On July 11 of this year Wexford County Council granted planning permission to a Ms Helen Doyle to convert an existing dwelling house into a GP surgery at an address in St Jude’s, Main Street, Duncannon, Co Wexford.
In her application Ms Doyle proposed an extension to the ground floor of the building to accommodate six treatment rooms, a waiting area, reception, staff facilities, and service spaces. Also included in the application was a request to convert the first floor into a four-bed residential apartment and to widen the existing vehicle access to provide four parking spaces.
However, following WCC’s decision to grant planning permission to Ms Doyle, neighbouring residents lodged an appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála on August 6.
Garry Duffy, secretary of the Fort Haven Management Company, submitted the appeal on behalf of those living in the 11 properties adjacent to the proposed GP surgery.
“Those properties for which Fort Haven Management Company is responsible consist of six houses and five apartments all in private ownership,” he stated. “Following an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Fort Haven Management Company, the company wishes to object to the proposed development on the following basis.
Fort Haven estate in Duncannon. Photo: Mary Browne
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“The development of St Jude’s proposes totally inadequate parking facilities, given the scale of the business development, of what is a residential site. As it is, the management company currently faces issues with illegal parking in its private car park leading to conflict between residents of Fort Haven and illegally parked car owners.
“It is patently obvious that the proposed development of St Jude’s will result in the Fort Haven car park being used consistently by customers of the proposed medical facility. This will lead to stress and conflict for the property owners of Fort Haven (many of whom are elderly); substantially impacting their privacy and enjoyment of their properties.”
Continuing, Mr Duffy said illegal parking in the Fort Haven car park will also lead “to potential litigation claims against the management company, substantially increasing its already high insurance premiums which the residents have to pay.”
In addition, there are concerns regarding the Fort Haven properties being overlooked by the proposed development thus leading to “a loss of privacy for the Fort Haven properties. This will particularly impact those adjacent properties with balconies,” said Mr Duffy.
A further factor, according to the Fort Haven secretary, is the impact on the visual amenities currently available to residents.
“The development will in our opinion impact negatively on the sea views (visual amenity) enjoyed by the majority of the owners of the apartments and houses alike. In some case’s the existing views will be seriously diminished and conceivably obstructed due the addition of the first-floor extension,” he said.
An Coimisiún Pleanála is due to make a decision on the appeal on December 9 of this year.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.