Plans by the owner of a North Galway castle to provide a number of thatched cottages on the grounds of the ruins that can be used for terminally ill cancer patients is being strongly opposed by local residents.
The residents in Corofin say that the owner of the castle plans to gain access to the site through their estate and that this will cause major disruption – and especially if the development will take up to 15 years to complete.
There are 25 submissions from residents opposing the development on the grounds of Corofin Castle. They say that the castle is a protected structure and unstable given that it dates back to the mid-1400s.
It is also stated that the owner plans to access the site of the castle through a private road that serves more than 40 houses in the neighbouring Castlegrounds Estate. The road has not been taken in charge by Galway County Council and is looked after by a maintenance company which the residents contribute to.
The planning application has been submitted by Paul Roberts of Corofin Castle Heritage Park for the development of four thatched cottages and a thatched stone barn for residential use.
It is stated in the planning application that the barn will be used for crafts persons and artisans with the cottages being used as a cancer retreat for families supporting terminally ill patients along with some charitable organisations.
According to the application the barn will house horses and provide storage for feed. No works will take place on the structure of Corofin Castle which will continue to be conserved in place as ruins.
Mr Roberts said that Corofin Castle Heritage Park is a not-for-profit company established for the preservation of heritage of the area, the maintenance of the castle and the bridge entering the village.
He claims to have the support of 1,000 local residents for the development – this is disputed by the residents in the neighbouring estate – and compares the plan to Bunratty and the Ulster Folk Park.
Residents of the estate are strong in their opposition to the development and say that there is no account of the potential flooding to the nearby River Clare and possible pollution that could be caused.
One resident said that they had been advised by the developer that it could take 15 years to complete the project – by then their young children who use the green area in the estate will be in their mid to late 20s.
“For 15 years we will be looking at a building site and associated inconvenience, noise, upheaval, diversions, dirt, delays and disturbance. We have been given no detail in relation to the work that will be required to restore the green area and who will fund this work”.
Another resident said that the work would adversely affect the road safety in this quiet residential estate where their children are at play. The extra unwanted traffic generated will bring heavy machinery, hazard material and waste while they will lose the safe quiet environment for their children.
Others say that the development would result in overlooking onto the Castlegrounds Estate with the resultant loss of privacy. It has also been claimed by residents that the applicant intends holding concerts at the venue, which they describe as being totally unsuitable for such activity.
It is expected that Galway County Council will announce a decision on the planning application in mid-February but regardless of the decision it is likely to go to An Bord Pleanala for further consideration.
The post Corofin Castle cancer centre hits buffers over road access appeared first on Connacht Tribune.