A rather larger pinch of salt for Tulla Road

PLANS by the National Roads Authority to construct a salt depot in Ennis to facilitate the maintenance of the region’s motorway network have been given the go-ahead by Clare County Council.

PLANS by the National Roads Authority to construct a salt depot in Ennis to facilitate the maintenance of the region’s motorway network have been given the go-ahead by Clare County Council.
The council have agreed to grant part 8 planning permission for the development on the old Gama site at the Tulla Road Interchange.
However, the original plans have been altered, relocating the site entrance in a bid to resolve access issues highlighted by the former landowner of the site who has adjacent lands.
The NRA are planning to take over maintenance of the motorway network throughout the country, with plans to establish similar depots to the planned Ennis facility in other regions. The Ennis depot would be used to maintain motorways in Clare, as well as parts of Galway and Limerick.
At this month’s meeting of Clare County Council, Councillor Patricia McCarthy proposed the granting of permission, seconded by Councillor Brian Meaney.
The planned maintenance depot will accommodate offices, storage area and workshop, car parking, salt barns, depot, weighbridge, hard standing area, ESB substation, refuelling bay, access road and ancillary services.
Two third party submissions were received in relation to the plans outlining a number of concerns, including a submission by a former landowner of the site. The site was acquired with a Compulsory Purchase Order as part of construction of the Ennis bypass.
In his submission it stated that the new site access to the development would alter the layout and encroach on the footpath of his former entrance. He argued that this would also result in the entrance of his property being located at the corner of the entrance to the proposed development, leading to confusion for other road users and to “unsafe hazards” for those entering and exiting his property.
In examining the part 8 planning application, the planning authority considered that the site of the proposed development is a brownfield site and was formally the site compound for the Ennis bypass. While this has ceased, there are still elements of the compound present in the form of portacabins. The planning authority considered that the proposed salt storage facility is not a dissimilar use to what existed on the site, considering the proposal in principle to be acceptable.
The authority did not consider that the proposed works would impact to any significant degree on visual amenities of the area subject to external material finishes of the buildings being agreed and landscaping implemented. It was also found that the development would not impact on residential amenities.
“Subject to landscaping being implemented as proposed and subject to material finishes being agreed, the planning authority do not consider that there will be any significant impact of the proposed development on the visual amenities of the area as a consequence,” Gordon Daly, senior planner, stated in his report on the proposed development.
In relation to the concerns raised by the former landowner, the planning authority noted that the entrance to the site has been relocated further to the east of where it was proposed initially to resolve the access issues.
The planning authority stated that while the site is located in Flood Zone A and B of the development plan, a flood risk assessment has put the site into Flood Zone C where the development as proposed would be justified. In relation to fears about the salt, the planning authority noted the salt is stored in barns which are tanked, and any runoff from concrete slabs at the doors of the barns are to be directed to the foul sewer.
The planning authority recommended to members of Clare County Council that the development should proceed in accordance with a number of conditions. This was agreed by the council.