This article is from page 36 of the 2007-03-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
WELL IN excess of 40 afford- able houses are to be built at Cluain Airne in Shannon, 1n an effort to re- duce the housing waiting list in the town, it has emerged.
Members of the town council were told last week that a density of 80 houses was suggested for the area, but that it was unlikely 80 would ac- tually be built there.
Several councillors expressed their concerns that 80 houses may be built Wo Ron
Town manager, Ger Dollard was asked to clarify the position and he pointed out that a design team had
not yet been appointed.
“In the absence of this, we are all talking in a vacuum,” he said, add- ing that the density of housing on the site in question would be “well in excess of 40”.
He said there are currently more than 200 people on the affordable waiting list in the town.
Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) said she did not like be- ing told that there were in excess of 200 people on the affordable list.
“It is like playing one off the other. .. If you don’t do this, there is a con- sequence,’ she said.
The mayor of Shannon, Cllr Tony McMahon (Labour) said this would
equate to “intrusion” for the local residents.
‘The parking issue has been going on for years. This is going to be a frightening experience for the peo- ple of that area,” he said.
CUlr Sean McLoughlin (FG) said he would be disappointed to hear that there were plans to build more than 40 houses there, as traffic 1s al- ready busy in the area.
Cllr Gerry Flynn said that people living in Cluain Airne were worried that their green area was going to be taken away from them.
He said that there are 178 houses in Cluain Airne and 167 across the road in Tradaree. “We all know a
new estate will bring extra traffic,” he said.
“Just because the Government says extra houses should be provided, it is not about throwing people in on top of each other,” he said.
Cllr Mike McKee (Independent) said this should not be “pushed on to eTom Reha LO (CINTA
“Even when residents heard of 40, they were horrified,’ he said.
Cllr Geraldine Lambert said “a density like that is way too high”.
Mr Dollard responded to the coun- cillors’ concerns by pointing out, “You will not see 80 houses in this scheme, but for it to be viable (densi- ty), it will have to be more than 40.”