Good Morning All,
This week Heidi, Lawrence and I met with Paul Handley and Aisling O’Kane from Bridge Industrial at their invite. It’s worth noting that this is the first time Bridge have reached out to us since the exhibition last year. We approached this meeting cautiously but also working in residents best interests, we wanted to hear what Bridge had to say.
Having had their planning permission rejected at committee they have two options with the plans as they stand, they have a right to appeal the decision or they can take it to a public hearing. However at this meeting Paul firstly apologised for how Bridge handled the last 12 months. They conceded that errors have been made, that they did not engage with the residents and community and that they were surprised by the strength of feeling in the room at the hearing.
They have suggested that they wish to work with us and the community to reach a planning submission that is more widely acceptable. This indicates that at present they do not intend to go to appeal or public hearing with the existing plans. But of course, this remains an option for them for 6 months from the date of the committee hearing.
We have always known that something will be built on that land because Bridge have spent a huge amount of money on it, and are the landowners. Our campaign had always been aimed at the fact that their submission was so out of place in not only the area, but did not fit with local planning infrastructure regulations. So we feel this is an opportunity to try to work with them to mitigate what goes there, have it in keeping with the current area and limit it’s impact on residents or they will likely try to push through the existing submission again.
So the next step is that the working group will be meeting again with Bridge shortly (pencilled date of next week tbc) and we will let you know more after that meeting.
We also remain in regular contact with local councillors.
This is all the information we have at present, and we will of course share everything we have with you as we go along. I’m sure you have questions, but this is everything we know at the moment.
The PCRG Working Group