The Clare People Archive

CLARE County Council has refused planning permission for the coun- ty’s largest ever residential housing scheme although they approve of the plan in principle.

In March, Ennis-based construction firm, Crystal Partners lodged plans for a €200 million development that would ultimately deliver 700 new homes in the Gaurus area on the eastern outskirts of Ennis. The 471 residential units in the first phase of the development would have almost doubled the current population of the Doora parish to almost 3,000.

The council concluded that while it approved of housing development on the 71 acre site, such a move was pre- mature pending the construction of a new €75 million sewage treatment plan at Clareabbey.

The council does not expect the Clareabbey plant to come on stream for another four years and permission was also refused because of deficien- cies in the public water supply.

The Gaurus plan faced initial op- position from local residents and planning was refused on a number of other grounds apart from the lack of sewage and water supplies.

The council ruled that the mix of

apartment units in large blocks would be inconsistent with the existing char- acter and pattern of development in the area. The planners were also con- cerned about possible negative effects on the existing ecology, habitat value and hydrogeology of the site.

The council also stated that the pro- posed works to Gaurus Bridge, in- cluding the removal of both parapet stone walls and the building of foot- path and cycle paths on each side, would have a direct negative impact on the integrity and amenity of this structure and would be contrary to the Ennis and Environs Plan.

The council also ruled that the pro-

posal would present a serious traffic hazard.

The first phase of the Gaurus Village plan was valued at €125 million by the developers with the overall value of €200 million put on the plan.

Along with the 471 residential units, the planning application also provided for a creche, neighbour- hood centre with shopping facilities and 14 residential serviced sites.

The masterplan also provides for a 16-teacher school and an associated OeNenrteasatellen

CLARE County Council and Ennis Town Council have called a halt to the further expansion of Ennis be- cause the town’s public infrastruc- ture has reached breaking point.

Over the past week, the two local authorities have refused planning permission to three big residential developments valued at a total of €200 million.

As a result, the council will miss out on millions of euro in develop- ment contributions that would have been earmarked for essential capital

HOUSER PMU LCLAUD Ess

In one case, Clare County Coun- cil refused planning permission to Crystal Partners for 471 homes at Gaurus, while Ennis Town Council refused planning for 226 homes at Knockaderry, Tulla Road, and plan- ning for 97 homes on the Galway Road was refused to Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd.

The primary reason for the refus- als was the inadequacy of the town’s sewage treatment works to accom- modate the developments with a new plant not expected to become operational for another four years.

The planner’s report into the Crys- tal Partners’ application stated that “substantial capital investment is required to upgrade the Clonroad- more treatment plant to facilitate any large-scale residential develop- ments progressing in the catchment. Without these works being finalised, constructed and commissioned, all new large-scale development in the catchment would be premature”’.

In a separate report, Ennis Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan pointed out that “it would be inappropriate to approve any further significant de- velopments which would be depend-

ent on the Clonroadmore plant”.

The first signs of a halt to develop- ment in Ennis came last year when the council only granted permission for a portion of the homes planned by Stephen Finn Properties on the SLUUIE WW Cor-rer

In the medium term, the ban on large-scale developments in Ennis will have an impact on the supply of |nCeyesterme-UeCeMeceleDCCMBKcneDLMBNOME-MNSICOOU0UE cant increase in house prices.

However, the development of homes in the environs of Clarecas- tle are expected to continue as Crys- tal Partners are to provide a sewage

treatment plant that will serve the first stage of a 500 house develop- ment in the area.

The development ban in the En- nis area follows the Health Service Executive calling on the council to give more scrutiny to planning ap- plications because of inadequacy of the Clonroadmore treatment plant.

The Health Service Executive made the call after raw sewage was pumped into the River Fergus from the treatment plant, on the grounds that it “represents a serious public risk and should be treated with the greatest urgency’.

RESIDENTS of an upmarket estate on the outskirts of Ennis have succeeded in blocking plans for a €25 million housing development in the area. Ear- lier this year, Galway-based company Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd lodged plans for a 97-unit residential estate at Ballycorey on the Galway Road oppo- site the Auburn Lodge hotel. However, a submission lodged by Hassett Leyden & Associates on be- half of a number of residents in the

nearby Parnell Grove estate com- plained that they would be looking at ‘something akin to a prison wall” if the development proceeded.

Ennis Town Council rejected the proposal due to lack of sewage treat- ment capacity.

Ruling that the plan would be “pre- mature due to the existing deficiency in the provision of sewage treatment facilities’, the council concluded that the proposal was “not in the interest of public health, proper planning or sustainable development”’.

The planner dealing with the appli- cation stated that it would be “appro- priate in principle” for the council to consider medium to high density development on the site if service in- frastructure was in order and did not have adverse impact on neighbouring property.

