TD Paul Murphy loses appeal against extended opening hours for NCT centre in his constituency

Seán McCárthaigh

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy has failed in his attempt to block an extension of opening hours for a large NCT test centre in his Dublin South-West constituency over concerns that it would result in noise pollution at unsocial hours.

An Coimisíun Pleanála has upheld the decision of South Dublin County Council to grant planning permission to Applus Inspection Service Limited – the operator of NCT centres – for longer opening hours of the Greenhills NCT Centre on Greenhills Road in Tallaght.

The Commission rejected an appeal by the well-known politician who challenged the council’s decision with the support of a dozen local families from Tymonville Road over concerns about noise coming from the test centre at night time.

Mr Murphy claimed the proposed extension of operating times sought by Applus would result in the NCT centre’s permitted opening hours increasing from 66 to 81 hours per week with almost all the extended openings occurring during “unsocial hours".

Applus claims it currently operates the NCT centre in Greenhills for just under 60 hours per week.

Ruling

In its ruling, the Commission said the alterations to the test centre’s operating hours would not seriously injure the residential amenities of properties in the vicinity, subject to compliance with a number of planning conditions.

They include a limit of 55 decibels on noise coming from the NCT centre as measured at any point on the boundary of the site.

The Commission said a recommendation by its own planning inspector that the planning permission for the extended opening hours should be limited to a period of five years was not warranted.

The Greenhills NCT centre currently opens from 8am on Monday-Saturday.

However, under the approved changes, it will be allowed to open from 7.30am on Monday-Friday.

In the evenings, the centre currently operates until 5.10pm on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, until 6pm on Thursdays and until 7.10pm on Wednesday-Friday.

In its application, Applus sought permission to conduct tests until 11.30pm on Tuesday, 11pm on Wednesday-Thursday, 9pm on Friday and 7.30pm on Saturday which would see its operating hours increase from just under 60 hours to 82 hours.

However, An Coimisiún Pleanála retained the same changes fixed by South Dublin County Council in its grant of planning permission to limit the opening times to 9pm on weekdays and 7.30pm on Saturdays “in the interest of residential amenities".

Mr Murphy and local residents claimed the biggest impact of extended opening hours would be from evening opening times.

They argued that no new noise impact assessment had been submitted by Applus while they claimed existing noise barriers have had no noticeable effect.

They also expressed concern that the extended opening hours would have a negative impact on public health as well as having a detrimental impact on the value of nearby properties.

“This has been an ongoing issue over many years because the back of the Applus building is around 15 metres from the back of residents’ homes and there is significant noise pollution during the operating hours,” observed Mr Murphy.

Sleep patterns

He expressed concern that any additional opening hours would “significantly interfere” with the normal sleep and rest patterns of local residents who could “reasonably expect a level of quietness.”

The People Before Profit TD added: “If these late-night hours are granted, it will significantly impact the ability of residents to relax in the evenings in their own homes as well as sleep.”

Mr Murphy said noise from the NCT centre was ongoing whenever the centre is open including noise from cars revving, horns beeping, music, sounds like an air conditioning system and people shouting loudly to each other.

While he acknowledged that an acoustic noise barrier had been constructed, he claimed that residents believed it had no noticeable impact on noise levels.