the planning permission application with Roscommon County Council on October 15.

In its decision to refuse planning permission, Roscommon County Council stated that it was "not satisfied based on submissions received" from the applicant that it has been "satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed car parking facilities can operate safely and efficiently and facilitate safe vehicular and active travel movement within the proposed car park" as well as "movement between the proposed car park and other school facilities on the opposite side of the public road".

Stating that the "proposed development has 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 planning permission decision, the board of management of Glanduff National School described as "baffling", the council's refusal of planning permission "on the grounds of safety".

In its original application 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 gives 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".

The appeal cited additional safety concerns at the school, "drivers doing U-turns in the middle of the road outside the school" leading to "dangerous traffic congestion".

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 is 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.

A number of additional safety measures have been implemented in the applicant's appeal submission for the local authority's consideration including the extension of the footpath across the car park entrance/exit, the provision of an internal pedestrian crossing for staff to exit their cars and reach the footpath and the provision of a controlled crossing point for staff and pupils to exit the car park and reach the school grounds.

The submission also states that a one-way traffic system will operate in the proposed car park while pencil bollards will also be placed outside adjoining houses to eliminate illegal parking.

The school and the Board of Management have called on An Bord Pleanala to "make a decision that reflects good planning policy and is sympathetic to the safety of users of Glanduff National School".

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

An Bord Pleanala is expected to make a decision on the planning appeal by November 27.