The council also refused plan- ning over concerns that the proposal would have a negative effect on natu- ral habitat types or species in Annex II of the Habitats Directive.

It was also pointed out that site con-

tains part of a recorded monument and the council was concerned that the development would have a sig- nificant negative effect on it and its associated deposits and features.

Permission was also refused because of the difficult site configuration, to- pography and resulted convoluted road layout, lack of adequately-sized public open spaces, separation of the Open space from the houses by the distributor road and the lack of pedes- trian and cyclist facilities.

Taking on board the concerns of the

Parnell Grove residents, the council refused planning permission on the basis that the finished floor levels of the homes would result in significant overlooking into the rear gardens of nearby homes and would require them to have excessively high retain- ing boundaries.

As a result, the council ruled that the proposal would materially con- travene the Ennis Development Plan which requires that residential de- velopments maintain the amenity of neighbouring properties.

2.7 million refurbish- ment with the splendid Great Hall reopening for a glamorous summer ere CO ENTS

“This has been an extraordinary day and a wonderful way to celebrate the new-look Temple Gate,” said Paul Madden. “For several months, we have watched the builders and deco- rators transform and enlarge not only The Great Hall but also create new reception and public areas. We have also redesigned and enlarged our res- taurant which we are confident will be at the forefront of dining venues in Clare. Weddings, conferences and other events will only come to Ennis if we provide facilities and service to a high standard,” he said.

The hotel is holding a Wedding In- formation Day on Sunday, May 25, from 2pm to 7pm. The main purpose is to showcase The Great Hall as a wedding venue. Among the wedding specialists attending are Scarlett Bridal, Patrick Bourke’s Menswear, The Flower Den, Studio 22, Cakes by Desire and C&M Limousines. Wine

and canapés will be served through- out the evening.

Mr Madden said that with a capac- ity of 220, The Great Hall is one of the most unique wedding venues in the region. With strong colours, the new vibrant design enhances the hall’s Gothic features. The new Great Hall foyer with private bar is ideal for standalone receptions as well as pre-function drinks.

With increased capacity, The Great Hall offers an excellent corporate setting for conferences, product launches and exhibitions. The ex- isting conference rooms, known as Plazas 1 and 2, can also be used as a breakout area for the Great Hall. A unique facility offered to business and meeting groups are two new ex- ecutive boardrooms fitted with the sophisticated equipment which are regarded as a prerequisite for most meetings in today’s world.

“The first big change that people will notice when they walk into The Temple Gate is the new reception area and lobby,” said Paul Madden. “We tried to create a new sense of space and brightness. Brave choices were made in combining the Gothic arch and the Classical column, but I believe they work. People assure me that it has the wow factor,” he added. He also said that the hotel has lis- tened carefully to the comments and opinions of customers and he is very

hopeful that people will be pleased with the result.

Paddy Burke Builder Ltd, of Lis- doonvarna, carried out the refurbish- ment of The Temple Gate between January and April of this year. The architects were Frank Ennis and Associates of Dublin. The newly appointed management team at the hotel includes a sales and marketing manager, conference and events co- ordinator and a dedicated wedding co-ordinator.

Formerly part of Ennis Convent of Mercy, The Temple Gate was opened as a hotel in 1996 by John and Vera Madden. With over 30 years’ experi- ence in the hotel business, John Mad- den had a vision to develop this his- toric site as a high-quality hotel.

“I believe we have succeeded. In Dublin, they used to say, I’Il meet you under Cleary’s Clock. In Ennis, The Temple Gate is the meeting point. In a short space of time, the hotel has achieved iconic status as a point of convergence in the heart of Ennis. We are very proud of that. However, we have to reinvent ourselves for new times. This latest investment is our contribution to the development of the hotel in the first decade of the 21st century,” he said.

GORT’S samba revolution could soon be coming to end according to a new survey being completed at NUI, CFE Ls

According to preliminary results of the research, which is being car- ried out by Brian McGrath of the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the University, the Bra- Zilian community 1s coming under increasing pressure as a result of the downturn in the economy and the construction industry in particular.

Speaking at the 35th Annual Con- ference of the Sociological Associa- tion of Ireland, which took place in Galway last week, Mr McGrath ex- pressed his fear that many of Gort’s Brazilian inhabitants may be forced to leave the village.

The survey, which was undertaken directly with the Brazilian commu- nity, revealed that a large amount of the local Brazilian community were working without documentation in a labour black market. Much of this work was undertaken in the local construction industry.

The survey also revealed that this informal employment agreement be-

tween employers and the Brazilians has, in the past, lead to exploitation. According to the research many Bra- Zilians work in an ‘informal econo- my’ on the basis of trust.

A number of Brazilians _inter- viewed said that while family net- works make it easier to settle in the town, although a dominant majority from Goias in south Brazil ‘closed’ the area to other people.

