Further setback for Coosan Men's Shed as latest application rejected
Plans by Coosan Men's Shed for a new two-storey community social and learning centre in Tormey Villas, Athlone, have suffered another major setback after Westmeath County Council turned down the project again citing concerns over traffic flow and parking demands.
On March 27, Coosan Men's Shed sought approval for a new community centre for a third time in three years. A previous application in 2022 was deemed withdrawn and a second bid was refused in 2023.
The project, for a site spanning 0.22 hectare of land is to cover some 436 square metres, spread evenly over two floors on land owned by St Kieran's Community Centre. The proposed site for the project is to the north of the existing community centre and childcare facility and to the rear of houses at Ashdale, and to the west of the AC Celtic playing grounds.
The ground floor would be a learning facility, providing an assembly area and workshop, which could be used for a variety of purposes, such as carpentry. On the first floor, a wellbeing and mental health therapy room, a darts and pool room, indoor card and bowls area were all proposed.
Permission was originally refused in 2022 when a request for further information was not complied with on time and the application was deemed to be withdrawn. A second planning permission application was rejected by the local authority in August 2023 as the project was said to pose a “serious risk to road safety”.
On May 21 of this year the third application was refused as the council believed that the project would “negatively impact on the residential amenities of adjoining residents” due to increased traffic and additional parking demands, and would ultimately be “contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.
The Coosan Men's Shed would act as a much-needed community space for men, after three former Men's Sheds in Athlone did not re-open after the pandemic due to inadequate facilities and resources. These groups amalgamated into one Men's Shed based in St Kieran's Community Centre, which currently “operates out of a steel container” and so is “not a suitable structure in terms of health and safety of the participants therein”.
This project has received many letters of support from local businesses and community organisations during the planning process last year, including Retreat Nursing Home, RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development), The Irish Wheelchair Association, Grow Mental Health, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Ireland Limited, The HSE'S Health Promotion and Improvement Services, and An Garda Síochána.
The group can appeal the latest verdict by Westmeath County Council to reject the plans to An Bord Pleanála within four weeks of the decision date.