Council thumbs down for Crowe’s Meelick commercial development idea

CALLS to put a masterplan or commercial template in place for Meelick and the surrounding areas amid the opening of the new Limerick Tunnel were dismissed by Clare County Council in a formal response at a recent Killaloe Electoral Area meeting.

Councillor Cathal Crowe raised the issue when he called for Clare County Council to carry out a full assessment of the potential of the Meelick area to carry industrial or commercial developments in the future. He also suggested that this would ultimately lead to a masterplan for the area.
However, his motion was not considered viable by the council who suggested that Shannon, Ennis, the Clare side of the UL campus and Burlington area be considered over the Meelick area.
Councillor Crowe stressed at the meeting that Meelick “lost out on proposals such as a greyhound stadium, private hospital and nursing home” in the past. He added that he was disappointed and felt that the area was “being neglected”.
Councillor Michael Begley also expressed concern on the issue and stated, “I find it saddening and distressing that we are missing the boat on this one”.
In a formal reply to the motion, Brian McCarthy senior executive planner, explained that on the completion of the Limerick Tunnel and development of the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road that the future development of the South-East Clare Region will be governed inter alia by three strategy documents. However, he stated that “none of the plans and strategies (currently at draft stages) identifies the Meelick area for significant industrial/commercial development. Moreover, the thrust of existing national and regional policy is to build on the existing industrial and commercial strengths and advantages of the Shannon/Limerick Gateway supported by the hub town Ennis. With particular reference to the Meelick area, these considerations are elaborated on in the county manager’s report on submissions to the Draft Clare County Development Plan 2011 – 2017,” Mr McCarthy said.
He stated that in response to a similar proposal, the manager’s report recommended that the focus for significant industrial/commercial development be directed to the Ennis, Shannon Gateway areas, as well as having an additional focus on economic development along the northern shores of the Shannon Estuary and the Clare campus of UL around Burlington.
“In addition, with the completion of the national routes and proposals for development of the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road, it is considered that development on greenfield unserviced lands, detached from Limerick with no established planning history for economic development proposals, would have a negative effect on traffic movements along this important strategic transport corridor,” he said.
He added that having regard to this, it is considered that any assessment as suggested by Councillor Crowe in relation to commercial or industrial potential should focus on Shannon, Ennis and the proposed economic development areas of the Shannon Estuary and UL/Burlington, rather than the Meelick area.