This article is from page 4 of the 2013-07-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE owner of a popular West Clare tourist attraction has reported losses of up to 80 per cent trade since a 12year-old sign signalling his business – the West Clare Railway – was removed.
Describing the situation as “a disaster” Jackie Whelan said the loss of trade to his business during what should have been the busiest times of the year is putting his livelihood under threat.
“If the signs are not put back up by the council we will have no choice but to open Sundays and Mondays only,” he told The Clare People .
“They [tourists] are passing up and down by us all summer and people are complaining they can’t find us,” he said.
The owner of the Moyasta-based business said that the removal of the signs is contrary to the Clare County Development Plan, which states all tourist attractions should be adequately marked.
Clare County Council said that the National Roads Authority removed all commercial signage that did not have adequate planning permission, as the signs were along a primary route and within the national body’s jurisdiction.
Mr Whelan said he has now been asked to pay out € 650 to reinstall his sign and to apply for planning per- mission.
The businessman maintains that he received the permission of Clare County Council’s area engineer more than a decade ago to erect a sign as a part of the agreement for the development of the West Clare railway as a tourist attraction.
Under the agreement Mr Whelan carried out £29,000 worth of work, including work on footpaths, lighting and landscaping in the village of Moyasta.