PLANS for a “vital” new road to alleviate Ennis’s traffic congestion have hit a snag, over environ- mentalists’ concerns about a lake on the outskirts of the town.
Concerns expressed by An Taisce over the im- pact a new inner relief road will have on Lough Girroga has led An Bord Pleanala to demand that Clare County Council formally submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the scheme.
County Engineer, Tom Carey this week de- scribed the road “as a vital piece of infrastruc- ture” that will serve the €120 million Informa- tion Age Park.
The EIS process is expected to take four months and Mr Carey confirmed that it will now be next year before construction on the road commences.
A Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the scheme was approved after no objections were ROCA COR
However, in a submission to An Bord Pleanala, An Taisce stated that the primary heritage impact posed by the development was its proximity to a turlough Lough Girroga, which 1s part of Ballyal- lia Lake, a candidate Special Area of Conserva- tion, which is also a Special Protection Area for Birds and Wildlife.
The site is a habitat for a range of species and significant numbers of Hooper swan and An Taisce state that “the location of such a signifi- cant ecological site, in such close proximity to the built up area of Ennis is unusual and needs care- ful protection”.
An Taisce goes on: “At the same time, the area, if properly managed, could be an enormous re- source for nature conservation, appreciation and education.
‘There is an onus on the applicants to demon- Strate that there will be no adverse impacts on the SPA/SAC and the construction and use of the road during surface run off, will be properly con- trolled and managed.
On the impact the proposed road will have on St Joseph’s Well, An Taisce argue that the existing Holy Well depends for its maintenance on exist- ing hydrological conditions.
An Taisce state that “information should be sought to ensure that the drainage impact from the road will not affect the levels of the water source or supply to the well”.
In response to the submission, the Board In- spector said that the proposed development, hav- ing regard to its nature and size, would be likely to have significant effects on the environment. This was upheld by the Board.