ATHENRY TEST CENTRE BLOCKED BY AN BORD PLEANALA

Date Published: 10-Feb-2010

Plans to build a Vehicle Test Centre in Athenry have ground to a halt.

An Bord Pleanala has refused permission for the development in Knockbrack to go ahead following an appeal by An Taisce.

Martin and Rita Keane have run a garage close to their home in Knockbrack, Athenry for about ten years.

Over the years, they have made several applications to build a test centre which have all been refused.

Their latest application was granted by the county council last July

However, An Taisce appealed this decision to An Bord Pleanala on the grounds it would contravene the county development plan

An Bord Pleanala has now decided to refuse permission for the test centre in Athenry for three main reasons

They state that the proposed location is predominantly rural and is served by a poor quality road network