The Clare People Archive

A FRESH attempt by a north Clare-based couple to save their restaurant building from demolition has been thwarted by Clare County Council.

The council’s Planning De- partment refused Wolfgang and Sibylle Dietl permission to retain as a language cen- tre the restaurant building they built without planning at Newtown, Ballyvaughan

In a decision on Friday, the council ruled that the bid to change the Holywell restau- rant into a language centre, comprising two classrooms, a study, games room and stu- dents’ dining area, was con- trary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

The council ruled that the development would seriously injure the visual amenities and natural integrity of the area and would create an un- desirable precedent for fur- ther commercial development on this site and in the Burren countryside.

The decision is the latest in a series of planning set- backs for the couple. In the past year, they were refused planning permission by the council and An Bord Pleanala for the retention of the restau- rant. This forced them to seek alternative premises for their business.

In a bid to avoid having the

restaurant building demol- ished and to expand their lan- guage school, the plans were lodged to retain the building as a language school.

The decision by the council represents a u-turn on their decision last year to allow the Dietls planning retention for the restaurant. This was only refused by An Bord Pleanala

after then competitors, Helen Laftan and Barry Richards of Tri na Cheile restaurant, ap- pealed the decision.

In their submission to the council on the current appli- cation, the Dietls’ consult- ants argued that the proposed change of use “will represent a significant reduction in the use of the site’.

They claimed that the pro- posal “will ease any existing pressures on local traffic and

VAUD ME ASSL MDO MSI OIUUM DO TCM NOE: T ME Le on-site waste water treatment systems will operate within the limits and constraints of the discharge license”’.

This week, Sibylle Dietl told

this week that work had not started, as the contract had yet to be signed with the con- tractor, Michael McNamara & Co.

Mr Fleming said: “It is a very complex 35-year contract and the final details have yet to be signed off on.”

Mr Fleming stressed that there was no stumbling block in relation to the contract. He

said: “It hasn’t been signed off on yet due to the complexity of the contract. We would hope to coy sTeLeCe (oem mmol mane CO) MOA YAmolelmn-l

the same time, you cannot rush

these things as there are a lot of

technical issues involved.” Councillors were told that the

project should be completed by February 2007 and Mr Fleming this week expressed confidence that the deadline would be met. He said that work would com- mence on the project as soon as the contract is signed.

However, Clir Christy Curtin expressed disappointment that the local authority had fallen behind schedule.

“It is imperative that it is now moved forward and that the staff and the public can work in a unified building,” he said.

“I would still hold the Coun- cil to the deadline of February 2007 and I would also still in- sist that provision be made for an in-house legal department, because there is a cast-iron case for it.”

The delay is the latest in a project that first envisaged the council transforming Our Lady’s Hospital into its new HQ. However that plan was scrapped, due to the prohibitive costs of the project.

A DUTCH tourist, Hen- drik Borduin, had a nar- row escape on Saturday night, when a large boul- der was thrown through the tent he was sleeping in, narrowly missing his head.

The boulder struck the tent’s central pole, which smashed and landed on Mr Borduin along with the heavy rock. He re- ceived injuries to his right leg and required medical

Pace elaleyee

Mr Borduin had been travelling through the Burren on bicycle and set up camp in Corofin late on Saturday evening. He was woken from his sleep at approximately mid- night by loud shouting from outside his tent.

“IT heard load voices and a young man sSay- ing ‘there is a bike over here’,’ he said. “There was 30 seconds of silence and then the boulder

crashed through the tent. I was luck that I had faced the tent the way I did, if it had hit my head I prob- ably would have died.”

“My experience in Ireland has been very positive up to this and the people in the B&B were very helpful. I don’t think this would put me off coming back to Ire- land but I will be nervous when I have to sleep in the tent again.”

The attack was reported to Gort Garda station.

RESIDENTS of Inch _ have pledged to fight any attempt by telecommunications firm 02 to get planning permission for the construction of a phone mast in the area.

At a meeting of a newly formed campaign committee, local people expressed their staunch opposition to any pro- posed development. Residents also accused 02 of deliberately

advertising planning permis- sion on July 27, at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend and are concerned at the proposed sites proximity to the local pri- mary school.

“This campaign has all the hallmarks of a calculated at- tempt to minimize the likeli- hood of local people finding out about the proposed tower,” said Andrea Martin, committee secretary.

‘No one knows for sure what

the long term effects of expo- sure to non-ionizing radiation (NIR) will be. If mobile phones and base stations were pharma- ceutical drugs, they wouldn’t be licensed for use because not enough research has been car- ried out’, she said.

The community hopes that by raising awareness of the development, they will receive support from residents of sur- rounding communities.

“We’re committed to fighting

this the whole way if necessary, for the sake of our children, our families and our local environ- ment”, said Committee chair- man, John Devany.

