Multi-purpose sports and education facility for Cork has planning permission appealed  

POTENTIAL bad smells and blocked daylight have caused the brakes to be put on the construction of a multi-purpose sports, exhibition and education facility in Cork, as it has been appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

Cork County Council granted conditional permission for the development by the Munster Agricultural Society Company in Curraheen in January, despite a number of objections.

One appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala on the development. The same individual had previously appealed to Cork County Council against the development.

In a handwritten letter, the appellant states that she moved to the green belt area of Curraheen 40 years ago, and she loves the “views over rolling green fields.” 

She states that the buildings would be directly behind her home and garden. “The buildings proposed are very tall and would completely block views and daylight from us, a real nightmare!” she said.

She said that the area floods regularly and would not be suitable for the development “with bad smells.” The appellant states that “there is no need to place the empty buildings on top of us” as there are five large empty fields incorporated in the proposed site.

“We suffered a lot when the motorway was built near us," she said, citing terrible noise, and lighting being on all night as some of the issues.

“Please let us keep the green belt,” the letter concludes.

The development in question would see a multi-purpose facility constructed over two storeys, comprising three exhibition halls, tiered seating, a restaurant/lounge with outdoor terrace, kitchen, changing facilities, office/admin/staff facilities, toilets and rooftop solar panels.

Ancillary buildings are also being proposed which includes a single storey multi-purpose storage and livestock shed.

The proposed development also makes provision for a new bus stop and shelter on the Curraheen Road and for the upgrade of the Curraheen Road to provide for the continuation of the existing footpath.

UCC, the Cork County Board and Ballinora GAA club all submitted letters as part of the application, stating that they were in favour of the project.

The case is due to be decided by An Bord Pleanala in early June.