'Cynical use of planning system': Contentious access road for new Douglas GAA pitch shot down

The club had applied for planning for a new pitch, with an access road off Inchvale Road to the rear of the existing club, and for the construction of a small set-down parking area, a turning area, associated floodlighting, and ball-stopping netting, fencing, and supports.

Contentious plans from a Cork GAA club for an access road as part of a planning application for a new pitch have been shot down.

It follows a split decision by city council planners to grant planning to Douglas GAA Club for the new pitch, but with conditions, one of which states that no permission is granted for the “proposed access roadway and junction off Inchvale Road, the construction of a set down parking area, turning area and connections to adjacent lands”.

The club, which is based on the southside of the city, had applied for planning for a new pitch, with an access road off Inchvale Road to the rear of the existing club, and for the construction of a small set-down parking area, a turning area, associated floodlighting, and ball-stopping netting, fencing, and supports.

The planning application was lodged following a land swap deal between the club and the owners of the adjoining almost five-hectare landbank at Inchisarsfield, the development firm Dooneen Property Developments, linked to members of the McElhinney family.

The land had been previously rezoned to facilitate housing, with consultants acting for Dooneen suggesting the site could accommodate up to 100 units.

However, the inclusion of the proposed access road in the GAA club’s planning application sparked opposition from local residents, with opponents describing the road as a “trojan horse” designed to open up the private landbank to development.

Green Party Cllr Dan Boyle described the planning application as “the most cynical use of the planning system in Cork since the demolition of The Sextant bar”, and dozens of submissions were made opposing the access road element.

In their request for further information, planners advised the club to drop the road proposal.

However, consultants for the GAA club argued that it is good planning to ensure that possible future connections to residentially zoned lands are facilitated.

“Not having regard to adjacent residentially zoned lands by indicating or providing for potential access to those lands, it is submitted, would constitute bad planning and would effectively land lock lands zoned by council for residential purposes and for which it is a core strategy objective of the council's own development plan to develop,” they said.

“This is the only potential access point for the residentially zoned lands and all of the required traffic counts have been done and modelled and as such it is contended that adequate justification for the provision of the access has been provided.” 

The club further argued that the road would facilitate access for heavy pitch maintenance machinery, would facilitate delivery of heavy loads of soil and sand, that it would facilitate emergency vehicle access to its pitches, and would eliminate the need to have to carry a casualty on a stretcher across two pitches.

But in its final decision, the council refused planning for the access road.

The Green Party’s Honore Kamegni, who was among those who made a submission on the application, citing also concerns about tree cutting and the potential loss of beautiful woodland in the area, welcomed the decision.

“I would like to commend the council for listening to the residents,” he said.

It is not yet clear if the club will appeal the decision to An Bórd Pleanála.