Green light for children’s playpark in Clonmany

An Coimisiún Pleanála has upheld Donegal County Council’s decision and granted permission for a new children’s playpark in Clonmany. The new amenity space by Clonmnay Enterprise Development will be situated off the main street at Gaddyduff.

As well as the playground, the existing community garden will be extended with the construction of a new two-story building comprising of toilets and storage on the ground floor and office space on the first floor. An existing storage shed will be demolished to make way for the new building.

An objection to the application was submitted by John Bradley, who cited several concerns, including issues over possible flooding. He pointed to historical incidents of flooding on the site.

“In the past, one of these floods caused the closure of the funfair during the Clonmany Festival,” he said. 

Mr Bradley said, in a detailed submission to the local authority, that the proposed new building would “tower over my mother’s single-storey kitchen building”.

“It is overpowering, overshadowing, and overbearing,” he said.

Mr Bradley pointed out that there had been no public meetings on the matter and proposed that there should be: “a fully-fledged discussion within the community to bring forward a community-led plan, given that it is called the Clonmany Community Field Project.”

An Coimisiún Pleanála granted planning permission subject to 13 conditions. These included that, before the commencement of the development, a bat survey is to be carried out on the existing structures on site. In the event that bats are found, detailed measures in relation to the protection of bats are to be submitted and agreed in writing with the planning authority before development commences.

The planning board stated that the playpark is to be used only between 09.00am and 09.00pm from April to September and from  09.00am to 06.00pm during October to March. 

While construction works are to take place only between 07.00am and 07.00pm Monday to Friday, and from 08.00am to 02.00pm on Saturdays. Deviation from these times will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.

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Another condition regarding the playpark is that before it is operational, the developer is to submit a written agreement to the planning authority for a management plan of the park. 

Final design details for a disabled car park space and parking bay are to be agreed in writing with the planning authority and comply with the requirements of the Road Authority before the development is built. 

Other conditions include details for the disposal of water and landscaping of the site.