This article is from page 19 of the 2012-06-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
ALMOST 100 acres of council land adjacent to Ballyalla Lake, opposite Drumcliffe graveyard, is to go under the hammer on Friday.
The sale of the old dog pound site is dependent on numerous factors, not least the wishes of the council members once the deal is done.
Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Services Michael McNamara told last night’s meeting of Clare County Council that the land may not even sell if it does not reach the sale reserve. Council members can also veto the sale going through, as it must return to them for verification once the deal is done.
Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) warned that he and his Ennis colleagues would campaign to prevent the sale if a periphery around the lake was not retained in public ownership.
“I am very against the sale of any land adjoining any lake. You will not have my support or Ennis Town Council colleagues’ support to sell it and we will vigorously canvas the councillors here to reject it,” he said.
“I think it is clear that the protection of the area around the lake is important to note or it won’t be supported when it comes back here (council chamber),” said Mayor of Clare, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).
Previously in the meeting, Mr McNamara confirmed that some of the land was adjacent to the lake. He added that the council was retaining a substantial amount of land at the opposite side of the lake.
The discussion on the sale of the land followed a joint motion pro- posed by councillors Johnny Flynn (FG), Tony Mulqueen (FG) and Pat Daly (FF) who suggested that any proceeds from the sale of the 96 acres at Drumcliffe would be ringfensed for the general Ennis area for the provision of sport and community facilities.
County Manager Tom Coughlan told the members that any money received would have to be put into the general council fund and used for the entire county.
He said the councillors had prioritised the building of sports facilities in Killaloe and Kilrush.
“You prioritised that as Ennis has Lee Road, that East and West Clare need similar.”
Clare County Council has already allocated € 300,000 to Ennis Town Council for the all weather pitch at Lee’s Road.
“Proceeds from sales over recent years have been used to fund the provision of assets such as the area depots at Shannon, Kirush, Bodyke and also at the area offices provided at Scrariff and Ennistymon,” said Mr McNamara.