This article is from page 21 of the 2008-09-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
PLANS by Clare hurling star Davy Fitzgerald to construct a €4 million boutique hotel near Shannon Air- port could be rejected because of concerns over the privacy of people praying for family and friends at a nearby cemetery.
With only days to go before the Sixmilebridge man oversees Water- ford’s challenge in the All-Ireland final, An Taisce has lodged a sub- mission on his plans to demolish the
Bellsfort Inn pub and function room and replace it with a two-storey 23- bedroom hotel with a bar and func- tion room.
The proposed development is to take place three miles from the air- port on a country road linking New- market-on-Fergus and Shannon.
An Taisce state that part of the ho- tel will be overlooking an adjacent graveyard and feel that this would impose on the privacy of those pray- ing at graves.
The proposed hotel development is
located near a ring-fort and it is like- ly that it will be put on hold to allow Mr Fitzgerald submit an archaeologi- cal assessment on the likely impact oye aelomubercaKoyum
The Department of the Environ- ment is recommending that the archaeological assessment should define the buffer zone which would preserve the setting and visual amen- LAO) MAROC om Kee
“The proposed location of the ho- tel building may have a significant visual impact. If this is found to be
the case, then a change of design and a reduction in scale of development may be requested,’ the department stated.
With over 3.6 million people using Shannon Airport last year, the former Clare goalkeeper will be hoping that his new venture will be able to attract some of this traffic.
The plan is already facing an objec- tion from Seamus and Anne Ryan, Fairfield, Lemanaghmore, Newmar- ket who claim that “nothing in the development proposal indicates that
it makes any contribution to the lo- cal area, or presents a demonstrable need for this type of development”’.
The Ryans have asked the council to refuse permission for the hotel be- cause of overdevelopment of the site, which will “generate traffic hazards and give rise to serious negative im- pact on the environment.”
“The proposed development is monumental in the context of the site area and in the context of existing buildings.” A decision is due on the application next week.