Month: July 2006

THE controversial representative group for Clare architects has been effectively disbanded, with architects and Clare County Council failing to agree a way forward to formally liaise on planning matters.

A number of representatives from the Agent’s Liaison Group recently met with the council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella to see what improvements were been made to the county’s planning system and whether there was a future role for a forum to liaise on planning issues.

According to the ALG’s minutes of the meeting, they stated that there was still a lack of consistency in the planning process. In response, Ms Kinsella said that in order to try to overcome this, two senior planners now dealt with the county. They liaise with each other and each junior planner goes through them.

The architects also highlighted a lack of communication between the departments. In response Ms Kinsella said that in addition to the weekly planners meetings, there were now monthly interdepartmental meetings, to agree on the files which they should be dealing with and areas of concern.

The architects also cited continuing mis-interpretation of policies in the County Development Plan and Ms Kinsella said that where there was ambiguits, implementation notes had been circulated to planners ..

On the future of the ALG, the minutes states “it appears that the two parties to the ALG had different ideas about what the meetings were aiming to achieve

“We suggested that further meetings may prove fruitless. Our aim in having meetings was not to get bogged down in the procedures, but to share our experience of the planning system . . .

The minutes stated that Ms Kinsella “would still be interested in meeting or in communicating with some of us to get feedback on whether procedures being implemented at present will have desired effect”.

In a statement to The Clare People on the issue, Ms Kinsella said of the meeting that “while we did not discuss or decide on any formal arrangement for future contact with practitioners both parties were agreeable to consider any suggestions that may be brought forward. In the interim we will continue to provide all relevant data and information to interested parties via our website.”

THE laying of a pipe for a private housing development in Ennistymon caused traffic chaos leading in and out of the north Clare town over the weekend.

Attempts by Ennistymon Gardai to relieve the traffic congestion in sweltering temperatures were frustrated after Clare County Council informed Gardai that they did not have a key to switch off the mobile traffic lights that were dictating traffic flows.

According to Ennistymon Gardai, the traffic jam leading into Ennistymon from the Ennis side on Saturday and Sunday “went on for miles” on the Ennis side with motorists experiencing delays of over a half an hour.

On Sunday evening, the traffic tailback leading into Ennistymon from Lahinch went as far back as the famine memorial half way to the seaside resort.

Traffic was reduced to single lane on the Ennis approach to Ennistymon to facilitate the laying of a sewer and water pipe to serve a 37-unit development currently under construction.

A spokesman at Ennistymon Garda Station said that the council was also unable to facilitate the detouring of traffic around the town at the weekend to avoid the traffic delays.

“The delays were up to a half an hour long and it was a bit more than people could take, especially if they had young children in the car,” he said.

The pipe-laying has been going on for the past four weeks after developer Seamus Carroll secured a road opening licence from Clare County Council.

Speaking to The Clare People , Mr Carroll admitted that the works were “very disruptive”, but added, “It has to be done and the upgrading of the sewage system will benefit the wider area.”

IRELAND’S coastlines and seas need greater protection according to a new policy paper issued by the Heritage Council. The paper on Ireland’s Marine Heritage was presented to the Environment and Heritage Minister, Dick Roche.

The paper warns that unique maritime heritage features such as sand dune systems, salt marshes, Martello towers and fishing villages are under threat from poor planning decisions. It calls for a nationally backed framework to support local coastal management initiatives that includes coastal landscapes, bio-diversity, and off-shore development and provides clear guidance for new development that includes position of new housing, density and design.

“Ireland’s maritime and coastal heritage provides a vast array of wealth to the country including food, tourism, amenity areas, ports, transport and protection from flooding.

Greater national protection and a comprehensive management system needs to be urgently put in place,” said Beatrice Kelly of the Heritage Council.

The policy calls for a number of other measures to be put in place including, specific budgets for managing water quality, guidelines for better record data for fish stocks, and improved management plans for fish farms to reduce ecological damage.

