Report Paul Murphy
Moves are well on the way towards achieving a sensory garden at Meath’s famous Tower of Lloyd, a meeting of the local Municipal District was told this week. A presentation on the Part 8 planning process was given to local councillors Cathaoirleach Cllr Sean Drew and councillors Peter Caffrey, Eugene Cassidy, Michael Gallagher, David Gilroy and Sarah Reilly 0by council official Pat Shore.
Part 8 is a statutory procedure under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended) for local authorities to obtain permission for their own development projects such as social housing roads, libraries etc and it involves a public notice, consultation period for submissions, a chief executive’s report and a final vote by elected members. The county council got funding for the project in 2023. The original earmarked location for the project was behind the car park in town but there were concerns about this site and officials moved to identify a new site at the Tower of Lloyd – along the roadside at the allotments.
Three other sites at Lloyd were ruled out because of archaeological concerns. The allotments were also looked at as a possible site but the allotment people were “anxious to hold onto what they already had”. So officials settled on a site beside the road running along the tower site. Examinations were carried out to ensure there were no archaeological considerations on the chosen site and the council got the all clear on this.
The site is 50x50metres. A footpath will lead from the car park to the sensory garden itself. There will be a garden space and seating plus a water feature and perhaps a sculpture. Cllr Sarah Reilly said that the council was quite restricted in terms of potential locations and this is something that should be considered during the preparations for the next county development plan.
Cllr Sarah Reilly felt the planned site is too far from the town of Kells as Cllr Sean Drew also pondered the choice of location.
There was considerable potential for future amenity development in the Frontlands and Backlands and it was clear that Kells was in need of more open, accessible green spaces. She had submitted the current and in preparing the application had sought support from local primary schools and community groups. proposal along with KLH and the valuable expertise of Fiona Murphy.
Cllr Reilly said while she understood the original site behind Kells Civic Office presented certain challenges, she felt the current site might be too far removed from the town centre for students to reach easily. That said, one of their key stakeholders Prosper Meath was located on the Oldcastle Road which was “a positive connection”. Among her concerns for the proposed site was the fact that it was along a busy road which brought noise that could conflict with the calm and reflective atmosphere the council was hoping to create. She was confident that with thoughtful design these challenges could be overcome “but it is important that we stay mindful of them”.
Cllr Drew said that whatever location was chosen “we want to be sure it is put in the right place”. There was no point in putting it in a certain place for the sake of just spending the funding. It had been hoped to put the garden within walking distance of the town centre but the chosen site would not be walking distance for quite a number of people.
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