This article is from page 15 of the 2007-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
NOMINATED members of Clare County Council will meet with plan- ners to discuss lifting restrictions in the County Development Plan.
Members agreed to delay adoption of a motion tabled by three Fianna Fail councillors, at the adjourned March meeting of Clare County Soiree
Councillors Bernard Hanrahan, Pe- ter Considine and Pat Daly proposed a variation to the County Develop- ment Plan to include a provision that any person that owned a site for 10 years or over would automatically
qualify as a local.
Cllr Daly said current guidelines laid out in the plan were too restric- tive. “I know of many people that bought sites 10 years ago, at a time when they weren’t in a position to build, but they are now.”
Cllr Considine said the motion had been put forward because of the frus- trating situations that people were JUUNCOUDOTSamO eles pane) AVonws DOR
“Td certainly suggest that each case be taken on its merits. There are cer- tainly a lot of people who have found themselves in this situation and they haven’t a notion what to do.”
Cllr Hanrahan said, “It is impera-
tive we do something for people who have bought sites and couldn’t afford to build and were not deemed a lo- cal person. I can see reading the re- ply that it’s all negative. All we are looking for is that variation be put in place.”
Responding, senior planner Liam Conneally, said the proposal contra- vened existing Government policy.
“Ownership of land, albeit over a period of time, does not indicate any attachment to the land, local residen- cy, employment or involvement with a rural community, and is clearly contrary to the Ministerial Guide- lines on Rural Settlement policy”.
Green Party councillor Brian Meaney said, “The reply makes it clear that the motion “would be in contra- vention with the act’. If it’s challenged it would fail at An Bord Pleanala. We should be talking to the minister to amend the guidelines instead of tak- ing up our time with this.”
Cllr Colm Wiley (FF) said the move might restrict new buyers entering the market. Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) called for an inventory system to determine suitable applicants to avoid sparking rampant property speculation.