Council attempts to salvage plan for 5,000-house town

Cork County Council is to consult with the Department of the Environment in an effort to resuscitate plans for a 5,000-house town after An Bord Pleanála refused permission for it.

A number of councillors yesterday expressed anger over the decision, especially as the Government had decided to designate the proposed town at Monard, near Blarney, as a “strategic development zone”.

Council planners, for almost four years, had a dedicated team working on the project. But the blueprint was rejected on Friday last by An Bord Pleanála. One of the main reasons for refusal was the lack of certainty over a start date for a proposed northern ring road which would have provided connectivity with the proposed new town.