Cork County Council An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report File Reference: 04HA0025 / 04KA0014. Proposed Development: N22 Baile Bhuirne - Macroom (Baile Bhuirne to Coolcour) Road Development Inspector: Daniel O’Connor. _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 1 of 246 Cork County Council TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION p 03 2.0 COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER p 04 3.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS - Non Technical Summary p 05 4.0 REPORT ON ORAL HEARING p 12 5.0 ASSESSMENT p 168 6.0 RECOMMENDATION – Proposed Road Development p 178 7.0 RECOMMENDATION– Compulsory Purchase Order p 179 8.0 Appendices – I List of Objectors p 180 II List of Items handed in at hearing p 186 III Environmental Impact Statement p 191 _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 2 of 246 Cork County Council 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The proposal is for the construction of a total of approximately 22 kilometres of Type 2 Dual Carriageway road in the administrative area of County Cork. It is described as including three Number Compact Grade Separated Junctions, one Online and five Offline Roundabouts and over 20 bridges plus other structures together with ancillary works. 1.2 Application was made to An Bord Pleanála by Cork County Council for approval under section 51 of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by section 9(1) (e) of the Roads Act 2007) by letter received on 27th October 2009. Three copies of an Environmental Impact Statement were submitted with the application and copies of newspaper advertisements of 31 st October 2009 (The Southern Star) and 29 th October (Irish Examiner) were also submitted. Details of notification of prescribed bodies were also included. Correspondence regarding the Compulsory Purchase Order was submitted separately. _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 3 of 246 Cork County Council 2.0 COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2.1 The Compulsory Purchase Order was made by Cork County Council on 16 th October 2009 and is entitled “Cork County Council N22 Baile Bhuirne Macroom (Baile Bhuirne to Coolcour) Compulsory Purchase Order 2009” 2.2 The owners or reputed owners, lessees or reputed lessees and the occupiers of the land re set out in Schedule Part I 2.3 The description of public rights of way proposed to be extinguished is set out in Schedule Part II. 2.4 Cork County Council applied for confirmation of the Compulsory Purchase Order by letter dated 4th November 2009 and enclosed supporting documentation. 2.5 The land take which is subject of the CPO is 189 hectares as indicated on day 1 of oral hearing –transcript p49. _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 4 of 246 Cork County Council 3.0 IMPACTS IDENTIFIED 3.0 Introduction and Background The Environmental Impact Statement is in five volumes, consisting of: - • Volume 1 - Non-Technical Summary • Volume 2 - Environmental Impact Statement main report and Appendices. • Volume 3 - Figures. • Volume 4A – Appendices 3 to 7 • Volume 4B - Appendices 8 to 12 The document is dated October 2009 and the authors are given as Mc Carthy Hyder Consulting engineers in association with P. J. Tobin & Co. Tá leagan Gaeilge ar fáil de Imleabhair 1 agus 2. (Volumes 1 and 2 are also available in the Irish language) 3.1 Non – Technical - Summary. The NTS sets out the objectives of the Road Development Project as follows: • Provide a high quality road for the N22 strategic route. • Provide a national route with adequate capacity and required level of service. • Remove traffic congestion. • Reduce capacity deficiencies. • Maintain existing roads for local traffic. • Improve safety at junctions and accesses and along the existing roads. • Regulate and reduce journey times. • Minimise environmental and social impacts on the local residents and communities along the existing N22. The NTS also states that the road development would provide adequate transport infrastructure to support trade industry and economic growth, enhance the reliability of the road transport system, remove national traffic from the roadside towns and villages and reduce road accidents fatalities. 3.2 Project Description The preliminary design is stated to consist of: - • Four bridge crossings over the Bohill, Foherish, Laney and Sullane Rivers. A diversion of the River Owengarve is also proposed. • Crossing of the proposed road development to be provided by road bridges and accommodation bridges. _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 5 of 246 Cork County Council • Accommodation works to be provided to link access points with the local road network. • Provision for drainage, traffic signs and road lighting in line with national guidelines. • Four junctions to be provided along a total length of approximately 22 kilometres of dual carriageway. 