John Cowhig

[Redacted - Home Address]

I am a resident of Kilminchy Housing Estate (over 900 houses and apartments) who has owned my home and lived in Kilminchy for nearly 19 years.

I am making a submission in relation to the Section 31 Notice received by Laois County Council from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage dated the 7th of March 2022.

In particular, I am writing in relation to the draft direction as set out on page 5 of that correspondence.

The Notice recommends reinstating certain zoning objectives to that of the Draft Development Plan consistent with the recommendations of the Chief Executives Report dated 17th of November 2021. Zoning amendment 89 (Portlaoise) is recommended to revert from R2 New Residential Development and reinstate the zoning at the subject land to that of the draft plan i.e., that the subject lands revert to strategic reserve.

In 2010 there was a planning application made on these lands (Planning Ref 10/569). This application was refused by Laois County Council and an appeal made to An Bord Pleanála (Ref PL 11.238447). This appeal was refused in 2011. One of the grounds for this refusal was the 'heightened risk of flooding in the area and further downstream in the local surface water drainage system'.

Nothing has changed since 2011 in fact the situation has been made worse regarding the heightened risk of flooding.

A planning application was made to Laois County Council in 2008 (08/293). This application was given permission but appealed to An Bord Pleanála (Ref PL 11.230302). An Bord Pleanála gave planning permission but changed the planning conditions adding condition No 21. This added condition related to a full survey of the surface water network associated with the Kilminchy area. This condition has been ignored and the planning department have allowed building to commence on this site. I submitted a planning complaint to the enforcement section of the planning department about Condition 21 being ignored on 20/04/2021. This complaint was closed without any action being taken by the enforcement section. A claim was made by enforcement to me that the building control office would be dealing with my complaint. Nearly 12 months later I have received nothing while building continues on the site, indeed a further commencement notice has been issued for the site.

I wish to fully support the Chief Executives report in relation to zoning amendment 89 as I believe the alternative would have serious consequences for the residents of our estate and the surrounding area especially in terms of surface water flooding.

Yours sincerely,

John Cowhig

NOTICE OF DRAFT MINISTERIAL DIRECTION IN THE MATTER OF SECTION 31 OF THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 (AS AMENDED) LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021-2027 - Aighneachtaí

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