TII raise issues with Council over proposed Creeslough site redevelopment

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) have raised issues over the proposed redevelopment of the site of the Creeslough explosion.

TII submitted its concerns to Donegal County Council in a later date Monday, October 14.

Earlier this month, correspondence on behalf of Vivo Shell Limited - the company seeking to reconstruct the former filling station complex - was submitted to Donegal County Council, reinforcing plans to proceed with the proposed development.

Vivo Shell Limited sought permission for the demolition of the existing b building and the erection of a new building to incorporate a class 1 commercial building; shop; post office; off-licence; store; deli; toilets including accessible toilets; staff welfare facilities; forecourt; replacement of underground storage tanks and pumps; external canopy; associated signage; and all other associated site development works including a space for a memorial garden.

The site is on the N56 road and TII have said that the application is “at variance with official policy in relation to control of development on/affecting national roads.”

TII say that the granting of permission would “adversely affect the operation and safety of the national road network”

“The proposal, if approved, would create an adverse impact on the national road and would, in the Authority's opinion, be at variance with the foregoing national policy in relation to control of frontage development on national roads,” TII said.

Further, TII said that insufficient data has been submitted with the planning application to demonstrate that the proposed development will not have a detrimental impact on the capacity, safety or operational efficiency of the national road network in the vicinity of the site.

TII said that alternative measures by way of a revised layout “doesn’t appear to address the issues identified”.

In October 2022, 10 people lost their lives in a horrific explosion at the Applegreen complex. A memorial service took place in Creeslough on Monday-week last.