This article is from page 7 of the 2006-02-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
CLARE County Council has come under fire from Limerick City Council for refusing to meet with it to discuss the proposed city boundary extension into South East Clare.
City officials, in a submission lodged with the Department of the Environment that they, “offered to meet with both Clare and Limerick in order to present and clarify the proposal and answer any questions. This offer was declined and no direct discussion or negotiation took place.
“Clare entirely dismisses the idea of tripartite planning cooperation as “too complicated”.
The statement also claimed that a survey conducted by the council showed that the boundary extension proposal would be likely carried by a plebiscite and there was no significant opposition to the administration of the area by Limerick City Council.
With a decision on the proposed extension expected within weeks, public representatives across Clare have vowed not to give up their land, their rates or their hurlers.
Kilrush Town Councillor Jack Fennell (Ind) warned, “there is no hurling in North Clare and West Clare. If we keep whittling away at the hurling area of County Clare we will have no team left.”
His council colleagues have agreed to write to the Minister for the Environment asking him to refuse Limerick City’s request. Councillors in South East Clare have hit back angrily at suggestions made by Limerick City Councillor John Ryan (Lab) that Clare County Council wss neglecting its responsibility for the south east of the county.
His party colleague, Clare County Councillor Paschal Fitzgerald, hit back angrily telling the Limerick man to “stick to his own area”.
He said council’s plans to provide a library and council offices in the Parteen/Westbury area proved a willingness to provide a good service to the people of the area.
“I am very angry as an East Clare councillor, that not one TD in Clare has come out to back the council and the Clare people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Councillor Cathall Crowe (FF) maintains that no boundary extension into Clare will be granted.
“Whilst there is validity to
the boundary opposition argu ments put forward by Limerick County Council, I consider the Clare argument to hold far more substance. At the end of the day, Limerick city and county are part of the one geopolitical entity — Limerick,” he said.