This article is from page 20 of the 2007-09-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
THE Department of the Environment has claimed that awarding planning permission for a €50 million retail park on the outskirts of Ennis would be contrary to the aims of the EU Habitats Directive.
In its strongest statement yet against the plan by Stephen Harris to construct the retail park, the de- partment stated that if the plan was to receive the green light, “it would result in significant adverse impacts on habitats and species of ecological importance at a regional to national level”.
Clare County Council is to decide on the application later this month. However, 1n its latest submission the National Parks and Wildlife Section (NPWS) of the department raises fresh concerns over the fate of the Marsh Fritillary butterfly at the site.
The butterfly is the only butterfly that is afforded protection under the EU Habitats Directive.
The department state, “Permitting the development in its current form would be contrary to the aims of the Habitats Directive in relation to maintaining the range and distribu- tion of species listed on Annex II and protecting sites or stepping stones of importance for biodiversity.
The department also claim that “the proposed development will re- sult in significant biodiversity losses in terms of wetland habitats of eco- logical value and the loss of a sig- nificant proportion of the remaining Marsh Fritillary population in the Skehanagh/Bunnow area’.
The department also point out that the information submitted by the ap- plicants “is deficient in respect of in- formation on the presence of Marsh Fritillary in the application area and the assessment of the likely signifi- cant impacts of the development on this species and the habitat.
“In line with the precautionary principle, the development should not be permitted in the absence of the necessary information and flood risk assessment. This major defi- ciency cannot be dealt with by way of planning conditions.”
The late intervention by the depart- ment represents a blow to the pros- pects of Mr Harris securing planning permission for the ambitious propos- al. It also signals the intention of the department to appeal any decision to grant to An Bord Pleanala.
The council has already carried out a report on the viability of retail parks around the Ennis area and has designated the Harris proposal as the best suited for development.