Kellys’ Latest Mass Path Appeal Down The Drain

Eh, you shall actually be able to pass…

e’ve said it before but, over the past ten years, Kelly Drains have proven themselves to be persistent floaters when it comes to one controversial planning obstacle.

Applying again and again to have their new work depot over on an old Drummin farm continue to sit on a section of an ancient mass path, these kids clearly don’t take no for an answer.

Even when they hear it again, and again, and again.

Having quite possibly exhausted every Wicklow Planning avenue and member of staff along the way, the Greystones sewage specialists turned to An Bord Pleanála (now An Coimisiún Pleanala) in March 2024 for one last stand-in-the-way.

Possibly hanging their hopes on the fact that the mighty ABP was known for sometimes making bonkers decisions.

But it turns out now that, once again, Kellys have hit a major blockage when it comes to blocking this ancient mass path, with ACP giving their latest appeal the thumbs down.

Planning authority case reference 23894, reference case no PL27.319225, was looking for…

Change of use of a farmyard complex including open yard for use as a commercial vehicular depot and all associated site works.

Or, if you’d prefer a little more detail…

Change of use of a farmyard complex including open yard for use as a commercial vehicular depot in connection with a drain maintenance business; change of use of an existing farm building (377.7sq m ) for the maintenance of trucks; demolition of existing vacant dilapidated farm building (200 sq m); erection of wooden shiplap fencing of 1.8 m in height and approximately 80 m in length along part of the northern boundary of the commercial yard; erection of palisade fencing along the northern and eastern boundaries of the subject site, approximately 355 m in length and 2.3-2.6 m in height; extension of the existing open yard for the parking of trucks (approximately 1,140 sq m). The proposed development comprises the: construction of a 2 No. storey office building (446 sqm) to replace the demolished farm building; removal of the 4 No. temporary portable offices, canteen, storage buildings/ containers (87.8 sqm); provision of a truck bay wash; resurfacing of yard with a continuous concrete slab; erection of a hit and miss fence with a height of 1.8 m and approximately 97 m in length enclosing the yard along its eastern and southern extents; removal of existing, disused southern gate at the Farrankelly Road (R774) and replacement with fixed, palisade fencing; and associated site development works above and below ground.

Lodged with An Bord Pleanála on March 7th 2024, the hope now is, of course, that after 10 years of delays, diversions and dodging the honourable, Kellys might actually remove their industrial mass path diversion and leave it fully open to the public once more.

In the meantime, you can jump back through this long and grinding nonsense over here.