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GAMA Construction Ltd this week received a double boost in its plans to progress the €190 million Ennis bypass, by securing planning per- mission for two quarries to serve the project.

Clare County Council granted planning to the Turkish company, in spite of Department of the Environ- ment concerns over the impact that one of the quarries might have on ie uom Oye 1 ic

The quarry at Knockanean is lo- cated between two bat roosts, includ- ing the ‘secret’ €100,000 bat-house on the route.

However, a bat survey carried out

by Inis Environmental Services did not detect the presence of the pro- tected Lesser Horseshoe Bat in the area.

The planner ruling on the case, found that the impact of the quarry on bats was not considered signifi- cant if all the mitigation measures were put in place.

The Council ruled that in relation to the nature and scale of the propos- al and the intended use of the lands, the proposal would not seriously in- jure the amenities of the area.

There are 27 houses within 500 metres of the proposed quarry. Lo- cal man, PJ Williams lodged an ob- jection against the proposal. He told the council, “I operate a stud-farm

close-by and I will hold the Council responsible for any damage, injury to

animals or loss, if planning permis- sion 1s granted.

The Department of the Environ- ment claims the cumulative impact of the three quarries currently before the council will impact on the local environment.

However, in the case of the Knock- anean proposal, the council’s plan- ner concluded, “it is considered that as the proposal is for a temporary quarrying activity required to facili- tate the completion of a major infra- structural project for the county and for the wider western corridor, it 1s broadly acceptable in principle.”

A spokesman for GAMA Construc- tion Ireland Ltd said would proceed taking all of the planning conditions

made by Clare County Council into account.

Howard Williams, senior consult- ant with Inis Environmental Serv- ices said, “the strict planning con- ditions that have been imposed will ensure that this development will be managed in an environmentally friendly way.

‘However it is felt that to impose a €56,024 fee for use of public infra- structure and facilities benefiting the development is excessive as no pub- lic roads or any other infrastructure will be used.”

A council decision on the third quarry 1s expected later this month.

AN Bord Pleanala this week ended any prospect of a new McDonalds outlet opening in Ennis in 2005, when it post- poned a decision on a new 85-seater driv-thru restaurant until October next.

The appeals board was due to make a decision on sepa- rate appeals by Green party councillors, Brian Meaney and Donal O’Bearra on Mon- Ch Ws

However, the appeals board has now adjourned any deci- sion until October 12.

The board postponing the decision coincided with Cllr Meaney denying that his op- position to the McDonalds proposal was fuelled by pub- licity-seeking.

Cllr Meaney denied the charge, as it emerged that plans were recently lodged with Ennis Town Council in the Lifford area of Ennis for

a fast-food outlet, but on this occasion, Cllr Meaney did not object to the proposal.

Cllr Meaney said, “I was acting in the public interest in appealing the McDonald’s decision to An Bord Pleanala and it would be marvellous if other public representatives were as pro-active as myself.

“My opposition to the pro- posal stems from McDonalds targeting children in_ their marketing campaigns and the applicant of this other Ennis outlet I’m sure would not have engaged in that type of strat- a Ae

In the application by Don- nacha Keane to convert the former Quality Meats into a fast-food outlet, the Council refused planning.

It stated that due to the close proximity of the premises to nearby houses, the proposed development would result in a material increase in problems of noise and nuisance and

general disturbance for neigh- bouring residents, particularly Lm ESA OL

Last year, the McDonalds’ proposal sparked a national

debate on the impact of fast food on diets, after the Mid- Western Health Board’s Health Promotion Department objected because of concerns

about children’s health.

The Department demanded that McDonalds carry out an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) into possible health impacts on the local population before the applica- tion could be further consid- eee

However, the Health Board soon distanced itself from this objection with the then chief executive, Stiofan de Burca declaring that the objection was a personal statement by the community dieticians fesse ileee

A planning report released by the Town Council earlier this year confirmed that an EIS was not requested.

