South Roscommon birch leaf sculpture plan approved

Plans for a birch leaf sculpture at a roundabout on the Roscommon side of Ballinasloe have been given the go-ahead.

Creagh Community Development Council had been refused permission for the proposal by Roscommon County Council during 2024.

However, An Bord Pleanala has overturned the council's decision and given the go-ahead to the project, on foot of an appeal by Creagh Community Development Council. The proposed sculpture is of a birch leaf, hanging on the end of a birch twig.

The stem, of a 30mm diameter, will extend out of the ground and reach a height of 4.8m, at which point it turns down and becomes a birch leaf, which hangs 2.3m from the ground. The sculpture will be made of cast aluminium with a bronze finish and require no maintenance.

It is proposed for the Breagh (Brabazon) roundabout, at Birchgrove, Ballinasloe, Co. Roscommon. The council refused permission stating that, having regard to the location of the sculpture on a busy roundabout it is considered it had the potential to endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and would potentially impede traffic visibility and create a distraction to road users.

In its appeal against the decision of Roscommon County Council to refuse a licence under Section 254 of the Planning and Development Act for the erection of an Artwork Sculpture on a roundabout. Creagh Community Development Council disagreed that there would be a negative impact on traffic safety. It submitted there were many precedents for much bigger art work sculptures in the centre of roundabouts, including in Athlone, Loughrea and Donegal town.

It also argued that the sculpture is designed to enhance the local area and will not be any more of a distraction that existing signage. Visibility will not be impaired as the sculpture is narrow, it said.

The planning board's inspector agreed, and said given the size, scale and design of the sculpture, as well as its positioning on the roundabout, he was satisfied that the development did not pose a significant risk to road safety.