M17 services area rejected on traffic safety grounds

The development of a service station off the new motorway in Tuam, which would have the potential to create up to sixty new jobs, has been turned down for traffic safety reasons.

Local businesses are attempting to capitalise of the fact that the new Gort to Tuam motorway will be provided at the end of this year, along with the Tuam bypass. It is felt that it creates numerous business opportunities.

But one local business has had its efforts to provide a service station just off the route scuppered by An Bord Pleanala who ruled that it would increase the risk of collisions. The plan had previously been rejected by Galway County Council.

The Planning Appeals Board said that the proposal by Chris Brogan for a service station at the Galway Road in Tuam would be located on lands that were zoned for industrial use. Recently, however, a similar planning application for a service station and restaurant in nearby lands was given the go ahead.

An Bord Pleanala ruled that this application for a filling station was not acceptable and “the proposed restaurants would not be compatible with the industrial zoning objective for the site”.

They said that having regard to the proposed range of retail and restaurant uses taken in conjunction with the extensive parking provisions for cars, coaches and HGVs, and the proximity of the proposed service station to a roundabout junction, it would not be compatible with the industrial zoning objective for the area.

They said that the scale, intensity and traffic generating potential of the proposed service station, taken in conjunction with its proximity to the motorway and Tuam bypass it is considered that the proposed development would give rise to an increased risk of collision along this section of road network.

An Bord Pleanala added that it would not be compatible with national and local transport planning policy and would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and an obstruction of road users.

The plans involved the provision of a six-pump forecourt and a heavy goods vehicle forecourt along with a convenience store, off-licence, three food areas and a drive-thru facility.

The proposed development proposed to serve the new motorway and Tuam bypass. The site is located on the Galway Road out of Tuam and close to the roundabout which links the motorway with the town bypass. County planners refused permission for the development on the grounds that it would create a traffic hazard but the applicant had agreed not to construct the service station until the motorway and bypass are complete in early 2018.

In refusing planning permission to Chris Brogan of Brogan Tractors, Galway Road, Tuam, the County Council said that it would endanger public safety by reason of a traffic hazard and obstruction of road users.

Planners also said that it would have a detrimental impact on the capacity, safety or operational efficiency of the national road network in the vicinity. And they also said that the scale of the development would compromise the vitality and viability of the town centre in Tuam.

In the appeal to An Bord Pleanala it is stated that the proposal to provide a new service station is in an area that is surrounded by established commercial development and the lands are zoned for development.

The developers also say that the proposal also offers an opportunity to improve the aesthetics of one of the main access corridors to Tuam town off the new motorway.