Payment of planning levy to be discussed with council?

A SENIOR Clare County Council engineer has said the local authority is willing to sit down with a major quarry owner near Parteen to try and secure an agreement for approving the payment of a planning contribution levy, which was previously set at over €900,000.
An Bórd Pleanála gave the green light for the continuation of quarrying activities in Ardnacrusha, including blasting and processing of aggregates for the next 25 years, after an appeal by local residents.
The appeals’ board upheld the decision by Clare County Council to grant permission on January 19, 2008 to Bobby O’Connell to continue activities at the existing registered quarry lands at Ballycar South, subject to 22 new planning conditions.
Residents had lodged an objection against the local authority decision, while the applicant had appealed a number of the planning conditions, including a €970,561 special contribution to upgrade roads in Parteen.
Within three months from the order dated April 20, the developer has to lodge an approved insurance company bond of €305,000 and a cash sum of €305,000.
However, the board failed to specify the financial contribution the applicant should pay the council for public infrastructure and facilities or the special financial contribution for necessary improvements to the local road network. Instead, details of the terms of these contributions have to be agreed between the two parties or by the board, if this can’t be achieved.
In addition, the road north of Sheehan’s Cross has to be widened to facilitate the safe passage of oncoming vehicles, signage and markings based on a revised priority junction arrangement and work south of Sheehan’s Cross, as deemed necessary by the local planning authority.
The appeals board also applied a number of strict conditions, including a requirement for the full implementation of all the mitigation measures contained in the Environmental Impact Statement.
The quarry entrance has to be widened, a wheel wash facility will have to be installed at the entrance to the quarry to reduce dust from trucks and in dry weather, roads within the site will have to be sprayed with water at least three times a day.
Speaking at a recent Killaloe Electoral Area meeting, executive engineer, Seán Lenihan confirmed the council had budgeted to spend in the region of €160,000 widening the road at Quinpool.
Councillor Cathal Crowe urged the council to call in the planning levy set by the appeals’ board to secure funding for the improvement of the Quinpool Road. Acknowledging that the initial sum of €970,561 was excessive, Councillor Crowe stressed that a substantial sum of money should be levied.
Mr Lenihan said the council is fully prepared to sit down with the quarry owner and discuss the extent of the planning contribution levy and said he understood the matter is being addressed by the local planning department.
He said that while €970,561 was levied two years ago, it should be possible to get as much improvement works completed on the Quinpool Road for a sum significantly less than this figure because of a reduction in costs.
When pressed further by Councillor Crowe, Mr Lenihan declined to give a specific figure or an exact amount for the planning levy.