It also urges improvements to the visual impact on the landscape and seascape of Ireland and outlines the need to protect native shellfish stocks.

In addition, it emphasises the need for a greater awareness of Ireland’s maritime heritage, including coastlines, the seas, plants, fish and animals, coastline villages, towns and cities, rich fishing traditions, customs and folklore, recreation and tourism.

“We need to protect these resources more thoroughly because of the rapid rate of development and in light of climate change. Many of our coastal towns and villages are suffering from inappropriate development that will impact negatively on our economy and environment,” Ms Kelly said.

NO-ONE has yet been issued with a fine for having their dog on any of Clare’s beaches during the day as Clare County Council yesterday lauded the public response to the dogs ban.

Since June 1 last, members of the public have faced on-the-spot fines of €125 if found walking their dogs — even those on a lead — on Clare’s beaches between 11am and 6pm.

The ban is to continue until the end of August and, in cases that go to court, individuals can face fines of up to €1,270.

According to a council spokeswoman, “The response has been very good. There has been no need to impose on-the-spot fines as no person has continued to flout the law.

As part of the council’s softly-softly approach in the early stages of the ban, the spokeswoman said that life-guards at the county’s beaches are advising people of the new bye-laws and people are obeying the new laws and leaving the beaches with their dogs.

She said, “We are very happy with the response to the bye-laws. The county’s dog warden, Frankie Coote, continues to enforce the existing laws relating to uncontrolled dogs.”

However, she warned that those that do flout the law will be fined and yesterday evening, on one of the hottest days of the years, a number of dogs were spotted on Lahinch beach prior to 6pm.

A review of the existing bye-laws is to take place at the end of the Summer and one of those opposed to the ban, Councillor Joe Carey (FG) has already said, “I look forward to the review of the laws and I would sympathise with people who are being seriously inconvenienced by the heavy-handed approach by the council.”

He added, “If the laws in place prior to the ban were being properly adhered to and enforced where people would be prosecuted for dogs running loose and allowing dogs to foul, there wouldn’t be a need for the new laws.”

The beaches to be included are Lahinch, Bishop’s Quarter, Spanish Point, Doolin and White Strand in north Clare. In west Clare, Seafield, White Strand (Doonbeg), Carrigaholt, Brews Bridge beach and lakeshore beaches including Ballyalla near Ennis, Mountshannon and Ballycuggeran beach near Killaloe.

A NORTH Clare couple have not given up on the prospect of developing a heritage park in Doolin that would celebrate Clare and Ireland’s legends, despite been refused planning permission for the project.

Joe and Mairead Dalton were refused permission to develop the visitor centre at Carnaun, Doolin where they were seeking to transform seven acres of land into a park celebrating Clare’s mythical legends.

Clare County Council refused on three grounds; that the recreational facilities would be contrary to the proper planning and development of the area; the proposed development would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and the proposals would be prejudicial to public health.

In their appeal, the Dalton’s state that “the proposal is relatively small scale in developmental density and in an operational sense. Most of the site, which is unused and overgrown at present, would be soft landscaped with planting and earthworks to achieve a wild natural setting for ancient stories.

“The modest reception building is based on rural style buildings and the thatched hut on a much older tradition of Irish rustic build. The vulnerable landscape at the south of the field is not being developed.

“The proposed site location is ideal for achieving the wild rural setting required for this specific theme and at the same time is adjacent to a tourist settlement and tourist route.

“The proposed centre on the site adjacent to Coogyulla Cross holiday facilities and tourist based commerce integrates with it, is located adjacent to a settlement and main tourist route and does not significantly impact the landscape/environment.

“The proposal also meets the objective of the North Clare Area Plan ‘to facilitate the growth of an innovative and integrated tourism product which respects and compliments the unique environment, traditions and diverse resources of north Clare’.

The Daltons state that no locals objected to the proposal. ‘any feedback we’ve had is that the area badly needs facilities of this kind instead of just holiday accommodation’.