It says that the Brazilian commu- nity fear for their long terms employ- ment prospects in the town and that they may be forced to move on if the situation worsens.

The full results of Mr McGrath’s research, which is being supported by the Child and Family Research Centre in NUI, Galway, should be released by the end of this year.

More than 40 per cent of the resi- dents of Gort are now believed to be non-Irish, with an estimated 83 per cent of these hailing from Brazilian.

The Brazilians originally came to work in the meat processing plants in Covey soKom selon ey NMKeUo Nevin mesleon| higher than in similar plants in Bra- Zil. Fears have been growing for the local Brazilian since the announced closure of the factory.

THE possibility of a mass exodus of the Brazilian community from Gort would have a devastating impact on the town, both economically and so- cially. That is the opinion of Adrian Feeney, who founded a Diploma in Community Development and Inte- eration in the village two years ago. With Brazilians now believed to number almost 40 per cent of the towns total population, Mr Feeney believes that a mass immigration brought about by a downturn in the

economy could turn Gort into a ghost town.

“Tt would have a devastating im- pact on Gort in a number of differ- ent ways. They are very much part of our community here as it is and they do contribute both socially and economically.

“They buy stuff in our shops, the rent houses in our community, it would have a real impact economi- cally as well as socially. They did put Gort on the map,’ said Mr Feeney, who is a former head of the Gort Chamber of Commerce.

According to research being com- piled by Brian McGrath of the De- part Political Science and Sociol- ogy at NUI, Galway, large levels of Gort’s Brazilian community are working without documentation in a black market. This puts them in a particularly vulnerable position fol- lowing the downturn in the economy and especially in the construction industry.

Mr Feeney believes that the prob- lem of undocumented Brazilians in Gort has been overstated and has im- proved greatly over the last number

of years.

“We ran the Community Devel- opment Diploma ourselves in Gort which insured that all their rights would be looked after. Especially people who would not have the best command of English,’ continued Weoteays

“T think that a lot of the problems regarding the black market and peo- ple getting exploited were redressed a year ago. There is no doubt that there are still people living in Gort who don’t have all their paperwork, but there will be repercussions for

anyone who doesn’t have their paper- work in any country.

“These people immigrated with their friends and family and there is no real doubt that there are people working in the black market. I think that the repercussion for them after the slowdown would be the same as everyone else employed in the con- struction industry.

“But the diploma was a very posi- tive step, it really highlighted the need for these guys to be legit but it was also about highlighting to the Brazilians their own rights.”

AN Ennis couple have been once more vindicated in their opposition to plans for a mixed-use development on the town’s historic Francis Street.

Last year, Ennis Town Council granted planning permission to Galvin Construction for a mixed-use development on a strategic site at the junction of Francis Street and Clon- road.

The proposal by Galvin Construc- tion Ltd was for the construction of a contemporary office building at the site.

The company had been trying to develop the site for a number of

years, but were stymied in their ef- forts by Vincent and Anne Coffey of Clonroad, who already had an objec- tions against development at the site upheld by An Bord Pleanala.

In 2004, it emerged that the Cof- feys withdrew their objection against an unrelated €20 million housing scheme at the Quin Road, Doora by Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd af- ter the company paid them £85,000 (€107,930) and gave them two free sites.

The Coffeys operate a business adjacent to the site in Doora and ex- pressed concern over the impact the proposal would have on their devel- e)eeonle

They stated that at no time did they approach the developers with the intention of securing payment of money, gifts, consideration of other inducement.

The Coffeys have a material inter- est in the proposed Francis Street development as they own property adjacent to the site and claim that the scale, massing, design and setting is inappropriate and likely to under- mine wider development in the area.

In the assessment of the applica- tion, the board inspector stated that the proposed development accords with the thrust and emphasis of the Development Plan.

“It is, however, noted that both the

county engineer and town engineer have serious reservations about the development being premature given the need for improvements to the Francis Street pumping station and it is anticipated that construction work will commence in 2009.

‘In the circumstances, even though the planning authority do not feel the proposed improvement works have any bearing on the appeal site, it is considered the works could well have an impact on any future development and this needs to be clarified.”

The proposal was refused as the board considered it premature as 1m- provements are to be carried out to the Francis Street pumping station.

can reveal that three drivers in the county have amassed 12 penalty points and, as a result, have been banned from driv- ing for six months.

Twenty drivers have received 10 points each, two have received nine points, 61 motorists have amassed eight points, while seven drivers have got seven points each.

279 drivers have received six points, while 32 motorists have earned five points. One driver has four penalty points, while 48 Clare motorists have

received three points.

The single biggest amount of driv- ers – 7,142 – have two points, while 146 drivers have one point each, bringing the total number of drivers to 9,001.

