Planning permission has been refused for the construction of a new playschool in Clifden, despite strong public support.
Clifden Community Play-School sought approval for a childcare facility on the grounds of Scoil Mhuire in Clifden.
The project received huge support from the local community, with 13 letters of support received from local community organisations, businesses, and residents groups.
The Racecourse Lawns Residents Association said that over half of their homeowners are families with school aged children who would benefit from this development.
“The proposed plans for the new community playschool offer an exciting and much needed opportunity to provide a modern early years childcare facility plus wrap around services for school aged children in Clifden and surrounding areas.”
The Board of Management of Scoil Mhuire said that the school “fully supports” the application by the Community Playschool to move onto their grounds.
Forum Connemara, a local development company aimed at tackling rural decline, wrote that they “wholeheartedly endorse” the planning application.
“This project will allow Clifden Community Playschool to broaden their support services to families with small children by facilitating parents in their working lives and giving access to Early Years Education for their students.”
Letters of support were also received from the Archdiocese of Tuam, Connemara Chamber of Commerce, Galway Childcare Committee, and more.
In refusing planning permission, the county council said that the development would contravene the Open Space Recreation and Amenity zoning of the site.
The decision also said that there were “serious concerns” about the provision of car parking, and drop-off arrangements for the proposed playschool.
Without information on these arrangements, the council said that they could potentially “intensify the existing car-parking arrangement” with the school, and interfere with the free flow of traffic.
