A decision to refuse permission for a private hospital on the outskirts of Sligo has been welcomed by campaigners, who said the facility would lead to the "continuing downgrading" of the town's existing general hospital.

The local Council said the proposed development would be in conflict with its plan to reserve a strategic road corridor for a planned bypass of the city.

Councillors last year controversially voted to rezone land at Carraroe to enable a private hospital to be built there, but members went against the recommendations of county manager Hubert Kearns, who said the existing Sligo development plan already provided for such facilities on sites that would be more accessible to community facilities.

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In a report, the manager said the proposed development would be inconsistent with strategies already incorporated in the draft development plan to zone land in this area for community facilities.

The bypass is expected to link the N4 with the realigned N15 and N16 on the northern side of Sligo.

The council added that the planned three-story hospital would also be premature because of inadequate sewerage facilities in the area.

According to the Irish Times on Wednesday, developers Noel Elliott, Peter Martin and Mary Gilmartin had applied for permission for a three-storey facility with a floor space of 12,700sq m at Carrickhenry and Tonafortes.

The failed facility was to incorporate 240 parking spaces and a link to the Oakfield road and Carraroe roundabout.

(BMcC/GK)