Proposals to improve land are rejected

PLAN TO IMPORT SOIL AND STONE

PLANS to import soil and stone to improve lands at Raheen in Roundwood has been refused by Wicklow County Council.

Oliver Wolohan submitted a planning application with the Local Authority looking for permission for the importation of greenfield soil and stone for the improvement of land for agriculture and ecological improvement, requiring the importation of 9936 cubic metres of inert greenfield soil and stone over a period of up to two years.

The planned development would also be subject to a waste management certificate of registration from Wicklow County Council.

However, planners for Wicklow County Council ruled that the proposed development would endanger public safety due to serious concerns of traffic hazards because adequate sightlines at the junction of the laneway with the R755 are not proposed.

The existing road network is inadequate in terms of width and alignment to cater for the traffic movements that would be generated if the development was granted planning.

The Council also stated that such developments are only granted if they don’t result in adverse impacts on the landscape or unnecessarily interfere with natural land form and topography in any area, without detailed justification.

It was found that the proposed development would constitute re-profiling of the lands which is excessive for agricultural purposes, and the final contours would result in the landform at points being in excess of 2m higher than adjoining field levels, and above existing boundary vegetation, and therefore would not form a natural relationship with adjoining lands, and the existing natural topography.