Permission granted for new drug rehabilitation centre in rural Waterford

An Bord Pleánala has granted permission for the development of a drug rehabilitation centre for vulnerable women at a rural location in County Waterford.

Waterford City and County Council had granted permission for the project - at Cladagh, Clashmore - but this decision was appealed by 11 local residents to An Bord Pleánala.

When complete, the Pobail Mhuire centre will be operated by the charitable organisation Refuge of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It will have an accommodation capacity for nine women and three staff.

According to planning inspector Una O'Neill, the site of the proposed development, is surrounded by woodland areas and comprises an existing dormer house, detached garage and a shed. It is located close to the River Licky, almost half-way between the towns of Dungarvan and Youghal.

The works will include the conversion of the existing dormer bungalow to a residential care centre, construction of a three-bed dwelling for carers'/nuns' accommodation and the construction of an oratory building for residents use only.

In her report, Ms O'Neill noted the concerns of those who appealed the decision of the local authority to grant permission.

This includes submissions that the centre is unlikely to be addressing a "local only community need" and that the proposed houses "do not comply with the county’s Settlement Strategy in respect of rural areas which is aimed at addressing the need of local rural community members for dwelling houses."

Those opposed to the proposed development also submitted that it will not be a local community facility and "will be of no benefit to the local rural community."

They added that the development "will have a high negative social and psychological impact on neighbours and the community" and that it may result in visitors "which may include previous/current drug dealers and/or their associates".

According to planning documents, concerns were also expressed regarding the location of Pobail Mhuire - less than 2km from a local school.

"Parents feel the location of a drug rehabilitation centre so close to the school will have negative impacts on the school and upcoming pupil numbers, with quite a number of parents considering moving their pupils should it go ahead, which would affect viability of the school which is at the heart of the community," they wrote. 

In her 44-page report, Ms O'Neill notes that the residential care centre "is proposed to accommodate nine people, who are recovering from addiction, with the residents stated to be in the post-detoxification stage."

There will be three carers on site and it is proposed that residents will remain on the site for 26 weeks and educational programmes will be offered.

"The applicant in their submission states the centre is not proposed for detoxification, there will be no drug based medical interventions, and it is not a medical facility or a clinic," noted the planning inspector.

READ ALSO: PICTURES: Turn-key Waterford house with GAA club next door hits the market for €475k

Recommending that permission be granted, she stated: "Given the very rural nature of this location and the nature of the service being proposed, I consider concerns raised that drug users would be attracted to the facility or that residents would pose a serious threat to the community are unfounded.

"I have considered the applicant's rationale for locating the proposed facility in a rural location instead of an urban location and I am satisfied that this care facility at this rural location is acceptable given the specific operational requirements of the development and having regard to its limited scale."

A number of conditions have been imposed on the applicant including that all of the buildings on the site are only used as part of the operation of the residential care facility.