This article is from page 3 of the 2006-10-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
THREE local landowners have opposed plans by Michael Lynch Ltd to construct a road-link to the Ennis bypass that would open almost 60 acres of land for commercial development on the outskirts of the town.
The Lynch project is the latest in a scramble by developers to exploit the commercial opportunities provided by the opening of lands by the €190 million Ennis by-pass.
One of the options put forward for the Lynch lands near Clareabbey is the development of a 42,000 capacity G.A.A. stadium.
The company has lodged an ‘expression of interest’ in the Clare County Board’s search for new stadium and the proposal to provide a new county grounds at Clonroadmore is the focus of the Lynch bid.
However, three landowners, Richard O’Connell, Pat Hynes and Paddy McInerney have come together to oppose the plan on the basis that the development of the distributor road takes no account of their right of access to their lands.
They claim that the proposed distributor road cuts through the existing farm and right of way and makes no allowance for a sustainable access to their lands which are zoned as ‘other settlement’ in the Ennis Development Plan.
The three also point out that the proposed new road would raise land levels around their property.
This week the Council planning department confirmed that the application was invalidated on a technical issue and it was open to the applicants to re-submit their application. It is understood that the company has now opted to re-submit their plans.
The proposed development of a 1.5 km long single-carriageway is to connect the Clonroadmore industrial estate where the Lynch company headquareers is based and the western relief route of the Ennis by-pass.
One option put forward by the company is the development of the stadium along with a 70 bedroom hotel, gym, all-weather pitch offices, conference centre, 240 houses, a public park around Clareabbey as well as a train stop and park and ride facilities.
Another option involves the development of 400 residential units, retail warehousing, a public park around Clareabbey along with the train stop and park n ride facilities.
However, before any of these scenarios can be contemplated, the company has to secure planning permission for the road and it points out that this is a key objective of the Ennis Development Plan.