Cllr Meaney’s appeal con- centrates on the health as- pects of the proposal, while Cllr O’Bearra is concerned with the proposal allegedly breaching the provisions of the Ennis and Environs De- velopment Plan.

HAVING already cele- loye-1 Kore Mec Merey et elecersCeyeMmyaine| the man that captured Sadam Hussein, there was further excitement this week when it was discovered that the pilot of the Discovery Shuttle is of West Clare origin.

Space hero Eileen Col- lins 1s proud of her Irish heritage. The 49-year- old’s grandmother Marie Reidy emigrated from West Clare and settled in a railroad town of Elmira decades ago.

She later married a man named Collins from Cork.

Two generations in 1956 Eileen was born.

Although Eileen was 19 years of age before she was even on a plane, she became the American Air Force’s first female test pilot.

“Eileen Collins is sim- ply the best commander we have,” Nasa senior as- tronaut told Good Morn- ing America.

On ‘Tuesday last she proved her extraordinary ability when she safely guided the spacecraft STS 114, better known as Discovery, to Earth.

Although travelling at 18 times the speed of light, this mother of two

does not believe what she does is dangerous.

““T think it is much safer than what my Irish ances- tors did, travelling across the Athlantic Ocean in a leaky old ship,” she told an Irish American maga- zine.

During her time in the military she earned the rank of lieutenant colonel and several services med- als, but always dreamt of joining the space pro- eramme.

Finally, after 12 years in the army, Nasa invited Eileen to be its first fe- male pilot in 1990.

The rest 1s Space his- Ke) ars

that he was calling for the extra gardai, drafted in from Ennis over the past fort- night, to be maintained permanently in

the west Clare town.

“We still have the extra resources and I will be looking for those resources in the long-term in the Kilrush area,” he said.

However West Clare-based Senator Brendan Daly believes there are suf- ficient resources available in Kilrush and said those responsible for attacking the young women must be charged as a matter of urgency.

“The general belief is that there is sufficient evidence that would enable

charges to be brought against the peo- ple involved in the incident . The time for talking is over and action must be taken. Gardai must allay the fears of the public and press charges. They must take action very soon before it turns into a situation where lives will be lost. There is no place for anarchy in Kil- ruth

Another prominent member of the local community, who did not wish to be named, compared Kilrush to ‘Little Belfast’ and said a group of youths were continuing to intimidate people to pre- vent them making statements against Weloseee

The Garda Representative Associa- tion (GRA) in Clare has called for an additional ten gardai to be deployed to Kilrush permanently and will raise the issue at the GRA Executive meeting next month.

“Obviously there are not enough re- sources in Kilrush. Gardai have been temporarily transferred there, but the trouble starts when they are not left there. Gardai are badly needed in Kil- rush, but we need what we have in En- nis,’ said GRA spokesman Tom Keane.

SUCCESSFUL prosecutions have been brought under the Litter Pollution Act against a Shannon- based company and a Cratloe couple.

Mid-West Tyres Ltd, Trading as Mid-West Tyres and Batteries Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shan- non, were fined €200 at Shannon District court on July 21 for a breach of the act.

The court heard that a notice bearing the com- pany name, details and the services it offers was posted on an ESB pole in Shannon Town Centre on March 7 of this year.

After hearing the evidence, Judge Joseph Man- gan ordered the company to pay the fine within one

month.

In a separate matter, Thomas and Siobhan Glee- son of Pigeon Hill in Cratloe pleaded guilty in the Shannon court to a breach of the Litter Pollution ae

The offence took place on April 26 at Portdrine in Cratloe. The court heard that an inspector who went to the site owned by the Gleesons found rub- bish burning on the site.

The defendants did not hold a waste licence, the court was told.

Judge Mangan fined each of the defendants €50 and awarded costs against them, totalling €750 Crea e

THREE BEDROOM