This article is from page 13 of the 2009-09-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
PLANS by the University of Limer- ick (UL), the country’s leading sports university, to extend its Clare campus by 25 acres with sports amenities have come under fire. In a planning application lodged with Clare Coun- ty Council, UL is seeking planning permission for two standard soccer pitches, one GAA pitch and one rugby pitch along with a sports pavillion and 392 car-parking spaces.
However, in an objection against the development, local resident, Caro- line O’Brien of Shravokee, Clonlara states that “our greatest concern re- lates to the impact that this develop- ment would have on our property at
Shravokee, Clonlara.”’
She states, “The proposed devel- opment will have a very significant footprint on a very special landscape, namely a floodplain of the River SJat-evelOnee
“The loss of 25 acres of floodplain would have enormous consequences for the rich natural habitat of this area.
“On occasion, flood waters have en- croached within a few metres of our buildings. Even the slightest increase in the flood levels in this flood plain would inundate our property.
‘The cumulative effect of these vari- ous developments on this flood plain will inevitably increase the future of floods.
“We are highlighting the serious threat presented to our property by the proposed development.”
Ms O’Brien cites the Clare County Development plan, which states that “proposals for development on the coast, within a flood plain or adjacent to a river or its flood plain, will only be permitted where it can be clearly demonstrated that it does not place itselt at risk of harm to life or dam- age to property through flooding or increase the flood risk in the relevant river catchment”.
She states, “In our opinion, the pro- posed development is at variance with this condition.
“If this development proceeds and our property is consequently affected
by flooding could you please indicate where the responsibility lie.”
However, consultants for UL state that “the proposed development com- plies with the requirements of the County Development Plan”.
The university states that “the sports facility is an appropriate landuse in a floodplain and it is adaptable to cli- mate change”.
The consultants state, ““The extent of the development, relatives to large river flood levels and large floodplain extent will result in no impact on lo- cal water levels and effects on flows downsteam will not be significant.”
The consultants admit that the sub- ject lands have been subject to isolat- ed flooding incidents in the past.