This article is from page 6 of the 2005-10-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
THE chances of the father of a Fianna Fail member of Ennis Town Council becoming a multi-millionaire moved a step closer this week, with the publication of the proposed rezoning to the Ennis and Environs Develop- ment Plan.
As part of the review of the Plan, coun- cillors from Clare County and Ennis Town Councils have agreed to rezone 70 acres of land owned by Damien Reidy on the outskirts of Clarecastle.
As a result of the move, Damien Reidy, father of Fianna Fail councillor, Joe Reidy
could be in store for a windfall of €16.8 mil- lion, following recent land-sales which valued housing land at €240,000 an acre.
As a result of the plan, 22 separate parcels of land are to be rezoned and the largest par- cel of land is the one owned by Mr Reidy at Clarecastle.
The rezoning of Mr Reidy’s land has also received the backing of the Council’s Plan- ning Department.
The rezonings also contain contentious pro- posals to extend residential clusters at Bally- maquiggan and Reaskaun on the outskirts of Ennis. The council’s Executive Planner, Bill Samsum warned councillors during the Sum-
mer that the areas in question had an area eroundwater vulnerability rating and were a zone of source protection for the public water supply for the Ennis area.
He said that if there was a move to vary the plan, due to the area having a groundwa- ter vulnerability rating and being a zone of source protection, the risk to human health would be increased. The rezonings also make provision for a train station at Clarecastle in response to the continuing growth of Ennis and its environs. The council proposes to re- zone 8.75 acres of land adjacent to Skehanagh Bridge at Clarecastle, along the main Ennis to Diiloueeesicansey
The rezoning of the land is expected to add significantly to its value.
Ennis councillor, Cllr Donal O’Bearra ex- pressed his dis-satisfaction with the entire process. He said, “I would be concerned about the whole scenario. It is a rezoning re- view, not a review of the plan as it didn’t look at any other objectives in the plan. Before engaging in any other rezoning, the Council should have determined whether there was a shortfall, or not. I don’t believe that there is a shortfall, and no rezoning should have taken place.”
The public has until Friday, November 1 Ithe 11 to make submissions on the proposals.