Councillors say no path to Chestnut Drive from proposed 130 unit Ballinderry estate

Cllr says public 'didn't know about' SHD application

The 130-unit development proposed for Ballinderry must not have any pedestrians links to neighbouring estates, according to local councillors.

Speaking at a special meeting held yesterday afternoon to discuss Steinfort Investment Fund’s strategic housing development planning application to An Bord Pleanála, councillors voiced the support for the development, but were vehemently opposed to any pedestrian links being created between it and Chestnut Drive.

Cllr Ken Glynn said that while “any development is welcome when it comes to housing”, it is important that local people “have their say”. Noting that there were only four submissions from members of the public, Cllr Glynn said that this was because most people “didn’t know anything about it”.

He said that traffic on the Ballinderry road is already heavy, and that a new estate of this size will make the problem worse.

His main concern, however, was the proposed link between the development and Chestnut Drive. He says that Chestnut Drive residents are opposed to any path between the two estates.

He said that in other parts of the town such links are often sites for anti-social behaviour and end up being closed up.

Chestnut Drive is a “mature area” with a good community spirit and it wouldn’t be “fair” or “right” if a link was created against its residents’ wishes.

Cllr Denis Leonard agreed with Cllr Glynn, saying that while links between estates sound “great in principle”, they haven’t worked in the Kinnegad area. He says that estates such as Chestnut drive should be self-contained and the concerns of residents taken into account.

Cllr Leonard also raised a number of other issues, including the proximity of power lines over a green area on the estate. He says the developer should be forced to put the cables underground as one of the planning conditions. Cllr Frank McDermott said that he had looked at the plans and noted that none of the houses had chimneys and wondered how they would be heated. Noting the huge shortage of preschool places in Mullingar, he said that any development with 130 dwellings should have a crèche in its plans.

Cllr Bill Collentine welcomed the development, and agreed that there should be no link between it and Chestnut Drive. “Chestnut Drive is an old estate built in the 1970s or ‘80s. It is well maintained and is a great little community. I don’t think a walkway or cycleway should be created against their [the residents] wishes,” he said.

Cllr Emily Wallace also had concerns about the location of power lines over a green space where children would be playing. She also said that a development of this scale should include a crèche.

Cllr John Shaw said that in his experience links between estates “tend not to work”. He also said that a percentage of the houses should be fitted out for people with additional needs and he agreed with the comments about the need for a crèche.

Cllr Hazel Smyth welcomed the development as there is a “massive shortage of housing in Mullingar”.

Noting that the development is proposed for a greenfield site, she said it is important that any trees removed are replaced, she also agreed with Cllr Shaw that some of the units be suitable for people with additional needs.

Cllr Mick Dollard said that it is important that in his report to ABP that the chief executive expresses the concerns of residents. However, he said that he was in favour of the development as it is on land zoned for residential purposes and is part of the “natural progression” for Mullingar.

“If we want Mullingar to develop as it should, we have to be supportive of any developments like this,” he said.

The mayor of Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District, Cllr Aoife Davitt, said that she too had concerns about the proposed link between the development and Chestnut Drive.

She also expressed concerns about traffic on the Ballinderry road and the need for more crèche spaces in Mullingar.

The councillors’ views will be included in the chief executive’s report to An Bord Pleanála.

Council official Paula Conlon told representatives that the executive was broadly supportive of the development going ahead. The decision due date is July 13.