The appeal lodged by Eddie Hennessy regarding a new farm gate at Clonaghdromin, Ballysimon, Co Limerick, is to be decided by February, the latest case list published by An Bord Pleanála shows.

The farmer applied to erect the gate off the N24 between Limerick and Tipperary to access a field. The land is some distance away from the main road and accessible through a right of way across a neighbouring field.

The council refused planning permission in September “because it constitutes a new access on a heavily trafficked section of the national road network”. Although submitted plans show the gate would open on to a straight stretch of road, planners noted that the speed limit at this location is 100km/h and vehicles turning into the farm “would interfere with the safety and free-flow of traffic”.

The farmer declared in his planning application that sight distance was adequate, but planners said he should have supplied more details on the provision of a splayed entrance or sight lines from the gate.

Public safety

This was supported by a report from Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which said the gate would be “at variance with foregoing national policy in relation to control of frontage development on national roads” and would “endanger public safety”.

Limerick City and County Council’s assessment of the planning application refers to its planning policy prohibiting new access points from a number of national roads including the N24. One exception accommodates farmers building a house on their own land, but makes no provision for access for farming purposes.

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