Maxol station planned for former Saggart Arms site
By Laura Lyne
PLANS for the re-development of the former Saggart Arms site to a Maxol station, shop and forecourt at the junction of Main Street and Boherboy in Saggart have been submitted to South Dublin County Council.
The planning application will see the demolition of the former Saggart Arms public house, and the construction of a two-storey building with an off-licence, self-service deli and a seating area with a private office and welfare facilities on the first floor.
It also includes the development of an enclosed car wash, a petrol filling station forecourt with four pumps and the reconfiguration and the general widening of Main Street and Boherboy road footpaths.
The controversial site was deemed derelict following concerns from local residents and was sold to Maxol for a price in excess of €1.5 million at the beginning of 2015 through agent Kelly Walsh.
A meeting between representatives from Maxol and local residents in Saggart took place in Citywest back in November.
Local resident Mervyn Ennis told The Echo: “There were about 20 residents at the meeting, and it was very welcoming. I really was impressed by the courtesy of the owners.
“The main concerns were with the height of the forecourt and the flow of traffic. At about 8am in the morning and 4pm in the evening a well up of traffic develops, and the proposals at the meeting saw the construction of a feeder line of traffic into the garage where the old pub building is.
“I really was impressed by the pre-submission work, and it was a generally positive meeting. Maxol are working with local people and residents are being listened to. It’s much better than an idle site, and much better then what was proposed before.”
The Saggart Residents Association plans to meet in the next week or two to discuss the proposals put forward to them at November’s meeting.
Joe Walker, chairman of Saggart Residents Association told The Echo: “Maxol have been open and honest with local residents since they bought the site.
“About 10 months ago, they brought us around their premises near The Morgue in Templeogue Village and it is very well kept.
“It is right back off the street and it is a new, modern premises and they said they intend to have the Maxol in Saggart similar to it which is what we’d hope to see.”
Submissions will be accepted on the planning application until February 16, with a decision on the proposed development expected from South Dublin County Council by March 8.
