This article is from page 16 of the 2006-11-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
ALTHOUGH the famous west Clare railway has been defunct for over 40 years, it is at the centre of Clare County Council’s refusal of planning permission for a holiday home development on the outskirts of Lahinch.
Two years ago, Tom O’Keeffe of Roslevan, Ennis lodged plans with the council to construct 20 holiday homes at Creg, Lahinch. This was later reduced to twelve.
However, the council has refused planning permission on three grounds , one of which is the number of the homes that would be built over the line of the west Clare railway. That would be in conflict with the North Clare Area Plan 2005.
The plan states that developments should only be allowed on or adjacent to the west Clare railway, which will not conflict with or restrict the recreational potential of the line.
However, developer, Tom O’Keeffe through his planning consultants, Corey Stevens and Associates has expressed incredulity at his plan being turned down due to the presence of the old west Clare railway line.
An appeal to An Bord Pleanala states: “It is hard to reason how this can occur as the railway line no longer exists from the bridge abutments at the subject into Lahinch.”
The appeal goes on: “ We also contend that it is meaningless to exclude the area of the railway line from the proposed development as the land cannot serve any other purpose.
Mr O’Keeffe has told the board that he is willing to forgo the development on one home that is located on the defunct railway line, if he is granted permission for the remainder of the development.
Folklorist and author of ‘Walking in the Tracks of the West Clare Railway’, Eddie Lenihan said: “A lot of damage has been done to the west Clare railway so why have anymore. It would be a disgrace to do so.
“I’m sure that ways will be found to overcome problems that seem insurmountable now in getting parts of the west Clare up and running again.
Mr Lenihan however expressed that the policy in the North Clare Area Plan to protect the west Clare has come too late. He said: “An awful lot of the line is gone already.”
The 27 mile line from Ennis to Miltown Malbay was closed in 1961, when it was making losses of £23,000 per annum.
A decision on the appeal is due next year.