VILLAGE PLANS - Offaly County Council

OFFALY COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2009 - 2015
Volume 2 - Settlement Plans
POLLAGH / LEMANAGHAN
VILLAGE PLAN
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION AND
DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT
The settlement plans stem directly from the policies
and objectives contained in the County Development
Plan with particular reference to Chapters 4,
“Settlement Strategy” and Chapter 18, “Landuse and
Zoning”. This is to facilitate the growth of a hierarchy of
well-planned, sustainable and complementary
settlements throughout the county presented in a
consistent manner to allow ease of interpretation and
implementation.
Pollagh has been designated as a village within Offaly’s
settlement hierarchy, as set out in Chapter 4 of the
County Development Plan 2009 – 2015. This settlement
plan along with the zoning map is seen as a specific
view of the village so that development pressures can
be focused and properly managed in order that the
settlement can fulfill this role effectively.
1.1 Location
Pollagh is a very dispersed linear settlement alongside
the Grand Canal to the east and north of the Lough
Boora Parklands in a fairly remote part of the county
some 14kms (via tow path) from Tullamore or 22kms by
road.
Due to their proximity and inter dependence Pollagh
and Lemanaghan have been examined as one and what
could be described as a bi-polar settlement, as they
function as one place.
The settlement straddles the boundary of the Lea and
Srah DEDs which, in the Census 2006 had a combined
population of 1,078 up from 1,020 in 1996 [i.e. a rise of
58 people (5.7%)].
1.2 Settlement Form
While there is evidence of human settlement in the area
since ancient times most accounts relating to Pollagh
stem from the construction of the Grand Canal and the
production of the distinctive yellow brick made from
blue silt clay in the late eighteenth century and early
nineteenth centuries. The part described as the core
and serves both elements of the settlement and the
surrounding area. Subsequent expansion has in the
main, taken the form of sporadic and dispersed linear
development along the constituent roads. This
settlement is low rise and low density, with a number of
different building styles in evidence. The part of the
settlement built on the north side of the Canal
containing the Church, school, post office and public
house could be described as the core area and serves
both elements of the settlement and the surrounding
area.
1.3 Context
Pollagh has been designated as a village within Offaly’s
settlement hierarchy, as set out in County Development
Plan 2009-2015. A development boundary has been
identified for Pollagh and is shown on the
accompanying map. This is intended to delineate an
area, which will: -
• Foster the creation of a more coherent
settlement, with adequate critical mass to
maintain/improve local service provision.
• Infill development to consolidate the fabric.
• Contain development in order to enhance the
village and its setting.
2.0 SERVICES & SOCIAL
INFRASTRUCTURE
2.1 Water Supply
Pollagh is served by the Rahan Public Water Scheme
and Lemanaghan from the Boher / Lemanaghan group
water scheme.
2.2 Waste Water
Pollagh is served by septic tanks and individual
treatment facilities while Lemanaghan is served by
mains drainage to a waste water treatment plant
located on lands adjacent to the GAA pitch. This plant
has some spare capacity but in order to improve its
performance it is being investigated in the Assessment
of Needs Programme 2007-2009.
February 2009 | Pollagh / Lemanaghan Village Plan | page 128