This article is from page 14 of the 2007-08-28 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
THE developers of a proposed hous- ing development in Lahinch have successfully argued that 1s not viable to retain the route of the West Clare Railway that lies close to the devel- opment.
This follows Clare County Coun- cil giving the go-ahead to Patricia Stackpoole to build eight homes on Station Road in Lahinch.
The council had expressed con- cerns over the scheme’s impact on
the West Clare Railway, pointing out that it is policy of the council to only permit development on or adjacent to the west Clare plan that will not con- flict with the policy.
The council stated that, “The pro- posed plan includes for a number of building unit and their rear gardens to be built over the line of the west Clare railway. Please address this matter by way of revised proposals.”
However, in response, consultants for Ms Stackepoole stated that, ““The line of the railway to the east and
west of the site as indicated on the at- tached map has been fully obscured and built over by numerous different ownerships for an extensive period of time
“Clearly, it is not possible that the line of the railway can be developed in this area as parts of a recreational route to achieve this objective. The rationale of maintaining the area of that line traversing the site does not therefore appear to be viable.”
In the planner’s report recommend- ing that planning permission be
eranted, the planner agreed with the developers that it was not possible to utilise the route of the West Clare Railway as a recreational route due to the amount of private land interest AN Cevercm seem eeuuleloe
The planner stated that the provi- sion of a walking route will prove extremely difficult and will require the acquisition of land and houses.
In its formal order, the Council gave the plan the go-ahead as the site is zoned as residential in the North Clare Area Plan, the intended use
of the proposed land and would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.
The proposal attracted a lot of local Opposition and the ultimate arbiters of the merits of the application look set to be An Bord Pleanala.
In one of the objections that reflects local feeling over the plan, Marie O’Donoghue stated that, “Lahinch is a seaside village and haphazard backland development of this nature and size constitutes over-density and Waaey Deny Ac 1H (O)n ae