Plans for Kildare's first scrambler track rejected

THE first new racetrack in Ireland in 35 years – planned for a location outside Allenwood – has been refused, primarily because of the existence of the very rare curlew at the nearby Lullymore bog.

Described as “one of Ireland’s most threatened birds”, its sighting at this location was enough for planners to refuse this novel application.

Along with this, the planners also decided that the proposed development would have caused “a loss of amenity…privacy …and seriously injure the residential amenity of the area”.

A third reason given was that the site was poorly screened and “would have a negative impact on the overall landscape character of the area”, while the location’s proximity to the Slate River was also f some concern to the planners.

A local businessman Barry Travers from the village had applied for permission to retain a number of earthen mounds on his lands just off the Nurney Road, and to convert the 9.1Ha (c.23ac) site “for exclusive use by off-road electric bikes”.

This was his second attempt to do this, having been turned down two years ago in the face of a neighbour’s opposition, however, Mr Travers has doubled down on that application, including a 66-page noise and dust report by Dr Imelda Shanahan.

He had planned that the track would be open for bookable, one-hour sessions, six times a day, except on Sundays and Mondays.

Barry (45) runs a fibre optic company in the village with his brother Brendan, and had collected a 600-strong petition in favour of his venture.

“There are two working bogs wither side of me that create a lot more noise and dust,” he said.

Along with the main racetrack, he planned to build one specifically for the kids.