This article is from page 24 of the 2008-09-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 24 JPG
NEW REGULATIONS, which if adopted will mean that planners will have to consider global warming and rising water levels when looking at planning applications, have been given a general welcome.
Clare planners are now studying the Draft Planning System and Flood Risk Management published for pub- lic consultation last week jointly by Environment Minister John Gormley and Dr Martin Mansergh, TD, Min- ister of State at the Department of
Finance.
Unveiling the document, the min- ister said that the new regulations are aimed at ensuring a “more con- sistent, rigorous and systematic ap- proach to fully incorporate flood risk assessment and management into the planning system.”
The new draft guidelines, which have been prepared in response to the recommendations of the National Flood Policy Review Group, focus on considering flood risk in prepar- ing regional plans, development plans and local area plans, and in de-
termining applications.
They also take account of envi- ronmental considerations including the need to manage the inevitable impacts of climate change, and bio- diversity.
The draft guidelines will require the planning system at national, re- gional and local levels to avoid devel- Opment in areas at risk of flooding, such as flood plains, guide develop- ment away from areas that have been identified as being at risk through flood risk and incorporate flood risk assessment into the process of mak-
ing decisions on planning applica- tions and planning appeals.
Bernadette Kinsella, Director of Service for Planning and Economic
Development, said that her depart- ment of the County Council “will now study the new draft Planning Guidelines on the Planning System and Flood Risk Management. The Planning Authority will consider their potential impact in the context of the review of town and local area plans currently taking place.”
She said that the draft guidelines “will also be considered in the con-
text of their impact on the planning and development process in County Ori ow
Clir PJ Kelly, who is vocal on plan- ning issues said that he agrees that there is a need to take account of the risk of flooding and climate change when approaching planning matters.
But he added that it is his concern “that they will go for the easy targets yet again and that won’t be the big urban developments, it will be the person who Is struggling to get plan- ning permission to build a home in a rural area.”