The lake in the Summerhill will be protected in the Portlaoise’s draft local area plan.
Fears were raised about what will happen to the lake in Aughnaharna during a lengthy debate at a special meeting to discuss the local area plan.
This plan aims to guide development in Portlaoise from now until the year 2024.
Councillor Willie Aird urged the council to take control of the lake, which he feared could be filled in when more houses are built in the area.
After a submission by Bircrest Ltd developers, councillors agreed to rezone a 2.75 hectare section of land near the Holy Family NS from ‘commerical/educational/institutional’ to residential.
The submission included confirmation from the school authorities that the parcel of land will not be used for school-related activities.
Another area of land in Summerhill will be rezoned from ‘strategic reserve’ to residential as a result of the submission by Bircrest Ltd.
While the lake is in private ownership, it is already a protected amenity and attempts to change this would be in breach of planning permission, as many local councillors pointed out.
Dangers of the lake
Cllr Noel Tuohy lives 100 yards away from Summerhill lake. “The lake is a concern. We need to know if the land is sacrosanct or can it be filled in? I do have serious concerns, as the lake is dangerous. A child aged three to five could walk in and wouldn’t be seen,” said cllr Tuohy.
Cllr Aird recalled that councillors have asked for the lake to be fenced and made safer in the past, but nothing happened. Chief executive John Mulholland said the council had considerable legislative powers in regard to the lake and he felt the concerns should be addressed separately from the rezoning issue.
Following a brief recess, an agreement was reached to change the zoning status of some land in the area – with an amendment making the lake protected. Cllr Aird proposed this statement and was seconded by cllr Caroline Swane Stanley.
Cllr Dwane Stanley then asked if there was space to extend the Holy Family school in the future if necessary. Ms McEvoy answered, saying that there is land at the back of the school that is proposed as ‘strategic reserve’. “We are not changing that today, but it could be reviewed in two years’ time,” said Ms McEvoy.
Now that the draft plan has been passed, people can make submissions only on the amendments agreed by councillors at the special meeting.
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