This article is from page 10 of the 2006-09-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
THE way is now clear for one of Ireland’s best-known hotels, Dromoland Castle, to proceed with a €1 million plan, after no protected bats were found in the vicinity of a proposed wellness centre.
Earlier this year, Clare County Council put the plan on hold and requested that the hotel carry out a survey of bats in the area. The council stated that there were “a number of bat roosts in the buildings and structures of the hotel including hibernation sites for Lesserhorse Shoe bats”.
The Lesserhorse Shoe bat receives protection under the EU Habitats Directive.
Duchas, the Heritage Service, stated that it had no objection to the proposal, but requested that a bat survey be carried out.
Already, two major redevelopments in the same region of Clare – at Carnelly House and Ballykilty Manor – have encountered planning difficulties as a result of protected bats.
At Carnelly House, the developers are set to spend €120,000 on measures to protect the bats. The news that there are no bats residing where they intend building their wellness centre will come as a relief to Dromoland’s owners.
The survey states: “No bats or sign of any bats were found within the proposed development area. There are no recommendations in regard to bats as none were found to be present within the proposed development site.
“Annex II species under the EU Habitats Directive will not be affected by the proposed works.
In explaining the background to their development plan, Dromoland Castle states that, “Being one of the country’s premier hotels . . . (requires) the constant upgrading of the facilities provided.
The hotel claims that its continued success is based on it being a destination luxury hotel with facilities that out rival similar facilities elsewhere. The hotel states that the provision of the new facilities will enhance the sustainability of Dromoland.