“The proposal because of the inherent wild rural nature needs a large site and a rural atmosphere so an urban setting is inappropriate especially where vegetative growth is inhibited by harsh coastal growing conditions, as is the case for much of the area.

The Daltons anticipated that by the third year of operation, 32,000 tourists would visit their planned attraction per annum.

A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

THE court battle between traders, musicians and Clare County Council over the local authority’s attempts to evict the two groups from the Cliffs of Moher has moved a step closer.

Twelve of the 19 traders and musicians have written to Ennis Circuit Court to state they will be making an appearance to defend the council’s action.

One of those who has written to the court, Tony O’Leary, states that he has been busking at the Cliffs for the past 29 years.

Mr O’Leary said that he busked on a casual basis at the Cliffs between 1977 and 1989 and busked full-time from 1989 to 2006. He wrote that he would defend his right to busk as it is based on a very old tradition dating back to Cornelius O’Brien.

Mr O’Leary said that he could play the concertina, flute and tin whistle to a very good standard and quality. He said: “I am willing to be assessed by a professional musician if necessary.”

Others to formally give notice that they will be defending the action include Paul Dooley, Gerry Cahill, Tina Morrissey, James Considine, Richard O’Halloran, Paul O’Dwyer, Tony Anderson, Stephen Dodd, Thomas C Coyne and Michael Galvin.

“We are very confident that we have a strong case, on a number of grounds: that there is precedent there, there is a public right of way, the length of time we are there without any objections and the public support we have,” Gerry Cahill told The Clare People yesterday.

“The survey by The Clare People shows that there is overwhelming support amongst members of Clare County Council.”

The case is not due to be heard until the next sitting of Ennis Circuit Court in October ahead of the council opening the new centre in the first quarter of 2007.

The council’s Project Director, Ger Dollard said that the proceedings were been taken in order to end “the free for all” currently in place at the Cliffs. “We want to start with a clean sheet,” he said.

Last month, Mr Dollard added: “At the moment, it is really is a free for all and people can take up a tin whistle and go up to the Cliffs of Moher and start busking.

Mr Dollard said that busking was a positive activity and that a panel was to be established to carry out the auditions.

THE go-ahead has been given for a €1.61 million plan to end the continuing environmental damage to the Burren and rejuvenate the area’s tourism industry.

Fáilte Ireland has allocating €1.4 million to an integrated management strategy for the Burren – the first such inter-agency initiative to be launched since the Government announced its ill-fated visitor centre plans at Mullaghmore in 1991. The Department of the Environment has already contributed €210,000 to the scheme.

Clare County Council in partnership with Shannon Development is leading the initiative. The council’s Heritage Officer, Congella Maguire said yesterday that the project was initiated in response to the Burren’s rich heritage coming under increasing threat.

“The growing demands of the tourism and leisure industry and increasing visitor numbers are taking their toll on the environment of the Burren.

“This has resulted in environmental damage through car parking on fragile species-rich limestone grasslands, the destruction of limestone pavement through construction by visitors of ‘mini-dolmens’, the removal of weathered limestone for garden products and the picking of rare and endangered flora.”

Ms Maguire said that the initiative “marks the first phase towards an integrated management structure and a coordinated approach to visitor management issues in the Burren”.

Amongst the key objectives of the ‘Environmental Protection of the Burren through Visitor Management’ initiative is the implementation of a co-ordinated and integrated approach to environmental protection and visitor management.

According to Ms Maguire: “Actions to be undertaken include the development of four circular driving routes to direct visitors away from the main ‘honey-pot’ sites and encourage them to visit lesser known and accessible sites in the central and eastern Burren.”

The three-year project also involves the designation and promotion of various gateway entry points to the Burren; the development of touch screen digital information hubs at five key locations, and the development of themed walking routes.

Other actions include the erection of improved signage in the Burren region, the development of an innovative multimedia educational programme, the production and distribution of multilingual information packs, the development of geological trails, a Burren Monuments Trail and the provision of infrastructural works at the Poulnabrone archaeological site and Fanore Dunes complex.

