COILLTE have been refused permission by Wexford County Council for a large nursing home on Forth Mountain on the grounds that it would present 'a serious public health hazard'.

The State owned forestry body had planned on building a 108 bedroom nursing home and independent living development at Forth Commons, on a 8.6 hectare site which currently comprises a mix of young coniferous trees.

It was to a include a new gated vehicular and pedestrian access off Forestry Road, a minor rural road, which bounds the site to the east.

The proposed development drew a large number of objections from concerned local residents, particularly those living on Forestry Road itself.

Among those who lodged objections were: Kevin and Ursula Breen, John and Anne Marie O'Connor, Ger and Marion Reid, Conall and Maura O'Brien, Seán Radford, David and Deirdre Furlong, Mark and Marie Roche, Conor and Sinead O'Sullivan, Oliver and Aileen Larkin, Michael Forde, Charlotte Zimmermann, Brian and Eithne Coulter,

An objection also came in from the 'Forestry Road and Forth Forest Residents' Association', while a separate submission on behalf of Conall and Maura O'Brien, was also received by Wexford County Council from planning consultants Gerrard and Associates, of Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

The main issues raised were the unsuitability of the Forestry Road in handling the increased traffic generated, with noise and traffic congestion leading to a loss of residential amenity; and the fact that a development on the poorly drained site may lead lead to flooding off the road and neighbouring properties, and pose a serious risk of contamination of the local water supply.

It was also pointed out that the large development would be visually obtrusive; that the site is a local amenity/play area for children and is also an important habitat for local wildlife, including the red squirrel, a protected species.

Green Party Borough Councillor Danny Forde also lodged an objection, in which he expressed his concern that a planning consultant was advised by a senior planner from Wexford County Council, during a pre-planning consultation meeting, that 'the principle of a nursing home at this location is acceptable'.

Mr Forde said this statement, as reported in the planning application itself, 'could be construed that the application would have a positive outcome'.

The HSE had recommended that permission be granted, but An Taisce opposed it, on the grounds that it would have a number of concerns regarding the impact of the development on the local environment and the fact that it would be 'unsustainable and car dependant', thereby contravening Department of Transport policy.

James Lavin, Senior Executive Planner with Wexford County Council, felt that the nursing home and independent living development were ' acceptable in principle and compliant with County Development Plan policy'.

However, with regard to the treatment and disposal of effluent, Mr Lavin said the development 'would present a serious public health hazard', as he was not satisfied the effluent generated from the large development could be treated satisfactorily.

Mr Lavin also had ' serious reservations about the ability of the local road network to cope with the increased level of traffic, both during the construction and operation of the nursing home and the negative impact this would have on the residential amenity of the area'.

The planning application was therefore refused, which is a blow for Coillte, who applied for permission to develop several nursing homes across the country as part of a diversification of its interests. To avail of the last capital allowances for nursing homes, developers and businesses had to have submitted planning applications before December 31 last.

Coillte said that the move was 'part of our strategic approach to managing the Coillte estate', which extends to about one million acres of land, or seven per cent of all the land in the country.