This article is from page 16 of the 2008-05-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
A MAJOR HURDLE to plans for a €50 million retail park on the fring- es of Clarecastle has been removed.
This follows local developers, Sean Lyne and Noel Connellan with- drawing their objection against the planned retail park by Stephen Har- ris for a 48-acre site near Clarecas- (oe
It is now almost two years since Mr Harris lodged plans for the retail park at Skehanagh, Clarecastle and
the council is still awaiting further information it requested last Septem- ber on the plan.
Mr Lyne and Mr Connellan were rivals in the race to secure planning permission for the first large-scale retail park on the outskirts of Ennis.
However, Clare County Council refused planning permission after a consultant’s report stated that at that time, there was only capacity for one retail park and the Harris proposal was better located.
The two appealed the decision to
An Bord Pleanala, however, they withdrew their appeal late last year.
Now, it has emerged that they have withdrawn their objection against the Harris proposal.
In a letter to the council, their con- sultants state, ““We are now writing to confirm that our clients, Noel Connellan and Sean Lyne no longer wish to make any objection to the proposed development and wish to withdraw our letter of objection.
They ask the council to disregard the submissions made in September
2006 and October 2007.
The two do not give the council a reason as to why they have decided to withdraw their objection.
In their original objection, they Stated, “While it is understood that the council can interfere with healthy competition in retailing, it would be prudent for the council to seek justification for this proposed development in light of available in- formation on other retail outlets that include built developments since the 2003 adopted Retail Strategy.”