This article is from page 65 of the 2007-05-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 65 JPG
A WOMAN has won her battle to transform a 19th-century school building into a holiday home.
The former primary school is lo- cated at Ballyfaudeen, Liscannor, in a remote, sparsely populated rural area. Nora French lodged plans to convert it last year.
The school dates from 1882 and has not operated for around 10 years.
However, Clare County Council turned down the proposal over site
drainage issues. Ms French appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.
The board inspector who investi- gated the case agreed with the coun- cil, stating that the proposal would be prejudicial to public health. The inspector was not satisfied that the site could be drained satisfactorily by means of a new Envirocare unit with peat-based system and outfall to an existing trickling filter on site.
However, the board over-ruled its own inspector to give Ms French the go-ahead.
It stated that having regard to the long established use of the existing building on the site as a school, the proposed development would not be prejudicial to public health and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable de- velopment of the area.
The appeal lodged on Ms French’s behalf stated that the building had become derelict since its abandon- ment.
“Taking account of the prominent location of the building, and its his-
tory, it is appropriate to preserve and protect the local community spirit as many of the school attendees con- tinue to live in the area.
“Appropriate and imaginative re-use will provide for the general enhancement of the area. The ‘do- nothing’ scenario for a building in this location does nothing more than present a ‘no-confidence’ vote in the multiplicity of projects, which are undertaken countrywide to provide remediation for sites with similar drainage issues.
“On a broader note, the develop- ment is located in an area in which the houses to serve the increasing tourist market are not being permit- ted, and are only infrequently com- ing available on the local market.
“At the outset, it 1s important to make the distinction between a pro- posal for development on a green- field site and a proposal for rede- velopment of a building, which is constructed, has been used and is part and parcel of the local commu- ia Ae