Drivers who receive 12 points with- in three years are then banned from driving for six months.

Penalty points apply to 36 offences, including careless driving, crossing a continuous white line, not wearing a seatbelt and speeding.

Offending drivers are issued with fixed charge notices and if they pay the fine, the points are added to their licenses. However, they can contest their cases in court and, if success- ful, the points will not be added to NCJ P mB BLO eoe

The single biggest offence commit- ted by Clare drivers over the past two years was speeding. 8,360 drivers were caught for this. 1,075 drivers were caught for not wearing their seat belts, while 715 were detected driv- ing while using their mobile phones. 324 drivers in Clare received points for crossing continuous or broken white lines.

The next most significant offence was drivers failing to obey traffic lights (174), followed by failure to comply with traffic signs (121).

Several Clare drivers were also caught for overtaking, driving with- out reasonable consideration, fail- ing to stop before spot lines and not ensuring children were wearing seat ere) LiSe

The head of the Clare Garda Divi- sion Traffic Corps, Inspector John Galvin said it was disheartening that sO many drivers were ignoring the road traffic legislation.

“It is disappointing to see that peo- ple are continuing to breach the laws, despite the enforcement and public campaigns. It is putting people’s lives at risk,” he said.

“We are continuing to enforce the regulations. All gardai are doing it throughout the division,” added In- spector Galvin.

‘Expect to see us on the roads,” he WEN e Eee b

As part of a nationwide crackdown on motoring offences, the traffic corps in the Clare division increased significantly in size last year.

JUST days after the proposed N18 Gort-Crusheen bypass looked dead in the water, the Department of Trans- port has somehow come up with the cash to keep the project afloat.

Speaking last Friday in Galway, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Eamon O’Cuiv said that he had received a firm com- mitment that construction works on the entire N18 upgrade, including the Gort bypass, would commence early next year.

Construction on the long muted by- pass was scheduled to begin in the first half of this year, and some 170 Clare and Galway farmers have en- tered into a negotiations for the com- pulsory purchase of land needed.

]Sr-Nu DCs SOU EcMmOeCOOLNeMmE OO CoMmBN EIB Ceyer-D Roads Authority (NRA) confirmed that they would not be in a position to begin work on the Gort bypass this year as planned because of a lack

of funds.

This sparked fears in the local farm- ing community the NRA and both Clare and Galway County Councils would attempt to undercut the price already offered to farmers.

Under the compulsory purchase order process, the NRA has frozen the value of the compensation for the land. The IFA’s Roads Project Team Leader, Jer Bergin, last week hosted a meeting of landowners effected by the bypass.

“This new road will affect the live- lihoods of over 170 landowners and will involve the construction of over 24 kilometers of new road,” he said.

However, the National Roads Au- thority confirmed that €20 million has been provided for works on the N-18 in 2008. They also confirmed that the bulk of this money will go towards land purchase. The remain- der will be spent on site surveys, an archaeological study of the route and advance work projects.

THE immediate future of Ennis General Hospital will be known in approximately two weeks when the health capital programme is pub- lished.

Clare’s four TDs said they were hopeful that funding for the hospital would be included in the critical list for this year after meeting with the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, last Thursday. All of Clare’s mayors were also in attendance.

Some months ago senior health of- ficials indicated they did not believe that the funding would materialise with the money being diverted in- stead to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin.

Minister for State at the Depart- ment of Agriculture Tony Killeen (FF) said that it was obvious from the meeting that the Minister for Health would like the funding to be listed for this year on the National Development Plan HSE capital fund- ing 2006-2011, but ultimately the decision was with the Health Service Executive (HSE).

“T always believed that it would happen as part of that programme, it was only a question of when,” he said.

Fellow Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley said he “was delighted that the minister gave a very positive in- dication that the hospital construc- tion project was on the list”.

He was critical of members of the HSE who, he believed, “tried to put

the project on hold’, favouring Dub- lin projects.

“IT am prepared to monitor this and intervene again to ensure the project finally goes to construction,’ he said.

Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen said he was Satisfied that the delegation final- ly “tied her down to a time frame”.

The deputy believes, however, that the project may not begin construc- tion until 2009, as the proposed ad- dition of a number of isolation wards could delay the process by three to four months.

“I am more confident after the meeting on this occasion because there is a lot of pressure coming from Fianna Fail councillors coming close

to the local and European elections,” he said.

Deputy Joe Carey (FG) said that the minister must adhere to the time frame of two weeks as given.

“The minister has now given us a set timescale of two weeks. She must now honour this. I will be holding the Government to account in Dail Eireann to finally deliver this much promised redevelopment of Ennis General Hospital.”

He also rejected HSE claims that recommendations of the report on the C-difficile outbreak could cause further delays.