This article is from page 19 of the 2005-09-13 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
CONTENTIOUS plans by fast-food g1- ant, McDonalds, to develop a drive-thru restaurant in Ennis hang in the balance.
An Bord Pleanala has informed the company that its present proposal for the Sheils’ garage site on the Ennis-Galway Road may seriously injure nearby resi- dential amenities through noise, general disturbance and fumes.
As a result, the appeals board has re- quested McDonalds submit revised draw- ings for an amended proposal.
In a letter to the appellants in the case, the appeals board stated that the Inspec- tor’s report in the case was complete and that the matter was now at board level.
One of the opponents of the McDonalds proposal, Cllr Brian Meaney (GP), this week welcomed the board’s intervention.
He said, “It shows that the appeals board is considering all aspects of the proposal and that is to be welcomed.”
Earlier this year, Ennis Town Council refused planning permission for a fast- food outlet in the Lifford area, ruling that it would injure the residential amenities of Wetomr- Baste
Cllr Meaney said: “I would hope that
An Bord Pleanala would follow the exam- ple of the town council in refusing plan- pup panee
It is just a pity that the council did not recognise the negative impact the Mc- Donalds proposal would have on the resi- dents on the nearby Galway Road, when allowing the proposal to go ahead.”
Cllr Meaney and the other appellant in the case, Cllr Donal O’Bearra (GP) will now have an opportunity to make submis- sions on the revised proposals put forward by McDonalds.
Last year, the McDonalds proposal sparked a national debate on the impact of fast food on diets, after the Mid-West- ern Health Board’s Department of Health Promotion objected because of concerns about children’s health.
The Department demanded that Mc- Donalds carry out an Environmental Im- pact Statement (EIS) into possible health impacts on the local population, before the application be further considered.
However, the Health Board soon dis- tanced itself from this objection with the then chief executive, Stiofan de Burca de- claring that the objection was a personal statement by the community dieticians fey ileroru ileee