County: Wicklow Site name: Templerainy
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0434
Author: Yvonne Whitty
Site type: None
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 725022m, N 675958m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.820076, -6.145093
The first phase of works took place for a proposed park and ride facility consisting of the construction of a 170-space car park and ancillary works at Templerainy, Arklow, County Wicklow. Planning was granted by Wicklow County Council (Planning Ref 14/1234) in 2015 which was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála who granted planning in June 2015 (Ref PL 27.244465). The grant of planning was subject to 16 conditions including that it would be constructed in two phases, phase 1 consisting of 75 car parking spaces. The second phase shall not commence however until verifiable data for the demand has been submitted to and agreed in writing with the planning authority. Condition 15 (a-c) of the grant of planning required that a suitably qualified archaeologist shall monitor all works. Although the proposed development will not impact directly on ay RMP sites there is a cluster of Recorded monuments including two cremation pits (WI040-057 and 58) and a burnt mound (WI040-049) located within 175m of the proposed development site. These sites were excavated as part of the N11 Road Improvement Scheme. There was a possibility that archaeology may be uncovered during the course of works associated with the proposed development of phase 1.
Monitoring of phase 1 of the ground works was completed over two days in August 2020. The ground was stripped of topsoil by a 13t machine using a flat grading bucket to natural ground which was significantly disturbed in the centre and at the south-east corner of the site from recent works associated with the construction of the N11 Road Scheme. No finds or features of archaeological significance were uncovered during monitoring of phase 1 of
the park and ride development for 75 car parking spaces. Only half of the site was stripped during phase 1 of works and the remainder will be left fenced off and left under rough pasture until permission has been granted by the council for
phase 2 of the development. Archaeological monitoring of the second phase of works will commence in advance of any groundworks once approval has been given by Wicklow County Council.
Unit 10 Riverside Business Centre Tinahely Wicklow
