This article is from page 7 of the 2007-08-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
A QUESTION mark has been thrown over an ambitious proposal by a County Clare construction company to develop a strategic site in Ennis.
Ennis couple Vincent and Ann Coffey of Clonroad, Ennis lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala against a plan by Galvin Construction Ltd to build a retail outlet on Ennis’s Fran- cis Street.
In 2004, it emerged that the Cof- feys withdrew their objection against a €20 million housing scheme at the Quin Road, Doora by Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd after the company paid them £85,000 (€107,930) and gave them two free sites.
A letter to the board from the Cof- feys stated that at no time did they approach the developers with the in- tention of securing payment of mon- ey, gifts or consideration of other in- ducement by any person.
An Bord Pleanala has already up- held the Coffeys’ concerns in relation to the Galvin Construction Francis Street proposal by refusing planning permission to the development last year.
The Coffeys property is adjacent to the Galvin development and the building company re-lodged plans to develop the Francis Street site.
Ennis Town Council gave the com-
pany the go-ahead and now the Cof- feys have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.
Consultants for the Coffeys state, “The proposed development will devalue our client’s property by vir- tue of its proximity along the lateral ere) UbALe rN AYA
“It will result in overshadowing, loss of amenity and privacy. The wrap-around balcony at second-floor level, if permitted, will directly over- look our client’s property…
“We would respectfully submit that this application should be refused pending a more appropriate design solution for the site.” A decision is due on the appeal later this year.
The appeal stated that “the current planning application involves the de- velopment of part of one of the most important sites in Ennis town centre, situated at the junction of Francis Street and Clonroad and, whilst the Site 18 vacant, it 1s deemed suitable for a mixture of uses”.
“The council will recognise that this stand-alone proposal jeopard- ises the potential for the proper plan- ning and development of the entire area and must be assessed in those ACCU N AHEAD Gree
“An overall proposal is required for the entire area to ensure that the land’s true potential is exploited,” the appeal stated.