Appeal against houses due to ‘dangerous’ road

AN APPEAL has been lodged against permission for the construction of two dwellings in Wicklow town on the grounds that it will exacerbate issues at the end of a junction which is already considered dangerous.

Dean Street Properties Ltd was granted permission by Wicklow County Council to demolish an existing single storey rear extension at Sheemore, The Glebe, and the provision of one four-bedroom dwelling over three storeys and one three-bedroom dwelling over three storeys.

Permission in the original application was also sought for internal and external alterations to the existing dwelling, including a rear extension, the setting back of the existing southern boundary wall to allow for road widening to Glebe

Avenue and the setback of a portion of the existing footpath along the western boundary to provide off street parking for two cars.

However, a third party An Bord Pleanála appeal contends that the granting of permission for the two houses will further threaten public safety as it will exacerbate the already dangerous road use at the end of The Glebe Lane and Sheemore junction with the main road.

It is also stated in the appeal that illegal parking is presenting a danger to all road and sidewalk users.

According to the appeal, ‘ there have been several near misses of serious personal injuries we have witnessed.’

It continues that, in some instances, residents haven’t been able to access their homes and the illegal parking has also presented access problems for the emergency services.

The appeal argues that the repositioning of the boundary wall, on the south side of the development on Glebe Lane will lead to even more illegal parking by shoppers at nearby commercial premises, parents of the nearby school and residents of the Sheemore development when they are unable to find anywhere else to park.

The appeal also questions why the demolition of the existing extension was sought in the original planning permission as it has already been demolished a number of weeks ago.

The appeal includes calls for the establishment of a clearway box on the Main Road and down past the back gate entrance to Sheemore on Glebe Lane, and a pedestrian crossing at the Glebe Lane/Sheemore junction, where the pavement is lowered, to help to protect pedestrian safety.