AN appeal has been lodged to An Bord Pleanála against Donegal County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the development of a crematorium in Donegal.
Last month, the Council turned down an application for the development of a crematorium at the old Sallybrook Creamery at Monclink on the outskirts of Manorcunningham.
The developers of the proposed crematorium, Lawrence Donnelly and Sane Stewart, have now asked An Bord Pleanála to consider the matter.
The development as it is proposed would consist of a crematorium, a funeral home, ancillary accommodation, memorial garden, parking, elevation treatment, connection to an existing septic tank and all associated site works.
Over 40 submissions from local residents, containing 61 points of note, were previously lodged to Donegal County Council. Reasons for objections to the development varied and included the effects on residential amenity, insufficient parking provision, the area being one of ’scenic amenity’ and the location on a busy but minor rural road being ‘unsuitable’.
Another point of contention said that the crematorium’s proposed chimney would constitute ‘a bleak addition to the rural landscape’, while a potential public health issue – from burning and the emission of smoke and gasses – was also put forward in objection.
The developers said that the Sallybrook Crematorium would ‘provide a dignified, professional and much needed service to the residents and funeral directors of the North Wet region of Ireland’.
Donnelly is a native of Derry who is described as ‘a project manager practitioner with vast experience in delivering international infrastructure and engineering projects in multiple countries’, while Stewart, from Strabane, is ‘a local entrepreneur’ who previously worked as a consultant to PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In their decision to reject the application, Donegal County Council said: ‘It is considered that the respect and gravitas which should be afforded this sensitive human experience cannot be achieved on the subject site’.
The Local Authority raised concerns over traffic movements at the proposed development and issued a ten-point document to explain how they believed that the development would be contrary to the County Donegal Development Plan.
The case is due to be decided by An Bord Pleanála by March 3, 2021.
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