This article is from page 2 of the 2006-08-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
CLARE County Council has expressed serious concern over a proposed €40 million housing development for Kilkee.
Putting the planned 196 homes by Colm Kennedy, Noel Gallivan and James Rael for Kilkee Upper on hold, the council has expressed concern over the impact the development will have on adjacent properties, its density, the implications it will have for traffic safety and its piecemeal approach.
The three developers are seeking full planning for 116 homes and outline planning for 80. The plan also includes the construction of a childcare facility and nursing home.
However, the plan has attracted 24 separate objections. In their objection, Jackie and Joseph Haugh state, “Were this development to go ahead, it would be a social, environmental and economic disaster of epic proportion for Kilkee.”
In his objection, local businessman, Brian Melican said, “I live on the Dunlicky Rd, just a few hundred yards away from this development, and we can smell the raw sewage from where it is being pumped into the sea. Adding more to this will destroy our beach which is the biggest attraction in Kilkee.”
Estimating that there are 1,000 holiday homes in Kilkee, Mr Melican asked, “will someone in the council wake up and call a halt. We have a beautiful place but we have to protect it. Enough damage has been done. Leave it at that.”
Now, in its request for further information on the proposal, the council states that it has “serious reservations relating to this development as a result of the number of units with resultant volumes of traffic accessing onto Dunlickey Rd and Merton Close, and the absence of the relief road extending to adjoining lands. The council would be more favourably disposed to a more comprehensive approach to the development of the overall wider zoned lands and relief road.”
The council also states that it has reservations about the location of the crèche and the principle of the “lockup” units, due the requirement for through traffic to access the crehche and the potential for anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the lock-up units.
A decision is due on the application later this year.