Bord Pleanála rejects two M8 service stations

Tired drivers hoping for a much-needed pitstop at motorway service stations in Cork will have to hang on longer as An Bord Pleanála has shot down the first two applications for such facilities.

Planning permission had been approved by Cork County Council last year for the multimillion-euro service stations on the M8 (Cork-Dublin) motorway at separate locations near Fermoy and Mitchelstown.

When plans were lodged, the operators, JR Oronoco Ltd and Applegreen Service Areas Ltd respectively, said their developments would create hundreds of jobs but, as a result of a number of appeals, the applications went to An Bord Pleanála which has now ruled against both of them.