South Clare

FEARS about a possible extension of Limerick City’s boundary into Westbury and Shannon Banks are fuelling anger and frustration among residents over the delay in the public takeover of one of the largest housing estates in the Mid-West.Last week, Shannon Development raised the ire of some residents when it suggested in its submission to the Limerick Local Government Committee that the city boundary should be extended into Shannon Banks and Westbury.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said the threat of the boundary extension has increased the anger among householders in the Westbury Housing Estate, who are fearful that the long-awaited takeover by Clare County Council may not happen before the new Limerick Local Government Committee makes its final recommendation.Speaking to The Clare Champion, Councillor Fitzgerald said he had been approached by a number of residents who do not want the estate to be left in limbo and want Clare County Council to fulfil its promise to take the estate in charge.He said he …

A KILLALOE-based chartered accountant was counting his good fortune last week after securing a top United States entrepreneur to provide a presentation at a local seminar on how women succeed in business.

WORK on the provision of a state-of-the-art €10 million two-storey nursing home in Westbury is expected to start during the summer months. The development got the green light from Clare County Council and, barring a successful appeal to An Bord Pleanála, the Athlunkard Partnership, consisting of six Limerick businessmen, expect that construction work will start on the 110-bed nursing home over the coming months.Athlunkard Partnership spokesman Flor McCarthy told The Clare Champion he is delighted to secure official approval for the multi-million euro development.“The partnership sees this development as an enormous opportunity to provide the Limerick and Clare area with a nursing home built to an exceptionally high standard.“Overall, the 20 planning conditions are fair and we are happy that we will be able to meet them in full. We are currently assessing the construction requirements of the development and hope to start work during the summer months,” he said.The planning authority gave the go ahead after developers made a …

A campaign is underway to have a footbridge linking Clare and Limerick at Plassey reopened for the benefit of hundreds of local walkers, runners and fishermen who frequently used the crossing.Limerick East Labour Deputy Jan O’Sullivan has written to Waterways Ireland and contacted Limerick County Council in an effort to have the Black Bridge, situated near the Plassey fishermen’s huts, re-opened. Closed to the public since November 22 following severe flooding on the River Shannon, it now requires a structural survey costing an estimated €100,000.“As a regular walker on the Plassey Bank, I have had dozens of conversations with people from all parts of Limerick and South-East Clare who love the area and they are determined to have the bridge re-opened,” stated Deputy O’Sullivan.The footbridge, which dates back to about 1840, has been in almost continuous use for about two centuries. Some of the timber supporting the piers has rotted away, as confirmed in a preliminary report undertaken by Waterways …

Plans for a new regional primary healthcare centre in Killaloe employing more than 50 people have been approved by Clare County Council, despite opposition from some local businesses and residents.

The proposed inclusion of communities in South-East Clare in any boundary extension of Limerick City has prompted opposition from local residents.

Clare county councillors have called for an independent assessment of the water management of the River Shannon following the unprecedented flooding, which resulted in the evacuation of 22 homes in South-East Clare last November.

Emergency and local authority vehicles will be exempt from the toll charges set to be introduced next September when the new Limerick Tunnel is expected to become fully operational.