This article is from page 7 of the 2005-10-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
THE National Roads Authority’s (NRA) of- fensive against Clare County Council’s policy of allowing one-off housing to be built on national routes in certain circumstances, has been endorsed by An Bord Pleanala.
Earlier this year, members of Clare County Council ignored a warning from the NRA against loosening restrictions on one-off homes being built on national routes in the new Clare County Development Plan.
The NRA warned that such a move would jeopardise the roads programme in Clare.
Now, 1n the first test-case of the council’s new policy — which 1s also contained in the Ennis and Environs Development Plan — the NRA has been successful in appealing a deci- sion by the council to grant planning to Paul Brodie to build a house on land facing onto the N18, 3km north of Barefield.
The appeals board ruled that Mr Brodie’s proposal would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard because the site was located alongside the heavily-trafficked road, at a point where a speed limit of 100 km/h.
The appeals board also ruled that the pro- posal would endanger public safety by reason of traffic hazard and obstruction of road us- Clase
The NRA’s stance was backed by the Clare Association of An Taisce who lodged a sub- mission with the Board, stating that the devel-
opment is “a classic case of ribbon develop- ment on a national road”’.
The decision provoked an angry reaction from Councillor Sonny Scanlan (FG) who said, “I am very disappointed and disgusted with the NRA. They must be accountable for their actions and they must tell the council why it is now adopting this policy.”
To date, this year, the NRA has appealed four separate decisions by the council to grant planning for one-off homes along national routes.
Cllr Scanlan said, “It is very unfair that An Bord Pleanala finds in favour of the NRA everytime regardless of the circumstances of the application. The Council would not have granted planning permission to Mr Brodie if it had jeopardised road safety in any way.”
Leader of the Council’s Fianna Fail group, Clir PJ Kelly said, “It 1s time that the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, acted and changed the remit of the NRA and remove their powers of appealing decisions to An Bord Pleanala.”
Green Party councillor Brian Meaney de- scribed the action by the NRA as “heavy- handed”.
Speaking on the issue earlier this year, the NRA’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Michael Egan, confirmed that, “It would be extremely shortsighted to allow a free-for-all in allow- ing one-off homes along national routes. We ignore the issue at our peril.”