Local club objects to Thomond development

A LIMERICK senior rugby club, which plays its home games at Thomond Park, has lodged an 11th hour objection with An Bord Pleanála to the proposed €40 million upgrading of the stadium.

The planning challenge by UL Bohemians was lodged at 5.20pm on Monday.

This was just 10 minutes before the expiry of the 28 days for appeals against the planning permission granted on January 16 by Limerick City Council.

A spokesperson for An Bord Pleanála said the objection was lodged in the name of a Kilkenny-based firm of engineers on behalf of UL Bohemians.

However, when contacted yesterday, club president Joe Sheehan said he was not aware of the objection but confirmed the club’s board had been involved in talks with the IRFU.

“I am disappointed to hear there is an objection,” he said yesterday. “We are due to discuss the matter at a meeting tonight.”

UL Bohemians play home games at Thomond Park and the club bar is located under the main stand at the venue.

Meanwhile, an earlier objection threatened by a Limerick taxi driver is now not proceeding.

Gerard Kiely who lives at Hassett’s Cross, near Thomond Park, had previously lodged an unsuccessful objection with Limerick City Council against the proposed development, primarily on the grounds of interference with natural light in his apartment along with the creation of parking problems.

Legal adviser Eamonn Dillon initially confirmed Mr Kiely had instructed him to appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

However, the solicitor said yesterday his client was not proceeding with the appeal as a number of issues had been resolved to Mr Kiely’s satisfaction.

The objection lodged by UL Bohs could further delay the project as decisions from the appeals’ board could take from 18 weeks to 26 weeks.

And if the objection is upheld, it could threaten the entire project which involves the expansion of crowd capacity to nearly 29,000 and the construction of two new stands.

Limerick City Council gave the planning go ahead on January 16 and the 28 day period for objections expired this week.

UL Bohemians have another ground at Annacotty, but play home games at Thomond Park.

The Munster branch of the IRFU have also lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the €1.72m development levy slapped on the project by the city council.

The IRFU maintain the development should be exempt from a development levy.

Dick Tobin, of the council’s planning office, said development levies apply to all projects.

He said levies are calculated on the basis of €100 per square metre of developed property.

An Bord Pleanála could alter the sized of the development levy or remove it totally.

A spokesman for An Bord Pleanála said they try and give decisions within 18 weeks of receiving an objection.

However, this could take longer depending on the volume of cases awaiting decision.

The IRFU spent an estimated €4m in acquiring 13 houses at Knockalisheen Road. It is intended to demolish these houses along with three others acquired from Limerick City Council as part of the Thomond Park redevelopment.