An appeal has been lodged to An Coimisiún Pleanála about the removal of existing trees and hedges at Tirlán Farmlife, Graiguecullen branch, Co. Laois.

In May this year, Laois County Council received an application for retention planning permission from Tirlán for "the removal of existing trees and hedges to a 22.5m portion of the front boundary adjacent to the entrance gate and replacement of same with a 2.7m high paladin fence".

The application also noted "affixing" advertising signage along the front boundary fencing and entrance gate amounting to a total of 12m², and the erection of building signage onto existing structures within the site amounting to a total sum of 15.3m².

In the application, Tirlán outlined that the proposed development did not involve the demolition of any structure, is not inside a strategic development zone, and does not require a waste licence.

The company also stated that development did not consist of work to a protected structure, is not located within an architectural conservation area, and did not require the preparation of an environmental impact statement, or licence from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

During the process seeking retention planning permission, an objection was lodged by a nearby resident with several concerns.

The objection to the county council stated: "I live directly across the road from this premises. My family's house predates the establishment of the Tirlán commercial outlet.

"The present application makes no attempt to address the issues raised by the unauthorised development. The trees and hedging which were removed formed part of an existing hedgerow which was a field boundary going back to the time before the time the Tirlán premises was built," the letter of objection continued.

The neighbour outlined his belief that the proposed retention will do nothing to "prevent the visual intrusion, noise and dust nuisance" which he claimed operations on the premises create.

"I wish to be put back in the same position I was in before the unauthorised development took place, with a screen of mature evergreen trees reaching to the height of the remaining hedgerow along the front of the premises," he argued to Laois County Council.

However, despite the objections, Laois County Council in recent weeks decided to grant conditional retention planning permission to Tirlán.

The conditions included the planting, within three months, of trees and shrubs of species native to the area to form naturalised hedgerows similar to existing native hedgerows in the vicinity.

Another condition, was for a payment to Laois County Council's Development Contribution Scheme, in respect of public infrastructure and facilities.

The decision to grant retention permission has now been appealed by the same neighbour to the higher planning authority, An Coimisiún Pleanála, which has stated that a decision is due by November 24, 2025.