Next stage begins for newArdeeETschool
THERE is likely to be an overlap in the building of the new Educate Together
NS and the Ardee bypass, it has been revealed.
Council officials confirmed that plans are being advanced for both developments with the school project going to Part 8 planning at a meeting of the municipal council in Ardee last week.
One aspect that will need to be addressed with the school is the proposed entrance to the facility on Jervis Street, at the rear of St Joseph’s Hospital.
A Tower House is situated close by and the council have already begun tests to see if it will impact on works due to archaeology on site. So far, nothing has been found in test trenches.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht contacted the council in relation to the project, stating it was ‘close to a tower house of archaeological interest and in the vicinity of the zone of archaeological potential established around the town of Ardee.
‘It is this Department’s recommendation that an Archaeological Impact Assessment should be prepared to assess the potential impact, if any, on archaeological remains in the area where development is proposed to take place. The assessment should be carried out in advance of the finalisation of the plans for the new school,’ they added.
A set down area for the school will be built back onto the site, thus allowing cars off Jervis Street at key times.
Cllr Dolores Minogue said this was vital to ensure parents could drop children safely and that the road would not be impacted.
Stone pillars, dating to 1860, will have to be reconstructed.
Cllr Pearse McGeough also asked about traffic issues on the road during building work and was told that the Ardee bypass would take traffic out of the area.
Cllr Jim Tenanty wondered if the footpath on Jervis Street could be widened as it wasn’t suitable for people walking with buggies at the moment.
The school will be single storey.