Coillte’s Colonel Wood’s plans make national headlines

Colonel’s Wood makes national headlines


Áine Ryan

AS THE date for the submission of objections passed on Friday last (January 29), the Colonel’s Wood controversy yesterday made national headlines. The Irish Independent has revealed that, in an attempt to avail of generous tax breaks, the semi-state company Coillte has made five similar applications to build nursing homes across the country. In total, they will encompass 522 bedrooms.
As well as in suburban Westport, Coillte has applied to build nursing homes in Carrick, County Wexford, Castlemartyr, County Cork, Carrowbawn in County Galway and at Quin in County Clare.
Costing 2120,000, the last-minute applications were made before the end of December last to avail of tax breaks. This type of tax break allows builders of nursing homes to write off the capital cost over six years.
Coillte was previously refused planning permission to build 61 houses on the Colonel’s Wood site back in 1993, with that fee, reportedly, costing the semi-state company almost €27,000.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday, local resident, Ms Edel Hackett revealed that ‘a communal objection now has nearly 90 names on it’.
“The potential use of these woods as a unique in-town woodland is very important. Particularly, in the context of Westport’s commitment to further developing its ethos of sustainable living,” Edel Hackett said.
At a recent special meeting about the controversial application, longtime resident, Mary Carr said: “This wood is one of the natural lungs of Westport. Building on it will reduce the quality of the environment for the people of Westport and for visiting tourists. We are urging the Town Council to take over this woodland so that its unique and natural character can be maintained.”
According to Coillte’s application, the facility will consist of communal spaces, treatment rooms, dining rooms and a kitchen. It would also consist of sanitary accommodation, staff facilities, administration areas and ancillary services, including a service road and a  yard.
It is also proposed that the nursing home development will consist of a gated vehicular and pedestrian access, a split-level car park with 76 spaces and a ten-space surface carpark.
Town Manager, Peter Hynes’s recommends in the Draft Development Plan that zoning of Colonel’s Wood be amended to ‘K Woodland’  as well as a new objective, proposed by the councillors, which stipulates that ‘any development would be subject to a design brief agreed by the elected members, following a period of public consultation’. This recommended zoning was passed by town councillors at a recent planning meeting.
Coillte’s most recent annual report shows that its profits fell to €9.2 million in 2008, from €40 million the previous year.