This article is from page 8 of the 2014-10-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE residents of Woodstock View in Ennis have failed in their bid to prevent Woodstock Golf and Country Club from changing nine holiday homes at Garville Court into houses.
A local residents group, in the name of William O’Doherty, appealed the case to an Bórd Pleanála earlier this year, after Clare County Council granted permission for the company to transform the holiday homes into full-time dwelling.
Their appeal claims that the development would have a serious negative effect on the local tourism trade, greatly increase population density in the area and also cause a potentially dangerous traff c hazard. “The recent closure of Woodstock Hotel represents a signif cant loss of positive tourism infrastructure and employment in the local area. The proposal to convert nine of the existing holiday homes, adjacent to the Woodstock Hotel, would represent a further serious erosion of our local tourism infrastructure and undermine one of the key objectives of the current County Development Plan,” said the residents in their initial submission to Clare County Council. “Any conversion of the develop- ment from established clustered holidays homes to residential units would represent a dangerous precedent for the proper planning and development for the county as a whole and would undermine many of the objectives of the Development Plan and the Joint Housing Strategy for Clare Local Authorities.”
The Bord decided to uphold the decision, and Woodstock Golf and Country Club will now be able to develop the properties as full time residences rather holiday homes.
“It is considered that the proposed development would not adversely impact on the amenities of the area, would not seriously injure the amenities or depreciate the value of property in the vicinity of the site and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” said the an Bórd Pleanála inspector.