This article is from page 16 of the 2006-10-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
CLARE County Council has given the go-ahead for a new €25 million housing development on the outskirts of Ennis, in spite of concerns expressed over the development by the recently appointed editor of The Clare Champion.
The council has granted planning permission to developer Martin Casey to build 131 houses, a crèche and a shop at Shanaway Road on the western fringes of Ennis.
Austin Hobbs’s objection to the development focused on the impact the proposed development and its entrance would have on his family’s property.
The objection, which was made in a personal capacity, predated his appointment as ‘Champion’ editor and was made with his wife and another couple living in the area.
They also had the support of An Taisce who described the development as premature pending the provision of public services.
Another local resident, Ennis Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan facilitated the development in a personal capacity by entering an arrangement with Mr Casey to allow the housing development be part-accessed through his property.
A previous application for 131 houses by Mr Casey was refused because the entrance was not wide enough. However, the planner’s report on the latest application says the applicant has acquired land from the adjacent landowner to widen the entrance and a letter of consent has been submitted. In that letter, Mr Tiernan said he has no objection to Mr Casey’s application “even though a small portion of the site is located within our property”.
“As the proposed development is adjacent to my home, it would be inappropriate from me to contribute to the adjudication process in relation to the application and therefore I will not be doing so.”
Mr Tiernan declined to comment on any dealings he has with Mr Casey to widen the entrance to the development, telling The Clare People : “It is a private matter.”
Mr Tiernan and Mr Hobbs are neighbours and in the objection lodged on behalf of Mr Hobbs and the other residents, consulting engineer, Paddy Coleman states that the application should be refused on the basis “that the entrance and its location is totally inadequate, unacceptable and unsafe”.
Mr Hobbs stated that he has no further comment to make on the matter.