ATHLONE based international horse dealer Francis Derwin has had an application to retain an arena on his property rejected by Westmeath County Council’s planning department.

Derwin’s application to retain the 3,200m2 arena at Tubbrit Fardrum was thrown out primarily because the Planning Authority was “not satisfied that the facility is not being used, or intended to be used, for commercial equestrian purposes”.

Mr Derwin initially sought retention permission from Westmeath County Council’s planning department in September for the arena to be preserved for private use only. Retention permission was also sought for the prior demolition of agricultural sheds with a floor area of 459m2, to which the planners had no objection. Unauthorised works being carried out on an existing derelict building on the site were, however, cited in the decision.

During a five-week public consultation phase, one objection was submitted by Melissa Murphy, of Abbey Cottage, Glasson, Athlone. Ms Murphy claimed the plans represented a “direct resubmission” of a previously and “identical retention application” that had been withdrawn.

A planning official from Westmeath County Council subsequently carried out a site inspection wherein the family stated the site allowed approximately five horses to be trained daily at the site and within an arena solely utilised for “private family use only and is not used for riding lessons, events, hire, or any other commercial activity”. The report went on to state that Mr Derwin agreed to remove eight floodlighting columns which had been erected.

“The applicant states that the eight floodlighting columns associated with the arena ‘will be removed’,” the official stated. “However, the floodlights are currently in situ on the site and form part of the development under consideration. The applicant has not provided any supporting details, plans, specifications, timeframe for removal, or evidence that the lighting infrastructure will be permanently decommissioned.”

The local authority planning official also queried Mr Derwin not referencing construction works currently being undertaken to an existing derelict building on the site in his original application.

“The description and accompanying plans must accurately reflect the full extent of the development, including all unauthorised works to the existing dwelling located on this landholding, in order to facilitate a proper assessment,” the planning officer stated.

In their recommendation to council chiefs, the planning officer said Mr Derwin had been “vague” and unforthcoming as to how the arena would be employed.

“The scale and specification of the arena, together with the extent of the associated unauthorised works on the site and the stated use of the facility for the training of showjumping horses competing at national and international level, would suggest a more intensive use of the lands than that typically associated with private recreation.”

Westmeath County Council rejected the application for retention saying Mr Derwin had “failed to adequately address concerns relating to the existing floodlighting, the operation of the equestrian facility, unauthorised works to an existing dwelling on the site, and the potential environmental impacts arising from the development”.