This article is from page 13 of the 2006-03-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
AN East Clare-based woman with the chronic fatigue syndrome, ME, has suffered another setback in her planning troubles with Clare County Council.
Last year, Denise Mitchell of Aughinish, Ogonnelloe, was refused planning permission by the council and An Bord Pleanála to retain her home.
Ms Mitchell chose to live in Ogonelloe due to her hyper-sensitivity to air pollution.
She erected her demountable timberframe house without planning, resulting in the county council serving an enforcement notice on her. Following An Bord Pleanála’s decision to refuse planning permission, Ms Mitchell applied to retain the small demountable home for agricultural and horticultural structures. Now that has been refused as well.
Ms Mitchell’s plight received no sympathy from objector Jim Sheridan of Aughinish, Ogonelloe.
“How many bites at the cherry will the applicant be granted?” his agent asked the council. “The application for retention has no bearing or relevance, whatsoever, in relation to the enforcement obligations of the council. We would submit that the present application, apart from the intended use, is similar in all respects to the earlier opportunities and permission should be refused.”
The council upheld Mr Sheridan’s views, refusing Ms Mitchell on three separate grounds, including scale, visual impact on Lough Derg and traffic.
Ms Mitchell declined to comment on the council’s decision and has until tomorrow (Wednesday) to lodge an appeal.