This article is from page 20 of the 2006-11-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
PLANS by Michael Lynch Ltd to build a road that could serve a new 42,000 seater stadium have received a second blow, with the National Roads Authority (NRA) opposing the proposal.
Last week, The Clare People revealed concerns over the impact the route could have on the medieval Clareabbey and the site of an 800year old battle.
Now, the NRA has told the council that it has examined the application “and considers that it is at variance with national policy in relation to control of frontage development on national roads for a number of reasons”.
The plan by Michael Lynch Ltd seeks to open 60 acres of land for commercial development. One of the options put forward for the lands near Clareabbey by the company is the development of a 42,000 capacity GAA stadium. However, the NRA has stated that the application for a new 1.5km route is premature pending the completion of the N18 Ennis by-pass and N85 western relief road and that the proposed development also involves lands acquired under Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and funded by the NRA for the purpose of N18/N85 Ennis by-pass..
The NRA state: “The proposed application will impact on the effective operation of the N18/N85 by-pass.
“The N85 Clareabbey roundabout junction currently under construction as part of the N18 Ennis by-pass . . . was not designed to cater for the levels of proposed development generated traffic, which according to the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) submitted in support of the application are anticipated to be in excess of 14,000 in design year.
“We have serious concerns regarding the interaction of this large volume of development-generated traffic with National Road traffic from a capacity and safety perspective.”
The NRA also state that the impact of the proposed development on the road drainage regime for the N18 Ennis by-pass has not been adequately assessed.
The Department of the Environment states that “as with other developments in this general area south of Ennis, there are concerns about the flood risks and the presence of unsuitable ground conditions for construction in the floodplain of the River Fergus.
It goes on: “There is little consideration of the cumulative impacts of the current development in conjunction with possible future development on the current site, and other nearby permitted, planned or partially constructed development.”
A decision is due on the application next month.