The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
AN OUTDOOR pavilion planned for Mountshannon has hit a further hitch, with permission for the development being appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Earlier this year, Mountshannon Community Council, which is spearheading the project, secured a funding award of €54,860 from The Department of Rural and Community Development.
The facility, to be located at Aistear Park, was given planning permission by Clare County Council at the start of last month. Now, a third-party appeal has been lodged by four residents of the town’s Main Street.
The hitch means it will be several months before the future of the project is known.
The appeal, which was lodged on April 27, has been made by two couples who had objected to the development when it originally came before the Council.
In their correspondence with An Bord Pleanála, the appellants have outlined seven grounds for their opposition to the development.
In the first instance, the appellants express the opinion that the planning application should have placed more emphasis on the impact of the pavilion on views of Lough Derg.
“The Aistear Park is a stunning 4.5 acre open space within our village,” the appeal document states.
“An open space is a special amenity in any village, but one overlooking Lough Derg is exceptional.
“This is the only area of the Main Street from where the lake can be clearly viewed. The original planning application in 1995 was for an open park with the guiding principle being the preservation of the open nature of the site and its views of Lough Derg and Holy Island.
“It is accepted by the applicant and the planner that the development will have a negative impact on these views.”
The appellants also argue that the pavilion “would fundamentally alter the character of the park”.
They have also questioned the lack of detail in the application about roofing materials for the proposed structure. “Given that the roof will be the most visible part of the structure, we do not understand how the Council can grant permission in the absence of clarity on the type of material to be used for the roof,” the appeal document states.
On the issue of anti-social behaviour, which the appellants raised in their original objection, the appeal document outlines several concerns.
It takes issue with county planners’ assertions that the pavilion would be visible from the public road, saying that, “this contradicts the premise that the structure is being built in a hollow”.
“Anti-social behaviour will inevitably occur at times when there are low levels of passive surveillance,” the appeal states. As regards how often the pavilion will be used, the appellants have restated their concerns. They describe the structure as “a cold and uncomfortable venue during the September to April period”.
They argue that there are alternative performance spaces available in Mountshannon, and that the pavilion will not be used on a regular basis.
The appellants also raised concerns about potential pooling of water around the pavilion and the absence of detail, in the planning application, in relation to groundworks to avoid this.
Finally, concerns have been raised about how games in the park might be impacted. The appellants state that “any play that involves a ball” will be limited by the proposed structure.
In granting permission for the pavilion, county planners had imposed four conditions.
They had stipulated that the Community Council would have to secure clearance from the local authority as to the specifications of roofing material for the structure.
They considered this to be crucial to limiting the visual impact of the pavilion in the scenic setting close to Lough Derg. Planners had also requested that the finished floor level of the pavilion not vary from the blueprints submitted and that all cables should be located underground, throughout the site.
In respect of the objections raised, planners described the pavilion as “modest in scale relative to the overall park area”, and said it “will not inhibit the use of the area for play and recreational activity”.
The Council found that the planned structure would not have a significant impact on views from the village towards the lake”.
They also noted that the pavilion would be unlikely to attract anti-social behaviour as it would be open-sided and fully visible from the public road, with well-lit paths and no dense trees or landscaping.
The pavilion plan has been backed by the Town and Village Renewal Fund and also supported through local fundraising efforts. The planning appeal is currently being assessed by An Bord Pleanála and a decision is expected around August 30.
