This article is from page 2 of the 2011-07-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
COUNCILLORS in Ennis have recommended that large tracts of development land in the Clarecastle be included in Ennis and Environs Development Plan.
At a special meeting of Ennis Town Council, councillors proposed a number of amendments to the proposed variation.
Senior planner Gordon Daly told the meeting that phase one of the plan could only include 88 hectares of land zoned for residential purposes.
In total, across a number of amendments, councillors are seeking the inclusion of 38 hectares of land in the Ennis area, which the manager’s report said should be excluded from phase one of the variation. To balance their proposals, councillors are proposing that 38 hectares of land in the Roslevan area be excluded from phase one of the variation. Members are seeking the inclusion in phase one of the variation, lands in the Clarecastle area.
In their submission, councillors Tommy Brennan, Frankie Neylon, Brian Meaney and Michael Guilfoyle state, “It is important to the implementation of this plan and to generate a sufficient population base in these areas to justify the upgrading of the Clarecastle treatment plant and other community facilities along with road networks that residential development is promoted in these areas in a balanced way.
The amendment supports submis- sions made by: Therese McCarthy on lands at Ballybeg, which were zoned residential in 2003 and 2008; James Malone, on lands at Kildysart Road, Clarecastle and Ballybeg. (In his submission Mr Malone states “developers with lands in Clarecastle are looking at the possibility of working in partnership with the Council in order to bring these lands to planning by resolving the existing services issue. These discussions are now put in jeopardy if the current phasing as proposed proceeds); McCarthy Bros, on lands at Ballybeg; M Fitzgibbon (Builders) Ltd, on lands at Ballybeg Clarecastle.
Councillors are also seeking the inclusion of land at Ballycorey as set out in submissions by Luxury Homes and land at Ballymaley, as set out in a submission by Michael Keating on behalf of Paddy and Mary O’Donoghue.
Councillor Tommy Brennan proposed the amendment “to introduce a more balanced zoning in order to optomise land use in the overall plan area”. Other amendments proposed the inclusion of lands at Tulla Road as set out in a submission by Drumquinn Construction Ltd.
Mr Daly said the manager’s report recommended the inclusion of lands at Roslevan as they are in a better location and have access to better facilities.
The variation will now go back on public display and will be subject to a further manager’s report. The variation process is expected to be completed by October.