A spokesperson for 02 stated ‘“‘we have tried to plan to locate in the best possible area in order to meet the demands of our cus- tomers and the concerns of local residents. The issue of safety is taken very seriously by 02 and we comply with all Irish, EU and Industry regulations”

THE maritime town of Kilrush will delve back into its history this Sun- day, when the Western Yacht Club rerun a race first staged in the 1800s. In 1827, members of the then new yacht club decided to hold an all- encompassing __ regatta over a week on the Shan- non Estuary. The regatta started over a weekend at Kilrush and finished the following weekend in Limerick, with races held each day at the various ports on the Estuary. One of the major events at the time, was the long distance race known as the Glin Castle Race. It

started and finished at the castle. Usually, most of the Yachts would com- plete the course in some 12 to 14 hours.

This Saturday, the Western Yacht Club will re-run this “race”, with all its tidal challenges. Racing will follow the ISA Racing Rules, with first gun at 11.00 am Due to the time constraints of modern life, the course will be adjusted accord- ingly to suit wind, tide and yacht classes, so that yachts will finish at Glin Castle sometime around 4.30 pm. Staying with tradition, the presenta- tion will be at the castle that evening.

A POSSIBLE | tragedy was averted off the Kil- rush coastline this week- end, thanks to the quick actions of a fishing boat crew.

Seven people were res- cued from the 26 foot Kilrush §Marina-based yacht “Truant”, after it capsized and sank in the Shannon Estuary on Sat- urday evening.

The incident occurred between Scattery Island and Hog Island. It is be- lieved the crew on board the locally owned ship, took up the centre board of the boat, to allow them on to Scattery Island.

On returning to the

boat, they raised sail without putting down the centre board, resulting in the ship capsizing.

A passing fishing boat came to the rescue. The alarm was raised _ at 4.30pm, and the Shannon- based Irish Coastguard

helicopter was deployed to the scene. The seven were taken safely ashore at Kilrush.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew reported the stern of the yacht protruding approximately one metre from the water, which

was 3.6 metres deep.

This rescue was the sec- ond in just over a week. A 37{t Killaloe based mo- tor cruiser “Regina 4’, en-route from Dingle to Kilrush, caught fire and sank near the Ballybun- ion Buoy, at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary.

Spokesperson for the Kilrush RNLI, Charles Glynn, has advised sail- ors to remember the five main safety tips when taking out a boat.

He warned sailors to always wear a life jacket, check the engine and fuel before leaving the marina and always tell people Where they were going and when they planed to return.

CLARE 1s not ready for the onslaught on business and recycling facilities which is coming with this weeks activation of an electrical re-cycling directive, an En- nis businessman has warned.

With just two facilities in the whole of Clare – as opposed to one every 20 miles in Sweden to deal with a similar directive – the official recycling points will be swamped. And small electrical retailers will not be able to afford to build the facilities demanded by the regulation to store old washing machines, fridges and other items, said Paul Flynn, proprietor of Ennis Electrical.

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) law also means that consumers have to pay up top €40 on top of the price of new electrical goods to fund the disposal of old ones – even if the buyer is not returning any old machine or appliance.

“These new regulations mean twice the work for re- tailers and increased costs and there are a lot of small business people out there who don’t have any idea what is involved in WEEE,” said Paul.

“If we are taking back an appliance for every one we deliver, we’re going to have to make twice as many slelenantoy Ane

The Ennis Electrical boss says that the Inagh and Scariff amenities which have been earmarked to ac- cept the redundant electrical goods “are in no way prepared for what is coming. I spoke to the people in Inagh and they are expecting just a few items each week to be brought in from all over – Pll be bringing a minimum of 60 appliances a week to them and that’s just me,” said Paul.

The Ennis Electrical retailer 1s concerned that many outlets will fail to impose the charge, putting them- selves in danger of facing fines and even risking their

staff being fined.

‘This is written in stone – it’s the law and I know for a fact there are many people who don’t’ know the first thing about it. For instance, before I can even register for the directive – and every electrical retailer has to register – I have to have a holding facility for appli- ances with a concrete floor and weatherproof cover- ing. There are many people who don’t know that. Most people don’t even know that retailers now don’t have to pay when they bring appliances for disposal.”

There are 355,000 fridges sold in Ireland every year and Paul predicts that not all retailers will impose the charges which range from €1 when buying a new electric toothbrush to €40 extra when buying a large fridge.

Paul says that the retailers are “pleased that this 1s at least an exposed charge. The washing machine which a customer bought before the charges were introduced still costs the same amount and the charge is imposed on top of that.”

He believes that the WEEE Register “was negoti- ated with the big national and multinational retailers in mind – not the small retailers.”

The Ennis businessman says that he is in full agree- ment with the need to have electrical goods responsi- bly disposed of.

‘T don’t want to see fridges dumped at the side of the road. But we are not prepared for the full impact of this and the Government decides to make it law dur- ing the summer recess when there is no Minister to answer for it.”

Meanwhile, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland has called on shoppers to boycott the charge, which became law on August 13.

Dermot Jewell of the Consumers Association de- scribed the charges as another tax being levied on the Loy eTieneates

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