This article is from page 23 of the 2012-04-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 23 JPG
THE top official with Clare County Council has rejected suggestions that the local authority entered into a “deal” when it met with the backers of proposed power plant in Stonehall 15 months ago.
County manager Tom Coughlan was responding to comments made by Fianna Fáil councillor PJ Kelly at last week’s council meeting.
Cllr Kelly asked if the council had entered into a “quasi contractual arrangement” when it met Carbon Sole Group, the developers behind a proposed Combined Heat and Power facility at Stonehall. “Did we walk into a trap here?” he added.
Mr Coughlan said he totally refuted any suggestion that the council entered into a deal with developers or investors.
He said the council had met with the backers of the Lynx Cargo facility in Shannon and had met other potential investors.
He said the council is always interested in job creation initiatives but added that the local authority “do not compromise on planning”.
He said any meeting with inves- tors or companies is aimed at getting “badly needed jobs” into Clare.
Senior planner Gordon Daly had earlier told the meeting that his first contact with the developer occurred 15 months.
He said the council regularly met with people on enterprise related matters and are “very clear on why we meet them”.
He said the council “had nothing to hide” and that he was “entirely comfortable” with his role in the meeting.
Mr Daly was responding to questions from Cllr PJ Ryan who also asked if the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) had made contact with the council over the rezoning of land at Stonehall proposal.
Mr Daly said the DAA had made a submission welcoming the proposal.
“Ye’d be disappointed if we did not have a good relationship with bodies in Shannon,” he added.
Director of Service Ger Dollard said there are no development proposals for Stonehall before the council.
However he said that it is important that the council show it is “serious about enterprise and renewable energy”.