Sebastian Laser, Joe Gettings, Jackie Hogan and David Conroy representing the Ashfield residents with Cllr Andrew Duncan, centre.

Council's response to Ashefield residents

In this week's Westmeath Examiner we reported that the residents of a Mullingar estate have called on the council to reverse its plans to build a road into a new social housing development through a quiet cul-de-sac.

When contacted by the paper, the council issue this response:

Westmeath County Council have commenced the Part 8 Planning process for 62 proposed homes across four sites, three sites in Mullingar and one in Castlepollard.

The Public Notices were placed in the Westmeath Examiner dated May 21 with the closing date for submissions relating to the proposed developments of July 5 at 4pm. Site notices have been erected on each site and are in accordance with the Planning and Development Act as Amended (Part XI) and Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2022 (Part 8).

Westmeath County Council also placed an advertisement in the Westmeath Examiner on January 29 inviting people to Public Information Meetings regarding Westmeath County Council’s intention to construct these four housing schemes. These meetings were conducted on February 8/9.

The site adjacent to Ashefield was zoned for housing in 2017. The proposed development includes a large part of the site for use as public open space. The proposed development is a low rise, low density development with eighteen of the twenty-two units designed to suit older persons or persons with additional needs.

Submissions and observations with respect to the proposed development may be made via the Council’s Consultation Portal at https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/en or written submissions or observations in relation to the proposed development, may also be submitted to the District Manager, Mullingar-Kinnegad Municipal District, Westmeath County Council, Aras An Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar, N91 FH4N to arrive not later than 4pm on Tuesday July 5.

Plans and details of the proposals are also available for inspection by the public at the Customer Services Desk, Aras An Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar, N91 FH4N.

Written submissions or observations received will form part of a statutory report to be presented to Council Members at a meeting of Westmeath County Council and will form part of a public document.