Views sought on Mullingar Courthouse to Saunders Bridge Active Travel Scheme

Westmeath County Council are inviting submissions from the public on a proposed ‘Mullingar Courthouse to Saunders Bridge Active Travel Scheme’.

The scheme includes sections of Mount Street, Mount Street Gardens, Jail Hill, Sunday’s Well Road, Auburn Road, the Town Park, Millmount Road and Ballinderry Road, Mullingar.

The development proposes the upgrade of existing footpaths from Mullingar Courthouse to Saunders Bridge; and the upgrade of junctions to make side roads easier for pedestrians to cross at Joe Dolan Road; Sunday’s Well Road; Auburn Road; Millmount Avenue; Auburn Village; Newlands; and Millmount.

There would also be an upgrade existing pedestrian crossings and provision of new pedestrian crossings at Lynnbury Terrace, Sunday’s Well Road, Auburn Road, Millmount Road, across all arms of the roundabout junction of Millmount Road and Ballinderry Road and across Ballinderry Road at Saunders Bridge.

Provision of approximately 1.1km of new protected cycle track, and traffic calming measures to slow vehicle speeds are included in the plans.

The proposed Part 8 development has undergone Appropriate Assessment (AA) Screening under the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening under Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2025. No likely significant effects were identified during the AA and EIA Screening processes. Therefore, there is no requirement to proceed to the next stage of AA or for a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) to be produced.

In addition, the proposed development is not a type of development that triggers the requirement for an EIA and subsequent preparation of an EIA Report as per the prescribed classes of development and thresholds set out in Schedule 5 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended).

Any person can, within four weeks beginning on 4 August, apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála for a screening determination as to whether the proposed development would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.

Plans and Particulars

The plans and particulars of the proposed development are available for inspection at https://consult.westmeathcoco.ie/en and can be inspected or purchased, at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of Westmeath County Council, Áras An Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar, N91 FH4N till 1 September.

Have Your Say

For a period of six weeks, beginning on 4 August, submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development dealing with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area in which the development would be situated, may be made online via the consultation portal, or in writing to: The Administrative Officer, Planning Department, Áras an Chontae, Mount Street, Mullingar, Co Westmeath, N91 FH4N

The closing date for receipt of submissions or observations is September 15 at 4pm.

Submissions should be labelled ‘LAM 6 – Active Travel Mullingar Courthouse to Saunder’s Bridge’ and include the name, address and details of any organisation represented if relevant.

Note that written submissions or observations received will form part of a statutory report to be presented to a meeting of Westmeath County Council and will form part of a public document. The information contained in submissions may be available for public inspection on the council website and available at the council’s public counter. Details, including the names of those making submissions, may be shared with relevant council departments or their agents involved in this Part 8 process.