Laois town members invited to engage in plans to tackle vacancy and dereliction
Laois County Council's Regeneration Section, in partnership with the Mountmellick Town Team and SLR Consulting is inviting members of the community to attend an information evening on a draft plan to tackle vacancy.
The Draft Town Centre First Plan for Mountmellick states that vacancy and dereliction needs to be addressed with 'urgency'.
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Appeal against retention permission for tree removal at Tirlán premises
An appeal has been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála about the removal of existing trees and hedges at Tirlán Farmlife, Graiguecullen branch, Co. Laois. In May this year, Laois County Council received an application for retention planning permission from Tirlán for "the removal of existing trees and hedges to a 22.5m portion of the front boundary adjacent to the entrance gate and replacement of same with a 2.7m high paladin fence". The application also noted "affixing" advertising signage along the front boundary fencing and entrance gate amounting to a total of 12m², and the erection of building signage onto existing structures within the site amounting to a total sum of 15.3m². In the application, Tirlán outlined that the proposed development did not involve the demolition of any structure, is not inside a strategic development zone, and does not require a waste licence. The company also stated that development did not consist of work to a protected structure, is not located within an architectural conservation area, and did not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement, or licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During the process seeking retention planning permission, an objection was lodged by a nearby resident with several concerns. The objection to the county council stated: "I live directly across the road from this premises. My family's house predates the establishment of the Tirlán commercial outlet. "As pointed out in my correspondence... the removal of the trees and trees hedgerow late last year considerably affected me and my family. "The present application makes no attempt to address the issues raised by the unauthorised development. The trees and hedging which were removed formed part of an existing hedgerow which was a field boundary going back to the time before the time the Tirlán premises was built," the letter of objection continued. The neighbour outlined his belief that the proposed retention will do nothing to "prevent the visual intrusion, noise and dust nuisance" which he claimed operations on the premises create. "I wish to be put back in the same position I was in before the unauthorised development took place, with a screen of mature evergreen trees reaching to the height of the remaining hedgerow along the front of the premises," he argued to Laois County Council. However, despite the objections, Laois County Council in recent weeks decided to grant conditional retention planning permission to Tirlán. The conditions included the planting, within three months, of trees and shrubs of species native to the area to form naturalised hedgerows similar to existing native hedgerows in the vicinity. Another condition, was for a payment to Laois County Council's Development Contribution Scheme, in respect of public infrastructure and facilities. The decision to grant retention permission has now been appealed by the same neighbour to the higher planning authority, An Coimisiún Pleanála, which has stated that a decision is due by November 24, 2025.
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
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Laois town members invited to engage in plans to tackle vacancy and dereliction
Today at 08:03 Laois County Council's Regeneration Section, in partnership with the Mountmellick Town Team and SLR Consulting is inviting members of the community to attend an information evening on a draft plan to tackle vacancy. The Draft Town Centre First Plan for Mountmellick states that vacancy and dereliction needs to be addressed with 'urgency'.
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
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Laois beekeepers invite public to visit reconstructed apiary
The opening on Sunday, May, 25 follows two years of reconstruction and updates on what used to be the local wastewater plant for Abbeyleix. The area was bought and landscaped by the beekeeping group in 2023, when they first turned the patch into a wildflower meadow ideal for pollinators. Bees were brought to the location last year where beekeeping classes have been taking place since. With around 50-60 members in the association, apiary manager Conor McGlade said that the members all 'had a hands on approach' in the reconstruction of the newly opened apiary. There was much help with planting, guidance, building, and many people brought their own equipment. 'One of our members is a great gardener and he has been guiding us on weeding, when to weed, when to cut. The group planted trees such as apple trees, which are all pollinator friendly. 'With the amount of people that came out and helped, it was done very quick and it will be great to welcome people in,' McGlade said. The association will also be unveiling a mural on the official opening by local artist Aileen Donovan. The mural is a painting of St. Gobnait, the Patron Saint of beekeepers or Irish female saint associated with bees in the Middle Ages. The art was supported with the assistance of Laois county Council and creative Ireland Heritage Through Arts Grants. The grand opening was previously set to take place in October 2024, however the date was adjusted due to stormy weather conditions. Tickets for the opening can be found online, through the Laois Beekeeping Association social media pages.
