Junction could make private hospital possible

ENGINEERS acting on behalf of the proposed new €60 million private hospital on the outskirts of Ennis have claimed it could be safely accommodated by a simple priority-type junction near the facility.
Clare County Council has expressed a number of concerns, including traffic and road safety, about plans for the development of a new private hospital including 120 in-patient and 20 out-patient beds.
John Stack, Lisdoonvarna, and Pat Bonner, Donegal, lodged a planning application with Clare County Council before Christmas seeking permission for the complex on land at Shanaway Road that is zoned for residential use.
If planning permission is granted, the developers predict that over 100 construction jobs will be created and between 400 and 500 full-time jobs directly generated once operational, which is due to be in 2012.
In a recent request for further information, the planning authority questioned aspects of the proposed development concerning the scale of the building relative to the site area; the loading of the foul effluent to the public sewer; traffic and congestion issues on the Shanaway Road and impact to residential amenity by way of noise, overbearing issues and increase in traffic volumes.
“In this regard, you are advised that this request for further information should not be viewed as indicative of a positive outcome to the proposed development,” the council stated.
The planning department made 23 individual requests for further information including the submission of a flood impact assessment, a revised road safety audit and proposals to upgrade the N85 Shanaway Road junction.
According to documents provided by Dublin-based engineers, Colin Buchanan, a review of the traffic impact of the private hospital was undertaken.
The detailed design elements associated with junction design and the internal layout will be the subjected of a Traffic and Transport Addendum Report, which will be submitted during the planning process.
The number of trips likely to access the development during peak hours was determined based on observed trip rates for a similar development in Galway. Account was also taken of the potential traffic generation at the One Mile Inn and this was used to test the capacity of various options for the access junction.
“A roundabout type junction at the Shanaway Road was established to accommodate traffic flows up to the year 2026, with the inclusion of additional trips generated by the proposed private hospital and the level of development assumed for the One Mile Inn site.
“While detailed design work is ongoing, it is concluded from this assessment that the proposed development will be adequately accommodated by a simple priority-type junction on the Shanaway Road and that a roundabout-type junction will accommodate all traffic up to the year 2026 at the intersection of the Shanaway Road and the N85 Lahinch Road.
“It is also concluded from this study and the associated independent Stage One Road Safety Audit that the proposed development may be accommodated safely on the surrounding network,” the engineers stated.
HSE Forum West member, Councillor Pat Daly, is supporting the new development. In a brief submission to the planning authority he stated, “It is an excellent location and Clare could do with such a hospital.”
Meanwhile, a series of objections and concerns have been raised by residents including Paul and Geraldine Donnelly, Shanaway Road; Matt and Bernadette Power, Shanaway Road and Shane Flanagan, 5 Clonroadmore, Ennis.
Even if planning permission is granted, the council has warned that the development will require the benefit of a material contravention under Section 36 of the 2000 Planning and Development Act, requiring the support of 24 councillors to rezone the land.