Mullaghmore car park application withdrawn

THE Burren Action Group this week welcomed the news that the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has withdrawn its application to build a car park at Mullaghmore.

The car park, proposed by the NPWS, would have been located in Knockanroe, Corofin and used for the Burren National Park.

The application submitted to Clare County Council in October last year stated the car park was to have 27 spaces and facilitate 25 to 40 cars per day.

The Burren Action Group submitted an objection to the car park, stating a “stand-alone car park at the park’s core cannot address access and management issues; there is currently no agreed management plan for the national park; the application is part of a process of induced development; the proposal will endanger the area’s reputation for sustainable tourism; and it is based on an inadequate and incomplete Natura Impact Statement”. The group claimed it would “generate incremental development in the core of the national park”.

The council requested further information in relation to the NPWS plans and noted “serious concerns arise as regards the principle of the development”.

The local authority asked the NPWS to detail the reasons for the proposed car park and the location chosen. It also requested a rationale for the number of car parking spaces proposed and the number of people who would use it.

That was in December but last week the NPWS formally withdrew its application to build the car park. It raised issues about the materials proposed and the design outlined for the car park, noting it “would appear more suited to an urban context”.

This week, the Burren Action Group voiced its relief that the application was withdrawn.

“The inevitable withdrawal of this unworkable and unsustainable proposal, even at the 11th hour, is welcome. There is now space to genuinely address access issues in the national park in a joint approach involving local communities, tourism operators and park personnel.

“Hopefully, the park management authorities have now got the message and, after 23 years, can finally move on to inclusive and agreed management proposals, which will protect the Burren and its international reputation.

“A management plan is urgently required to replace the free-for-all that has been allowed to develop. There are many solutions awaiting to emerge if such an approach is taken,” he concluded.