Objection lodged against heritage walk
‘NEWS OF THIS OBJECTION IS A HUGE BLOW TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE’
IT is feared that the ambitious plan to develop a riverside heritage walk in Buttevant could be put back by months after an objection was lodged against the proposal.
In November council planners gave the project the green light, much to the delight of the Buttevant Community Council and Heritage Group who were behind the development.
However, community council chair John Lee said the objections could delay the project by a minimum of 18 weeks – and could result in funding for it being pulled altogether.
“We have received a lot of support from many areas for this project and are concerned that if this drags on for a long time that support may no longer be there,” said Mr Lee.
“News of this objection is a huge blow to the community as a whole and we can only hope that a resolution is found that will allow this project to progress,” he added.
AN AMBITIOUS plan to develop a dedicated Riverside Heritage Walkway in Buttevant may now have to be put on hold for months after a single objection was lodged against the project.
Last November planners gave the green light to the project, much to the delight of the Buttevant Community Council and local Heritage Group who had lodged the planning application with Cork County Council.
However, that delight turned to shock and disappointment in the lead up to Christmas after it emerged that an objection to the scheme had been lodged with An Bord Pleanála.
While details of the reasons behind the objection have yet to be posted on the appeals board website, Community Council chair John Lee said it could put the project back by up to 18-weeks and could result in funding for it being pulled.
Mr Lee said that following what he described as the “restarting” of Buttevant through the completion of an expansive street works scheme and the opening of a new secondary school, hopes were high that the Heritage Walk would bring a further boost to the town.
“This was the time to show the powers that be that Buttevant was alive and well and able to show that it can grow and expand with the correct support,” said Mr Lee.
He said that confidence was shared by Cork County Council, Avondhu/ Blackwater Development, The Heritage Council and the Department of Heritage and Tourism, all of whom lent their support to the development of the Heritage Walk along the River Awbeg.
“This allowed the community Council to start the design and planning process for the walk. In fact, the Heritage Council was so impressed with the project they showcased it at their national conference,” said Mr Lee.
Funding of €250,000 was secured for the scheme and after an extensive consultation process with stakeholders including the OPW, Irish Waterways, Cork County Council and local property owners, planning permission was applied for and granted. As has been anticipated, planning was granted with conditions as the footprint for the proposed walkway was in a special area of conservation that included six national monuments and one of the few surviving breeding grounds for crayfish in Europe.
“We expected these clauses would be included, but with an excellent design team in place we felt it would be easy to deal with these matters. After all of the work that had gone into preparing the submission, news that it had been given permission was greeted with great relief,” said Mr Lee.
“So it was with a great sense of shock that one objection had been lodged against the plan. This will now put the whole project back by a minimum of 18-week. This is a serious blow that could result in funding being withdrawn, putting the future development of the town at risk.”
Mr Lee said there was still time for the objection to be withdrawn to allow the project to move forward as planned.
“In terms of sustainability, tourism development, job creation, business development and improved quality of life, this project has the potential to transform Buttevant,” he said.
“We have received a lot of support from many areas for this project and are concerned that if this drags on for a long time that support may no longer be there.
“News of this objection is a huge blow to the community as a whole and we can only hope that a resolution is found that will allow this project to progress.”