Another Remote Working Hub On Its Way To The Midlands

That's despite claims it's "a direct attack" on a local business.

Another remote working hub is on its way to the midlands.

Cullohill Community Council has secured planning permission to convert a derelict house and outbuilding in the village into a community hub centre.

It'll provide space for remote working; cooking and food preparation; and a coffee dock and dining space; around an external courtyard area.

The site in question was zoned for 'village centre use' as per the Laois County Development Plan 2021-2017.

The proposal got the greenlight from Laois County Council despite opposition from Cullohill Service Station, which felt the development is a direct attack on their business.

Laois County Council's Planning Department received one public submission in relation to the proposal.

Paschal Bergin from Cullohill Service Station felt he had "no choice but to object to the application in its present form".

He claimed the proposal is "a direct attack" on his business, adding "there has been no communication with us on the matter nor has there been any community discussion about this".

He stated that Cullohill is a very small village and since the bypass, no longer has good passing trade.

With two horsebox coffee docks operating in the village and a coffee dock at the local pet farm, Mr. Bergin felt the proposal for another coffee dock and dining room in the new community hub, targeting passing trade from 8am to 9pm, is a step too far.

He went as far to say his business "might not survive after 25 years of service in the village" as a result.

Mr. Bergin also raised concern over the provision of car parking for the new community hub.

The Planner's Report noted that the application does not propose onsite carparking, but given there's on-street carparking in Cullohill and an existing small public carparking area across the road from the application site, "it is considered there is available carparking capacity in the village cater for the proposed use" (sic).

More from Midlands News

Download Our App