This article is from page 13 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
THE National Roads Authority (NRA) has prevented another individual along the EnnisKilrush road from securing planning permission. In refusing permission to Oliver Breen, An Bord Pleanála overturned the decision of Clare County Council and ignored the recommendation of its inspector.
This provoked an angry response from independent councillor, Christy Curtin this week, who said, “The Board should be guided by the advice of its own inspector.
“I am disappointed. I know the site and it is a case of merit.
“The Board and inspector are obviously not working in tandem and that is creating hardship for the likes of Oliver Breen who have been negatively impacted by the NRA’s hardline policy in west Clare.”
Almost one third of the 18 appeals the NRA lodged nationally last year were in the west Clare electoral area and it has been successful in all appeals – bar one – in Clare.
In the case of Oliver Breen’s plan for a home at Ballyduneen, Knockalough, Kilmihil, the Board’s Inspector ruled that the proposal would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
The NRA lodged an appeal, claiming that the proposal would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard due to extra traffic generated; set a precedent for additional development along this road; and was at variance with national policy in relation to control of frontage development onto national roads.
The Board ruled that, as the site is located alongside the National Secondary Route N68 at a point where a speed limit of 100 km/h applies, the traffic-turning movements generated by the proposed development would create a traffic hazard on this national road.
The Board also refused planning having regard to the low-lying nature of the site, including the presence of vegetation indicative of poor drainage. The proposed development would, therefore, be prejudicial to public health.
The Board stated, “In deciding not to accept the Inspector’s recommendation to grant permission, the Board was not satisfied that the proposed development would not constitute a
traffic hazard and, on the basis of the soil suit ability test results, the Board was not satisfied that the site could be drained satisfactorily.
“The Board was also not satisfied that there was not a more suitable site on the overall family farm landholding.”