Further information sought on marina project

Additional information concerning a controversial marina development in Killaloe has been sought by Clare County Council, amid concern from local residents about compliance for existing planning permission.
The local planning department has requested Ian Symington, c/o Neil Bennett MRAI, 3 Riverfront, Howley’s, to submit revised plans for the retention of nine existing berths at the marina at Harbour Village, Scariff Road, Killaloe, in accordance with plans submitted last September. It expressed concern that the site layout plan as received was not an accurate illustration of the existing marina layout at the site.
An application submitted by the same applicant last year to reorganise a previously permitted inland marina, provide 48 new berths within the marina and retain nine existing berths at Harbour Village was refused by the county council.
On inspection of the marina, the council claimed that the site layout plan differs from the actual situation on site, which has a wooden walkway at the side of one of the berths proposed for retention. On inspection, it was found that this wooden walkway was not at the western part of the site.
The council also found that another wooden walkway was omitted from another part of the marina, while a different one shown at the eastern side of the marina wasn’t there on inspection.
“In light of the above concerns, please submit a revised site layout plan and any other details as appropriate to illustrate the existing situation at the marina and the exact location of the berths for retention, including all wooden walkways.
“Please provide clear details as to who will be using the berths proposed for retention. It is noted that there are 60 apartments at this location and it is proposed that 70 berths in total will be provided at this location. If it is proposed to use these berths for commercial purposes, please make this clear,” the council stated.
The Clare Association of An Taisce stated that in keeping with recent guidelines from Europe and the Department of the Environment, all retentions within designated areas such as the National Heritage Area (NHA)/Special Area of Conservation of Lough Derg could no longer be permitted and would have to be demolished.
“This was an unauthorised development with an outstanding enforcement issue. Under no circumstances should it be granted and further efforts need to be made to see that enforcement is carried out,” the association claimed.
A submission from the Harbour Village Residents’ Association confirmed that it didn’t object to the proposed retention but would like to see existing planning permission complied with.
The association requested that 61 existing berths should be restored to their correct sizes, in accordance with the original planning permission granted in 1998 and a subsequent enforcement order.
“When the members of our association bought their apartment, they were sold a lifestyle by the developer. This was to include a leisure centre, swimming pool and coffee shop.
“Instead, every day for the last number of years, the residents of Harbour Village are faced with a dangerous rat-infested derelict eyesore.
“With Killaloe being a heritage town attracting a lot of visitors every year, this eyesore is highly visible from the Killaloe to Scariff Road,” the association claimed in their submission.
“The berths that members believed they were purchasing have been reduced in size and, despite an enforcement order, have not been restored. The recent fire at the marina resulted in the fire rapidly spreading to other craft because of their present close proximity to each other.
“The association has been in discussion with the developer about landscaping the now-derelict site and to rectify the berth issue but to no avail,” the association added.
If it is not the intention of the developer to sell berths to non-residents or to create a commercial marina with public access and associated activity, the association asked why there was a need to retain nine unauthorised berths, as there were only 60 apartments in the scheme, allocating one berth per apartment.
The association requested the preparation of a revised master plan site layout plan clearly defining water width dimensions and numbering all of the existing berths, following consultation with local residents and other owners, which should be lodged with the council.