This article is from page 6 of the 2007-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
LAHINCH residents are fearful that the resort will become like the Costa Del Sol with large scale monolithic apartment blocks running along the beach front.
Lahinch Community Council is backing local objections against a five-storey apartment block planned for Lahinch promenade.
Developer Seamus Carroll is seek- ing to build a €3 million complex that involves the existing McDon- alds amusement arcade. He wants to construct a five-storey building, including 20 apartments, 18 duplex units and six ground floor retail units overlooking Lahinch promenade.
In its objection, Lahinch Commu- nity Council state, “The erection of thirty six residential apartments and six retail units in a dense develop- ment will place an intolerable bur- den upon the sewerage facilities in Lahinch which are already a source of grave concern. I would draw your attention to the fact that on a constant basis on the Main Street and Kettle Street, Lahinch, the smell of raw sewerage is a constant problem.
The objection adds, “Lahinch is a renowned tourist location and is a place of outstanding scenic beauty. Over the last number of years, Clare County Council has granted plan-
ning permission to a number of large developments which have not been adequately maintained and have de- tracted from the beauty and heritage of the surrounding area.”
The community council adds, “The creation of six retail outlets at the proposed development will cause a significant increase in traffic for which inadequate consideration has been given in the developers applica- tion.
“The construction of a development with the capacity to house 36 resi- dential apartments together with six retail outlets and parking facilities 1s, given its scale, size and bulk, entirely inappropriate for the promenade.
“The number of apartments and retail outlets to be built on the site raises serious concerns regarding the density of the development given the limited size and location of the site upon which the development is to be constructed.
Even the family who sold the site to Mr Carroll have expressed concerns about the proposal to the council.
In a submission to the planning authority, Eric, Mary and Isobel Mc- Donald stated, “The upper floors of the development have been reconfig- ured as such that there will be sub- stantial overlooking of my clients’ private apartment at the first floor of their property.”