Plans to transform the centre of Athlone town into an "urban quarter of national and international excellence" face further delay with the tabling of six different objections.
The €150 million town centre development proposed for a 6½-acre site promises 500 jobs during the construction phase, followed by 950 long-term positions. Gallico Development recently re-submitted its plans for the development just eight months after their original plans were rejected by Bord Pleanála.
Their new plans include a 161-room four-star hotel, 163 residential units, 1,151 underground car spaces, covered streets and a covered public square.
But now six different "observations and submissions" have been raised with the local town council. One of these is from local oral surgeon Mr Michael J McGrath, who was the sole objector to Bord Pleanála last year.
The other five objections came from architect Mr Alan Mee, Reginald Square, Liberties, Dublin; Drs John Rice and Patrick O'Meara, who run a surgery beside the site; and local residents Mr Harry and Ms Marie Buckley, Railway View; Ms Angela and Mr Niall McCormack, Garden Vale; and Ms Mary A Dolphin-Thornton and Mr Brian Thornton, St Francis' Terrace.
They cite a variety of concerns, including loss of sunlight, impact on the skyline, noise pollution, loss of privacy, destruction of the residential amenity in the area, traffic chaos, impact on the environment, destabilisation of existing properties, and a downturn in property prices. Mr McGrath, in his submission, refers to the previous Bord Pleanála case, and tells Athlone Town Council:
"Only after considerable time, effort and expense on my part, were the inadequacies of the previous proposal exposed to rigorous analysis and condemnation by an independent arbiter, the board."
He is particularly unhappy with the new hotel planned for the site, which he claims "dwarfs the previous unacceptable proposal".
The Buckleys are objecting to a telecommunications mast on top of the hotel's tower structure.
"We are extremely nervous of these structures given that there has been much scientific study regarding the adverse effects of signals and emissions from these masts," they said.
"There has been significant disquiet and public concern regarding the harmful effects of masts."
Athlone Town Council is due to announce its decision on September 20th.
The hotelier, Mr John O'Sullivan, who owns the Hodson Bay Hotel on the shores of Lough Ree just outside Athlone, is one of the key people behind the development.