This article is from page 21 of the 2011-11-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
PRELIMINARY work has started on a new local area plan for Shannon town and surrounding areas.
This emerged at a meeting of Shannon Town Council last week, after Labour Councillor Greg Duff asked for the town council to call on the county council to exclude from any plans to revoke sections of the South Clare Local Area Plan areas that have been identified as amenity, parkland or wetland.
He asked that the council consult with local residents, Dúchas na Sionna and other interested groups to maintain and develop these sites.
In a response from the council, he was told that preliminary work has commenced on a new local area plan for Shannon town and environs.
“The plan-making process will involve a wide ranging review of all its constituent parts including the town area as it presently exists in the South Clare Local Area Plan 2009-2015. New planning and environmental legislation requires such a review,” stated the council’s response.
It added that there are “no definite proposals at this time in respect of changing zoning status on said lands. It is proposed to consult with the elected members and public shortly on this and other matters”.
Cllr Duff told the meeting he would like to see an attitude whereby green areas are saved and not be replaced by “commercial or retail development”.
He said that 47 submissions have been made, one of which he was involved in with heritage group Dúchas na Sionna.