Submission on draft Ballyragget Masterplan

Mr Denis Malone

Senior Planner

Kilkenny County Council,

Dear Mr Malone,

We the residents of Riverside Estate, Bridge Street in Ballyragget attended the recent viewing of the proposed Kilkenny County Council Draft Ballyragget Master Plan. We noticed a few issues which gave us concern and we wish to have clarification on. We asked personnel attending on behalf of Kilkenny County Council and none could answer our queries, and we were advised that we put these in writing to Kilkenny County Council. Please find these below:

1. On the various Maps that were displayed in Ballyragget Hall the adjacent Land to our estate owned by Mr John Staunton were marked in a Beige/Taupe colour, this is also reflected in the main Draft Master Plan. None of the other surrounding lands in the complete vicinity are marked or denoted by this Beige/Taupe colouring. Again, we queried this with the attending personnel, and nobody could answer us. We would like clarification on the status/colouring of this section of land and why this is the only land parcel in Ballyragget designated by this colouring.
2. On the Turley 2024 RSK “Screening for Appropriate Assessment 604322 folder Document page 25 titled Table 4 in-combination effects, second block column down  shows development of 48 No Residential Units by Mr John Staunton. We would like to draw attention to the fact that we the residents of Riverside Appealed the decision to an Bord Pleanála against this proposed development in 2021. An Bord Pleanála refused permission for this development on Environmental Grounds as it is located near the SAC/SPA and also near the Town’s water supply. Another point for refusal was on the grounds of not fitting in with the character of the Town. It stated “ Having regard to the location of the proposed development in close proximity to the Town centre , the policies and objectives of Kilkenny County Development plan 2021-2027 and the Guidelines for Planning Authorities – Sustainable residential Development in Urban Areas, the existing character and layout of the proposed development would have a negative impact on the character of the small town of Ballyragget, by reason of the generic suburban nature of the design and layout of the proposed development, and would therefore seriously injure the visual amenities of the area”.
3. We consider it strange that this development appears at all in the Ballyragget Master Plan Draft 2024 as ABP refused this development and the residents involved were informed by letter of this in December 2021. Again, we would greatly appreciate some clarification to why a Professional Consultant Company such as Turley would include this in their 2024 Document? We would also like to thank Kilkenny County Council for some of the proposed initiatives such as Town Loop Walk, Linear Park, New Town Parking facilities etc. Just on a note, would the adjoining lands to us not be suitable for a Linear River Nore Park with Wildlife/River trails and also form part of the Town loop walk as there is pedestrian access to the Town Green at the Moate Road junction. We also feel that the River frontage would be an ideal National Kayaking Hub and again this land could be used to access the river. Many thanks.

Yours sincerely

Residents of Riverside