Minutes:
Mr Shay O’Connor, Senor Engineer advised that Leitrim County Council are working with Roscommon County Council and recently have submitted the proposal to replace the existing bridge at Hartley with a new bridge to an Bord Pleanála. The existing bridge is an old reinforced concrete bridge. The concrete is spalling away at the moment and for that reason there is 3 tonne weight limit on the bridge. The cost of repairing the existing bridge is not an option as the costs of repairs to the existing areas plus the bridge will continue to deteriorate and will need ongoing repair.
Part 8 planning approval was obtained for a new bridge in the early 2000’s. We did not advance this project at the time due to lack of funding. Following the securing of funding recently we obtained legal advice if the original Part 8 planning approval was still valid. The advice we received that it is best to redo the planning due to the changes in planning and environmental legislation.
One current requirement for such a development is to do a screening report for Appropriate Assessment. This screening report concluded that a full Nature Impact Statement was required for the development. If a local authority carries out a Natura Impact Statement for a project, they are not allowed to approve the report thorough the planning process. It must be submitted to an Bord Pleanála for their approval. For this reason, we submitted the project to an Bord Pleanála for their approval on the 29th October 2021. The public are allowed to make submissions or observations on the proposal to An Bord Pleanála up to the 10th December 2021.
The plans and particulars of the proposed development, including the Natura Impact Statement, may be inspected free of charge, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy during public opening hours between 29th October 2021 to 10th December 2021 (inclusive of both dates but excluding weekends and bank holidays) at the following locations at Leitrim County Council, Roscommon County Council and An Bord Pleanala.
The proposed new works include the following:
Councillor Enda Stenson said this is the 4th attempt at this bridge and welcomed the progress to date and he hoped the project will continue.
Councillor Stenson said he understood that submissions/observations on the project could be made to either local authority.
Councillor Stenson acknowledged that the current bridge is not fit for purpose and that it is an important piece of infrastructure. Councillor Stenson queried if the necessary land has been acquired.
Councillor Finola Armstrong McGuire queried if a footpath from Hartley will be included on the project.
Councillor Sean McGowan said it is important that walkers are accommodated in the works.
Councillor Paddy Farrell noted that the barrier on the existing bridge has been a problem for farmers.
Councillor Des Guckian said he was not opposed to the new bridge, but he believed the executive was misleading the public on this project as it is “sneaking in” the bridge which will be part of the N4 bypass and doing it by the back door. He said he didn’t recall a Part 8 on this bridge in the past.
Mr Shay O’Connor said this is a Department of Transport scheme, it is not a national route, so the TII are not involved in this.
When the Local Authority carry out a Natura Impact Statement on a project, they cannot approve the report thorough the local planning process. This report must be submitted to An Bord Pleanala for their approval. The public can make observations or submissions on the proposal to An Bord Pleanala up to 10th December 2021.
If funding is approved by the middle of next year, it is estimated that a contractor will be in place to start work by the end of next year.
The necessary land for the project has been acquired. There will be two footpaths on the existing bridge and an underpass for the Blueway. The provision of footpaths into Carrick on Shannon will not be provided under this scheme. The barrier on the bridge will be removed.
Mr O’Connor said there was a Part 8 on this project in 2002/2003 and this bridge replacement project has nothing to do with the N4 Carrick by-pass. It is a completely different project. He refuted the claim that things were being done sneakily and said that this project was being carried out in an open and transparent manner.
Referring to the Blueway project, Mr O’Connor said the route options for the Blueway are at public consultation. This public consultation has proved very successfully to date and the closing date for submissions/observations will end in two weeks.