Councillors concerned over proposed 20m mast

KILKEE town councillors have expressed anger and surprise that a planning application to erect a 20m high communications mast on the Kilrush Road in Kilkee was not made known to them.
Town councillors are given a list of planning applications at each month’s meeting of Kilkee Town Council but information on the mast application was not included when councillors were given the most recent planning list.
The proposed mast is described as “a communications structure, carrying antennae, free standing wooden pole type communications structure, carrying antennae and communication dishes, to be shared with third party operators”.
The mast will be located at the ESB’s existing sub-station in Kilkee.
“This is a worrying situation to find ourselves in,” Councillor Claire Haugh commented at Monday’s meeting of Kilkee Town Council.
“Who is the third party going to be?” Councillor Brian Keane asked.
The planning application was received by Clare County Council on July 29 last and submissions could be received until September 1. It is now too late to make a submission.
“I want to know why this application didn’t appear in this sheet?” Councillor Lily Marrinan Sullivan asked, with reference to the planning list forwarded to town councillors.
“We can appeal it to An Bórd Pleanála,” she suggested.
Town manager Nora Kaye was obliged under council rules to leave the meeting while the live planning application was being discussed.
A decision on the application is due from Clare County Council on Wednesday, September 22.