KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL

COMHAIRLE CHONTAE CILL CHAINNIGH

 

Environmental Impact Statement in respect ofThe Central Access Scheme for the City of Kilkenny

Section 51 of the Roads Act, 1993

Planning and Development Acts 2000 - 2006.

Planning and Development Regulations, 2000 - 2007.

 

Kilkenny County Council in accordance with Section 51 of the Roads Act, 1993, Section 175 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended by Sections 6 and 34 of the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006 hereby gives notice that it proposes to seek the approval of An Bord Pleanála for the above development.

 

Kilkenny County Council has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement in respect of the development, which proposes the construction of a bridge crossing over the River Nore, a new central access street and a new distributor roadway in the western environs of the City. The bridge together with the new street and distributor roadway will form a new central access in the City linking residential areas to the west of the City to the core central business district and providing increased connectivity to urban areas to the east of the River Nore.

 

The proposed development is a Transportation Objective in the Kilkenny County Council County Development Plan and in the Kilkenny City and Environs Development Plan.

The proposed central access scheme will facilitate the commercial, residential, educational, cultural and recreational development of the City of Kilkenny. The scheme will also include provision for new and improved pedestrian and cycle linkages and will facilitate a modal transport shift in the historic City centre.

 

The key components of the proposed development are as follows:

 

 

(i) Approximately 3.5km of single carriageway road which commences at the tie-in point with the Kilkenny Western Environs scheme and extends to the Castlecomer Road to the east and to the Freshford Road to the north east. The scheme can be broken down into three distinct sections as follows:

 

Central Access Street and River Nore bridge crossing, which connects the Waterbarrack roundabout to the Castlecomer Road - 0.6km in length, 3.5m wide traffic lane in each direction with 1.5m wide cycleway in each direction between junctions, widening at junctions to provide a single 3.4m wide lane, or two 3.3m wide lanes as appropriate in each direction. Footways vary in width from 1.8m to 2.5m. At the existing Irishtown junction the proposed scheme will provide for the construction of a raised table in order to highlight the priority given to pedestrians at this location.

East-west Link Connecting the Western Environs Road Network to the Waterbarrack Roundabout - 0.96km in length, with one 3.65m wide lane in each direction and 3.3m wide footways/ cycleways in each direction.

Loughmacask Road which extends from the Dunningstown Road to the Freshford Road - 2.0km in length, with one 3.65m wide lane in each direction and 3.3m wide footways/ cycleways in each direction.

(ii) 5 at-grade roundabout junctions;

(iii) 3 signalized junctions;

(iv) 2 T-junctions;

(v) 4 bridges which include 1 crossing the River Nore and 3 crossing the Breagagh River;

(vi) An accommodation underpass, approximately 10m wide by 4.5m high, to serve the brewery site;

(vii) Retaining walls up to a maximum height of 6m through the brewery site;

(viii) various chambers and ducting works to be undertaken at various locations within the site for use by the Authorities, Utilities and Service Providers and Private Utility Services and the like;

(ix) various landscape environmental and mitigation works;

(x) various drainage works with attenuation facilities, and associated drainage outfalls;

(xi) various fencing and pedestrian barrier systems;

(xii) various signing and lighting works;

 

(xiii) various earthworks;

(xiv) various accommodation works including accesses to properties and lands; and

(xv) various ancillary works.

The Council has applied to An Bord Pleanála for approval of the proposed road development under Section 51 of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006)

A copy of the Environmental Impact Statement may be inspected free of charge, between the hours of 9.15 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. from Friday 6th June, 2008 to Monday, 21st July, 2008 inclusive (excluding Bank Holidays) at ;

• Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny.
• Kilkenny County Council, Road Design Office, Dean Street,
• Kilkenny Borough Council, City Hall, High Street, Kilkenny.

A copy of the full Environmental Impact Statement may be purchased for a fee of €300 at the Office of Kilkenny County Council, County Hall, John Street, Kilkenny. A copy of the non-technical summary of the Environmental Impact Statement may be purchased for a fee of €10. The full Environmental Impact Statement is available on C.D. for a fee of €5.

The Environmental Impact Statement is also available for free download from this website

Any person within the period from Friday, 6th June, 2008 to Monday, 21st July, 2008 inclusive, on payment of the prescribed fee of €50, can make a written submission/observation to An Bord Pleanála, Strategic Infrastructure Developments Section, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, in relation to

1. The implications of the proposed development for the proper planning and sustainable development in the area concerned, and
2. the likely effects on the environment of the proposed road development

if carried out.

A compulsory purchase order will be required in respect of the proposed road development and where written objections are made, an oral hearing may be held.

The Board may hold an oral hearing in relation to the likely effects of the proposal. Evidence in relation to the likely effects on the environment may be given at the oral hearing. Before making its decision on the application for approval, the Board must consider the environmental impact statement, any written submissions made on it and not withdrawn and, where an oral hearing is held the report and any recommendations of the inspector holding the oral hearing where evidence was given in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the proposal. Public notice of any oral hearing will be given at a later date. The Board may, by order, approve a proposed road development with or without modifications or may refuse to approve such a development.

Further information may be obtained from the Road Design Department, Dean Street, Kilkenny. Telephone 056-7794300

John Mulholland

Director of Services

Transportation, Corporate Affairs and Emergency Services.

Date, 3rd June, 2008.