South Clare

YEARS of campaigning to fast track the Broadford Sewerage Scheme received a major setback this week after

RESIDENTS in 244 houses in one of the largest private housing estates in the Mid-West will be asked to contribute €40 apiece to fund grass-cutting, even though it has not been taken in charge by Clare County Council.It was decided at a residents’ meeting in Westbury Church on Tuesday night, following a recent decision by Chieftain Construction Limited not to continue its grass cutting programme on green areas in Clonard and Riverdale.However, a local county councillor has warned he will request Clare County  Council pay for the cost of the grass cutting, by recouping the money from the bond attached to the planning conditions for these estates.Chieftain Construction Limited are continuing to cut grass in green areas in Bruach Lawn and An Grianán estates, which are not fully completed yet.Senior executive engineer, Sean Lenihan, has confirmed that condition 24 of the permission for Clonard sought a bond to be put in place “to secure the provision and satisfactory completion and …

LATE night drinking by young people in Shannon Banks has prompted calls for the establishment of a community garda sub office.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said he has received complaints from residents claiming youths are congregating in amenity areas on the banks of the River Shannon at weekends and on some week nights.Claiming that Ardnacrusha Garda Station is undermanned, Councillor Fitzgerald expressed disappointment that no garda has been appointed to replace Garda John Kelleher, who retired from the station last year. He said local gardaí are doing their best to police the area but could use the benefit of having a physical presence in Westbury and Shannon Banks. He pointed out the population of the area including Parteen, Meelick, Clonlara, Ardnacrusha, Shannon Banks, Westbury, Carraig Midhe, Athlunkard and Gillogue is now in the region of 10,000.“What was once a rural part of Clare has over the years taken on an urban look particularly in the Westbury, Shannon Banks, Carraig Midhe and Athlunkard …

LATE night drinking by young people in Shannon Banks has prompted calls for the establishment of a community garda sub office.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said he has received complaints from residents claiming youths are congregating in amenity areas on the banks of the River Shannon at weekends and on some week nights.Claiming that Ardnacrusha Garda Station is undermanned, Councillor Fitzgerald expressed disappointment that no garda has been appointed to replace Garda John Kelleher, who retired from the station last year. He said local gardaí are doing their best to police the area but could use the benefit of having a physical presence in Westbury and Shannon Banks. He pointed out the population of the area including Parteen, Meelick, Clonlara, Ardnacrusha, Shannon Banks, Westbury, Carraig Midhe, Athlunkard and Gillogue is now in the region of 10,000.“What was once a rural part of Clare has over the years taken on an urban look particularly in the Westbury, Shannon Banks, Carraig Midhe and Athlunkard …

THE flooding impact of a state-of-the-art €8million sports complex on the Clare campus of the University of Limerick has been raised by locals.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald claimed householders have highlighted anxieties about the construction of new playing facilities, including two soccer, one GAA and one rugby pitch on a 9.8 hectare site, which is situated on a flood plain.A two storey pavilion development incorporates 10 changing rooms, two referee rooms, first aid room, reception/office area, plant/boiler room, two coaching rooms, restaurant with bar facilities, kitchen, toilets and ancillary services.Clare County Council approved the development at the northern end of the UL campus, subject to 19 conditions last October.Councillor Fitzgerald told The Clare Champion he hoped to set up a meeting with officials in the university next week to try and allay the fears of residents.“In view of the major damage caused by flooding in South-East Clare last November, residents are understandably worried about any development, which might increase a risk of …

AN unexpected opportunity resulted in Clare Champion Killaloe/Ballina notes correspondent Sadie Scanlan taking up the reins as organist for the Ballina Church Choir over 22 years ago.

IT now seems certain that the Broadford Sewerage Scheme will not go to tender this year due to a delay in securing Government-approved funding totalling €1.1 million for it.

THE development of the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe in recent years has been “lopsided”, a Clare planning consultant has claimed.Brendan McGrath of Brendan McGrath and Associates, Corofin, made the charge in an appeal to An Bord Pleanála against the granting of planning permission for a new regional primary healthcare centre in Killaloe.“The development of Killaloe-Ballina has been lopsided in recent years,” he commented in the objection. He pointed out that while the population of Killaloe actually fell between 2002 and 2006, the number of people living in Ballina grew by 57% in the same period.Taking in the large area of the Killaloe and Ballina district electoral divisions, Mr McGrath pointed out the combined population in 2006 was 4,082, with 60% living on the Tipperary side of the river.Mr McGrath made his comments in an objection lodged by Brian and Riona Grogan, Grogan’s Pharmacy and Opticians, Ballina against the grant of planning permission to John Deegan, c/o Garwin Farren, …