Doolin pier plans hit rough water

Plans to build a new pier in Doolin hit rough waters this week when An Bord Pleanála ordered that Clare County Council supply an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project.

The West Coast Surf Club, based in Lahinch, requested that the board exercise its power to direct the local authority to prepare an EIS in respect of plans to build a new access road, pier, revetment and to carry out blasting and dredging at Doolin. An Bord Pleanála found in the surf club’s favour and has now called on Clare County Council to submit an EIS.
One local businessman described the decision as “devastating”, while a Clare senator called it “shocking”.
The proposed development of a new pier in Doolin has proved controversial, attracting 27 observations during the planning process. As part of the original plans for the project Clare County Council submitted a wave modelling report, a Natura Impact Statement and Appropriate Assessment screening and an Environmental Screening Report as well as a number of internal reports among other documents.
An inspector from An Bord Pleanála visited the proposed site in late August and compiled a report that directed the local authority to prepare an EIS in respect of the development.
In outlining the reasons for the West Coast Surf Club’s request to An Bord Pleanála, the inspector’s report notes that the club does not object to the proposition of a new pier at Doolin but it [the club] claims the application has not investigated the full effects of the proposed development “as there are many and different complicated elements, which could be severely impacted upon and the most appropriate method of assessing these impacts is through the preparation of an EIS”.
The inspector’s report found that a full EIS is warranted in this instance.
“Of particular concern, in my view, is the fact that the works are located in close proximity to a designated Special Area of Conservation and are also to affect an area of limestone pavement which is designated as an Annex 1 priority habitat in the Habitats Directive,” the report stated.
Senator Martin Conway from Ennistymon supports the building of the pier and accused An Bord Pleanála in this case of having a disregard for job creation.
“I regret the decision of An Bord Pleanála to delay what is a critical infrastructural project, not just for the west coast of Clare, but for the entire West of Ireland. I wonder what expertise the board used in coming to this decision given the fact the Clare County Council employed consultants who are absolutely competent in this area and who would not have recommended the council not to go with an EIS and put their professional reputations on the line if they thought it was necessary. What expertise have the board used to rebut their recommendation?” Senator Conway asked.
“This decision is yet another example to me that An Bord Pleanála do not care about job creation and they certainly don’t care about County Clare because if they had job creation at the top of their agenda like every other organ of State they would not have made this recommendation. Whatever way we look at it, the project is now delayed for at least six to 12 months,” he added.
“The businesses and residents of the Doolin area are extremely frustrated because they have waited 14 years for any kind of significant investment given what the general area has given to Irish tourism and just on the eve of this development, we get this kick in the backside,” Senator Conway continued.
“It is hard to quantify what damage this will do but the delay is damage in itself,” he added.
“It is shocking to think that a tiny group of surfers, many of whom have no connection to the area, could hold up this type of critical infrastructure,” Senator Conway commented.
Clare County Councillor, Fianna Fáil’s Michael Kelly has also criticised An Bord Pleanála’s decision.
“I am extremely disappointed that such a fine project, which has been looked for for so long, is now being delayed at a time when finance is at a premium. The major danger here is that by the time decisions are made, the finance may not be in place to do this job,” he said.
“Of course, we would like to see the surfers enjoy the area but we also want the local business community and the local population to benefit. It is of primary importance that anything that benefits business in the area is not postponed or stalled at this time,” Councillor Kelly added.
The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard launches from the pier and has been vocal in its criticism of the existing infrastructure.
“We are extremely disappointed that after this lengthy process and the work the councillors and local representatives did in pushing it forward and the council putting so much time into it, it didn’t go through. An investment of €6 million in infrastructure would have been a great boost for tourism in Clare,” said Mattie Shannon, station officer, Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard.
Senator Conway told The Clare Champion he believes that the Government will provide funding for the project if it gets the go-ahead.
“I think they will see this as a critical infrastructure development and far more important than a lot of other capital investment projects and I would be very hopeful that the resources will remain in place but delays like this don’t make it any easier and add more complications than are necessary,” he concluded.