This article is from page 20 of the 2008-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
AN BORD Pleanala has given Par- teen GAA club permission to extend its club facilities, despite concerns of a board inspector that the develop- ment could prove dangerous for local children.
Clare County Council approved the club’s plan last year. Subsequently, the inspector advised that the de- velopment would generate extra car traffic which would pose a risk to lo- cal children.
The inspector’s advice came after residents from Westbury appealed Clare County Council’s ruling.
Video evidence of congestion near the site, which residents submitted with their objection, contributed to the inspector’s decision.
“The local residents are obviously concerned with the impact of this
extra car traffic on their amenity and own freedom of movement,” the in- spector stated.
“It is evident that road safety and especially the safety of children is uppermost in their minds. It 1s not so much the objective degree of danger to children that is at issue here.
“Even the reasonable apprehen- sion of danger and the consequential degree to which children’s freedom to play unsupervised out of doors is constrained is a material consid- eration and one which must be taken into account in any proper planning assessment of the merits of the devel- opment.
“T conclude on the second main is- sue that the proposed development would create a degree of danger and disturbance, as perceived by local residents.”
However, the board over-ruled the
inspection stating that the proposal would not seriously injure the ameni- ties of the area or of property in the vicinity.
The board stated, “In deciding not to accept the inspector’s recom- mendation to refuse permission, the board concurred with the planning authority’s conclusion that the pro- posed facilities are complementary to the existing established use of the site as a Sports/recreation facility and would contribute to its continuing development and beneficial value to HeComyraCOCormmeevec vee LeUID IR VAM
Furthermore, having particular re- gard to the nature and scale of the additional facilities proposed, the board considered that the vehicular traffic movements likely to be gener- ated would not significantly alter the existing intensity of usage of roads in the vicinity.