MEASURES to slow down dangerous drivers and to make the roads around Ennis safer are set to be introduced by Clare County Council.

The Council are to commence repair work on a number of roads in the Ennis area that have been left in a dangerous condition. Re-surfacing is set to take place on a treacherous stretch of road leading from Drumcliffe to the Ruan road. Clare County Council are also to consider the introduction of traffic calming measures between Drumcliffe cemetery and Ballyalla after residents stated they are living in fear because of drivers speeding in the area. Realignment is also set to take place on the Claremount road in order to give drivers better sight distance at a dangerous bend in the road.

Senior Executive Engineer, Hugh McGrath also urged Clare County Council to formulate a strategy for dealing with over grown hedgerows in rural areas. He cited the problem as contributing to the dangerous condition of rural roads and said a strategy needed to be urgently adopted.

“Clare County Council need to address putting in place a schedule for cutting hedgerows. More important than hedgerows are the grass verges. If that system was in place, it would make a huge improvement to the condition of the roads”

Raising the concerns over the conditions of the roads in Drumcliffe and Claremount at yesterdays Ennis electoral area meeting, Councillor Bernard Hanrahan said Clare County Council needed to be more proactive in the area of road safety.

“Clare County Council has to seriously look at how we can look at preventing the carnage on our roads. Hedge rows are a big problem in rural areas”

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) who requested work be carried out in the Drumcliffe area said residents are “living in fear” because of the antics of boy racers.

Cllr Joe Carey (FG) said drivers would have to change their behaviour and slow down on the roads.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said he was glad to hear that hedge rows could be cut down if they impeded safety conditions on a road.

A CLARE County Councillor was left red faced on national radio when he was told information given to him at a council meeting was not correct.

In a debate with An Taisce’s Ian Lumley, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) criticised the environment watchdog for not allowing the people of Clare access to its comments on planning applications in the county.

At the June meeting of the council, the councillor was told that the An Taisce files could not legally be made available under law.

Cllr Kelly said he was embarrassed when told by Mr Lumley, “you have no problem with us. Go back to your county council who have a restrictive policy.”

Cllr Martin Conway (FG) said he “genuinely felt sorry and embarrassed for him.

Director of Services Bernadette Kinsella said the information given to Cllr Kelly was factual, as that was the council’s interpretation of it.

“We went back and the department advised us our interpretation was not the same as interpretation made in other county councils.”

“We were happy to correct something we had misinterpreted.”

CLARE County Council’s ability to dispose of waste came in for renewed criticism this week, as news broke that effluent was taken to a scheme that was unable to treat it.

Following difficulty with the treatment plant in Kilmihill, effluent was moved by a permitted contractor to a plant that was unable to treat it in Kilrush.

The untreated effluent was then allowed to run into the estuary with the town’s own waste.

At this week’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) criticised the decision.

The Environmental Special Policy Committee chairperson told her council colleagues that it was against “best practice” to remove effluent to a plant that was not able to treat it.

“Everyone knows the Kilrush plant is not capable of treating it,” she said referring to a council proposal to upgrade the system in the West Clare capital.

“There are other treatment plants that are capable of taking it,” she said.

The visibly angered councillor said that it should not be the job of the environmental department to “police” the council.

Acting Director of Services and County Engineer Walter Walsh admitted to the council that it would have been better to deal with the effluent in a different way.

He told the councillors that the effluent was mixed with the Kilrush effluent and released into the estuary “like the rest”.

Cllr McCarthy said she wanted a written report on what happened including the name of the contractor and the time of the movement.

Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney also asked if the contractor in question was to retain his permit and if he was asked to take the waste to Kilrush by a member of the council staff.

This revelation follows on from an investigation in the last six weeks into illegal dumping on local authority land in Kilrush Town.

The incident was blamed on “a breakdown in communication”.