3.3 Traffic Traffic flow projections for 2012 indicate the flows to the west of Macroom at 15,500 AADT . The NTS describes the increase in traffic delays, increased accidents and increased noise which would result. The prediction is that the majority of traffic on the existing N22 would divert to the new route. It predicts that through-traffic flows would significantly decrease in Baile Bhuirne and Baile Mhic Íre. This is described as creating a more pleasant environment in those villages. Reduction in traffic in Macroom is stated to improve the setting of the town and remove congestion along the main street. 3.4 Construction Impacts Construction period anticipated to be two years and based on a start in 2010. Construction impacts are stated to involve temporary disruption on local communities on a noise and vibration impacts and these would be covered by an environmental operating plan. It states that the EOP would be put in place by the contractor before the start of the construction phase. 3.5 Plans and Policies The NTS states that the road development is in line with the NDP 2007-2013 (Transforming Ireland, A Better Quality of Life for All). The National Spatial Strategy, Department of Transport – Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 and Transport 21. It states that the road development would have a positive impact on plans and policies. 3.6 Socio-Economics The NTS states the overall benefit would be increased accessibility which would significantly increased accessibility which would significantly increase the potential for further economic development, including tourism. It states the reduction in congestion would significantly improve residential and environmental amenity. The NTS states that however, the road development is likely to have a negative impact on existing businesses, such as filling stations and restaurants, which rely significantly on passing trade. Mitigation measures such as road signage are proposed. _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 6 of 246 Cork County Council It notes there would some land take from a haulage yard at the Gurteenroe Junction which would have a slight negative impact on the business. The NTS states that overall there would be moderate positive socio-economic impact as a result of the road development. 3.7 Agricultural Land The proposed road development would affect 72 farms of which 12 are dairy farms, 54 are other grazing livestock farms, one is mixed crop and livestock and four are categorised as other farms (forestry, equestrian or dog rearing enterprises). The agricultural land take required for the construction and operation of the road is approximately 182 hectares. The NTS states this would not be significant at a national or county level. It states that 40 farms are affected by severance. The NTS notes temporary impacts during construction including dust generation and that mitigation measures be carried out for surface water, alternative water supplies where necessary and measures to prevent the spread of dust. It states that access tracks would be provided necessary and the small parcels of severed; land-lock land would be acquired through the CPO process. It notes that overall there would be a significant negative impact on farms affected. 3.8 Landscape and Aesthetics The NTS states that the road development would pass through a rural landscape with numbers of local hills, enclosed by hedges, rocky outcrops and woodland clumps and the Sullane River. It states the majority of areas are of good and very attractive landscape value with also an area designated as scenic landscape. The NTS states that the road development would improve the general environmental quality of the town of Macroom and the settlements of Baile Mhic Íre and Baile Bhuirne by reducing traffic volumes passing through those areas. The NTS refers to 66 residential group receptors that would experience a significant adverse visual effect. It states the majority of property groups namely 249 would be considered to receive only minor or no impacts as a result of the road development on opening. The NTS states that as a result of the proposed road development, lighting and vehicle headlights along the road development, there would be an impact on 68 property groups when the road was opened. It states the impact would be reduced as the proposed landscape planting became established. _____________________________________________________________________ 04 HA0025 An Bord Pleanála Page 7 of 246 Cork County Council 3.9 Surface Water Quality and Drainage The NTS lists the Rivers Foherish, Laney, Sullane, Bohill and Owengarve as the main watercourses to be affected. It states impacts during construction would generally be temporary and these could be mitigated such that the residual impact would be of low significance. It states there would be an overall minor beneficial impact on water quality as a result of the proposed road development. It states that this is because there are currently no measures to treat run-off from the existing N22 road. Flood risk studies were undertaken for the rivers and the NTS states that road development would not significantly change the current flooding situation in the area.