Tag Archives: clare county council

FRUSTRATED at not being given the funding guarantees it says it needs, Clare County Council has released a statement today saying ” it cannot proceed with the proposed takeover of the Clare assets of Shannon Heritage at this time without real and meaningful support from Government.” As recently as yesterday Clare TD Cathal Crowe told workers that he hoped an agreement on the transfer might be completed by Christmas, and the Council statement today, while ostensibly ruling out the transfer at the moment, also says the local authority “remains open to further engagement on the future management and development of Shannon Heritage assets in County Clare.” Clare County Council has been looking for funding of around €15 million to take over Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Craggaunowen Bronze Age Park, Knappogue Castle & Walled Garden, and the Cliffs of Moher Experience retail unit. In today’s statement, the Council said, “In the comprehensive independent Due Diligence report submitted to government, Clare …

DEVELOPERS seeking to build 36 new homes in Tulla have lodged an appeal, after being refused planning permission by Clare County Council. An application from Woodhaven Developments for a site on Church Road was turned down after planners judged the plans to be “deficient in terms of its pedestrian provision” and out of keeping with the character of the area. In its appeal to An Bórd Pleanála, Woodhaven said it felt the Council’s refusal was “based on a narrow review of the submitted proposals as regards the housing need within the development plan requirements, national policy, quantity and type of units, design, layout, principle of development, site topography, site services, adjoining planning history associated with Tulla”. The company also said that, in refusing permission on the grounds outlined, the Council would remove the site from future development as the adjoining lands are not in Woodhaven’s ownership and are not for sale. Woodhaven noted that the site has been described by …

ENNIS is crying out for a town bus and active travel infrastructure, says Clare Green Party Senator Ròisín Garvey. The Inagh-based politician is highlighting traffic congestion while calling on the County Council “to prioritise spending available for active travel funding on better, safer and more cycle lanes, footpaths and pedestrian crossings”. She said, “Even if all cars switched to electric overnight, we would still have the exact same traffic congestion issues. “The only way forward is to focus on reducing car dependency and prioritising active travel infrastructure and a town bus service. “I know from working with children and parents in all the Ennis schools over many years that the will is there to allow children walk and cycle to school, if the proper infrastructure is put in place. “Many of the roads leading into our beautiful town already have the width for such infrastructure and the Department of Transport are offering the funding. “Where there’s a will there’s a …

PLANS are underway for the delivery of a pedestrian crossing at the top of Abbey Street, with one local councillor describing the current situation as “deadly dangerous”. Councillor Pat Daly raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where he said, “It’s seriously dangerous crossing the street at this particular area of town.” He continued, “I have seen first hand people coming to cross the road and they are chancing their arm crossing over. How people have not been hurt or killed I can’t understand it. It’s a serious health and safety issue.” Paddy Tiernan, acting senior executive engineer responded to the motion, “A need for a pedestrian crossing at this location has been identified and is planned. “The pedestrian crossing is currently planned to be delivered under the Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration Project B. This project is programmed to commence construction in 2023.” Councillor Daly stated, “I welcome something will be done, I …

CLARE County Council being named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards was an honour and a humbling experience, said the Council CEO. The Council was also named overall winner in the ‘Festival of the Year’ (for Ennis Mela Festival) and ‘Sustaining the Arts’ award (for House! Open Air Aerial Dance Spectacle with Fidget Feet). At the Council’s budget meeting, its Chief Executive Pat Dowling said, “It was an honour and a humbling experience last night to be chosen amongst our peers. “Morevoer I think it’s important that these awards are endorsed by the business community, as overseen by various chambers of commerce across the country.” He added, “The two other authorities that we competed with for the overall award were Limerick City & County and South Dublin, two very large urban-based authorities. I take particular pleasure that we did come out on top.” Mr Dowling said the Council staff and the councillors …

LIDL Ireland has been told by Clare County Council’s planning department that “concerns remain” over its planned €20 million development in Ennis. The supermarket giant has been asked to submit additional information to the Council, which has agreed to extend the ‘further response’ period up to and including December 15, 2022. Lidl is seeking planning permission for the development of a new store and mixed-use development at the junction of the Clare Road (R458) and Toberteascain Road. If given the go-ahead, the development will include 20 residential apartments, a café and two commercial units. According to Lidl, the development will create 30 local jobs along with 100 more during construction if granted planning permission. In September Lidl responded to an initial further information request by the Council seeking clarification on a number of items including issues with the design and massing of buildings, in particular the northern elevation onto the Toberteascain Road. A report compiled by MKO Planning and Environmental Consultants …

TOM O’Callaghan, set to become the county’s newest Fianna Fáil councillor, has vowed to do what he can to help the Clare community, recalling the support his own family received when struck by tragedy. The postmaster was chosen by Fianna Fáil party members at a selection convention in Hotel Woodstock on Sunday evening. He will fill the role on the Ennis Municipal District vacant after former councillor Mark Nestor left to join the priesthood. Mr O’Callaghan, who is from Kildysart but is based in Clarecastle, secured 48 votes at the convention and was declared victorious on the first count. He will be formally ratified as a member of the local authority at the December meeting of Clare County Council. He told The Clare Champion that on the night of the election, thoughts turned to his sister Yvonne who sadly lost her life 20 years ago in a horse-riding accident. “It was very devastating, a very tough time for my family. …

REPRESSION of protests in China made headlines across the world in the last week, but weren’t even mentioned when the Chinese ambassador met with Clare County Council on Monday. The local authority hosted China’s Ambassador to Ireland, He Xiangdong, to mark Clare’s twinning relationship with Yunnan Province in China. Yunnan Province, which has a population of more than 46 million, is in the far southwest of China and borders Vietnam, Laos, and Burma. In a statement issued through Clare County Council, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Tony O’Brien said he had been honoured to host the ambassador. “A lot of work and time has been invested in nurturing the relationship between Clare and Yunnan Province and it was an honour to welcome the Ambassador to County Clare. “Though separated by thousands of miles, the twinning relationship has already made significant strides towards bridging this gap through a shared spirit of cooperation, mutual understanding, exchange of knowledge and more importantly, friendship.” …