“We are totally demoralised and bitterly disappointed”
“We need the Councillors and all three TDs to stand up and say this decision is simply not acceptable”
Local residents are dead set against it, all of the local Councillors say they don’t want it either, but yesterday Louth County Council granted planning permission to Urban Life Ltd. to build 57 ‘Build to Rent’ apartments at Georges Street in a block ranging in height from three to seven storeys high.
Teresa McKenna, the Chair of the Residents Association at Trinity Gardens which is directly behind the site of the proposed development and will feel the greatest impacted, told Drogheda Life this morning that they were devastated when they heard the news.
“We are totally demoralised and bitterly disappointed” she said. “It seems that the wishes and needs of residents impacted by developments such as this count for nothing.”
She revealed that at no time during the prolonged process were the residents consulted by Urban Life about their proposals despite the fact that the Council had requested them to do so.
“I’m not that hard to find” Teresa said, “our doors have remained open at all stages but we have had absolutely no communication whatsoever from either Urban Life or from officials of Louth County Council.”
Among the many issues which the residents are concerned about are the height of the proposed apartments which they say will cast many of the single storey houses into shadow and also the implications for the extra traffic in an area with narrow roads which are already experiencing severe problems with illegal parking which makes access very difficult.
“This year alone we have had to direct traffic ourselves to allow ambulances in to pick up patients” Teresa said. I shudder to think what impact another 70 or so cars will make both during construction and afterwards.”
“We’re not done yet though. We’re holding a zoom meeting tonight between committee members and professional advisers to decide where we go from here and what our options are.”
She pointed out though that the residents have 40 days to lodge an appeal to An Bord Pleanala but that Christmas will eat into the time they have to formulate their appeal.
“Cost is also a factor” she said. “We have already eaten into our funds and professional advice is not cheap. We may well have to appeal for financial help from the people of the town and rattle collection boxes in West Street or launch a GoFund me page.”
Teresa also called for support from all of Drogheda’s elected representatives.
“We need the Councillors and all three TDs to stand up and say that this decision is simply not acceptable. They need to stand up and be counted.”
Another Committee member, Dom Gradwell, said that this case highlights many weaknesses in the planning process which, he said, is heavily weighted in favour of developers.
“Developers have the opportunity to meet and discuss plans with the council prior to submitting applications, months and years in advance of putting together elaborate plans, thus gaining an insight as to what they might be allowed to get away with.
“On the other hand concerned citizens, the ‘little people’, like our group are offered no such opportunity because developers by their very nature, and particularly in the case of Urban Life, are very secretive with their plans because they understand their unpopularity knowing that the time and opportunity to make a submission works against those who have concerns.
“We thank the many who have supported us in this battle so far, in particular the Elected Members of Louth County Council who have been incredibly helpful and supportive to our cause.”
