Two men die following mid-Louth road crash

The scene of the collision in Ardee. Picture credit: RTÉ News

Two men, aged 22 and 24, have died following a road crash in mid-Louth in the early hours of this morning.

The collision occurred on the N2 between Ardee and Collon at Hunterstown around 1.30am.

The men had been travelling in a car that hit a bridge and a tree.

One man was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda.

The second man died later in hospital.

Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses to contact Ardee Garda Station on 041-6871130, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any Garda station.

Planning refused for new housing estate on the outskirts of Ardee

Plans for a new housing estate on the outskirts of Ardee have been refused planning permission by Louth County Council.

Joe Whyte Building and Development Ltd were originally granted planning for the development on the Carrickmacross Road/N33 a few years back but it was never built due to the recession and downturn in the construction industry.

However, in February they applied for an extension of their planning permission for the 24 apartments that were planned for a site that is bounded by the Carrickmacross Road (N2) and N33 Link Road between the N2 roundabout and the N52 roundabout at the north end of Ardee.

However, the council have refused the request for a planning extension on the basis that the County Development Plan and Border Regional Planning Guidelines have changed since the original permission was granted with the local authority insisting that “the subject development would no longer be consistent with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.”

The development was to include the demolition of a habitable dwelling. The new development was then to consist of a one bed unit, 12 two bed units, 6 three bed units and 5 four bed units.

There would also have been an underground car park and access ramp with 48 car spaces, storage areas and lift from basement level to ground floor level.

All necessary site development works would also have been carried out including the provision of three surface car spaces, access from the Carrickmacross Road, paving, landscaping, boundary treatment, public lighting, two pedestrian access points to the public footpath adjacent to the bus stop on the N33 Link Road and all connections to the public watermain, foul and surface water facilities.

Plans for new Ardee estate still on the agenda

Plans to build a new housing estate on the outskirts of Ardee have not yet been shelved after the developers applied to Louth County Council recently to extend the planning permission for the development by an additional five years.

Joe Whyte Building and Development Ltd were originally granted planning for the development on the Carrickmacross Road/N33 a few years back but it was never built due to the recession and downturn in the construction industry.

However, they have now applied for an extension of their planning permission for the 24 apartments that were planned for a site that is bounded by the Carrickmacross Road (N2) and N33 Link Road between the N2 roundabout and the N52 roundabout at the north end of Ardee.

If given the go ahead, the development would include the demolition of a habitable dwelling. The new development would consist of a one bed unit, 12 two bed units, 6 three bed units and 5 four bed units.

There would also be an underground car park and access ramp with 48 car spaces, storage areas and lift from basement level to ground floor level.

All necessary site development works would also be carried out including the provision of three surface car spaces, access from the Carrickmacross Road, paving, landscaping, boundary treatment, public lighting, two pedestrian access points to the public footpath adjacent to the bus stop on the N33 Link Road and all connections to the public watermain, foul and surface water facilities.

Louth County Council are due to make a decision on the matter on April 6^th.