Tag Archives: clare county council

A RE-DESIGN of an entire development proposed for an historic area of Ennis’ town centre has been sought by the planning authority who have voiced “serious concerns” about the visual impact. Clare County Council have sought further information on the plans by Eko Integrated Services Ltd for the Drumbiggle area, with the local authority highlighting issues including that the height, massing and scale is “not acceptable” as currently proposed. Eko Integrated Services Ltd lodged the application for the development at Drumbiggle Road, Buttermarket Street and Simm’s Lane which if given the green light will see the construction of 46 residential units, a digital hub and cafe. The further information request states, “While a contemporary approach may be considered by the planning authority, this design ethos must have regard to the existing urban fabric in the vicinity of the site, the location of the site within the Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and the adjoining hitoric buildings”. The developers have been asked …

THE HSE and Clare County Council have this evening issued a Do Not Consume Notice for members of the Cappa Rossmanagher Group Water Scheme until further notice. Water tankers will be made available adjacent to the Railway Station, Sixmilebridge, and Crowe’s Shop, Minister’s Cross. It is advised to boil water obtained from tankers at 2 locations before consumption. A statement from Clare County Council advises that, “due to discolouration of the water caused by increased Manganese, Health Service Executive (Mid West Area) have issued a Do Not Consume Notice with immediate effect.” The statement goes on to advise “this is not a Boil Water Notice. All consumers affected by this notice must not drink their water.” Under a Do Not Consume notice, water must not be used for drinking, preparing drinks made with water, preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating, brushing of teeth and/or gargling, making of ice. Mains water may be used …

CAMPAIGNERS against plans for a €1.2 billion Ennis data centre have gathered hundreds of signatures from people supporting an objection to the development. Meanwhile, close to 50 submissions have been made to Clare County Council in relation to the planning application lodged by Art Data Centres Ltd. An objection to the plan made by Future Proof Clare includes the signatures of 250 people, the majority of which the organisation say were gathered within seven hours in Ennis’ town centre. Concerns have been raised about the planned development by politicians, individuals and groups with Future Proof Clare, Extinction Rebellion Clare and the Clare Environment Network joining forces in their opposition to the plans. Friends of the Irish Environment, Environmental Trust Ireland and Green Party MEP Ciarán Cuffe are also among those who lodged submissions. In their objection to the planning authority, Future Proof Clare have argued that the “extremely high electricity consumption will increase Ireland’s carbon emissions at a time when …

THE pedestrianisation of Ennis’ town centre is set to be rolled back from the end of this month with vehicular traffic restrictions to finish by September 30. The Temporary Covid-19 Ennis Town Centre Mobility Plan taskforce has been dissolved. This comes following a meeting of the taskforce earlier this month during which a review of the current implementation of the plan took place. Based on their assessment and taking into account current public health guidelines, children returning to school, and facilitating outdoor dining, an exit strategy from the plan was agreed. With effect from August 30, current restrictions on vehicular traffic will be lifted within the town centre on Abbey and O’Connell Streets, with some exceptions for the next month. These are Monday-Friday, 11am to 2pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm. From September 30, all restrictions will be lifted. In Lower Parnell Street, the current road closure will also apply until September 30. A spokesperson for Clare County Council …

Split decision by Council denies Braids development permission to increase size THE developers of a primary health care facility in Ennis have been refused planning permission to increase its size. Concerns the proposal would “endanger public safety” and “seriously injure the amenities of property in the vicinity”, have lead to a split decision by Clare County Council. The local authority approved some aspects and refused others in the planning application made by Philip Doyle, on behalf of Valley Healthcare Fund Infrastructure Investment Fund ICAV, to revise and amend planning permission already granted for a mixed use development at the former Braids factory site on Station Road. The new proposals were the subject of a number of objections from local residents voicing concern about the size of the development among other issues. The application had sought to increase the floor area of the four-storey primary care health facility and ancillary commercial units from 7,250sqm to 8,008sqm with the provision of an …

PLANNING permission has been sought for retention permission for works at the Diamond Rocks Cafe in Kilkee, along with permission for a new standalone toilet block there. The planning application covers two separate elements according to an accompanying letter from the applicants Kevin and Mary Haugh. “Firstly the applicants wish to apply for retention permission to regularise some alterations made during the construction of the cafe extension which was previously authorised. “The alterations to be retained consists of alterations to window fenestration, the construction of a porch and the construction of a storage shed. “Secondly the applicants wish to apply for planning permission to construct a standalone toilet block to the rear of the existing cafe. “The toilet block will be for public use and its purpose will be to alleviate the issue of a lack of public toilet facilities in the area during the peak summer months. “Presently Clare County Council have placed temporary prefab toilets at this location.”

A PROHIBITION on swimming at a popular west Clare beach has been issued on foot of advice from the HSE. Clare County Council, on the advice of the HSE, has placed a prohibition on swimming in White Strand Miltown Malbay. The ban is due to increased bacterial levels in the bathing water at the beach as a result of recent rainfall. The local authority is appealing to the public not to swim at the beach until further notice.

AN Bord Pleanála has overturned the decision of Clare County Council in February to reject an application from Eircom for an 18-metre mast in Kilfenora. The telecommunications company appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála, who have now granted approval. According to the original County Council decision, such developments can only go close to populated areas, but the An Bord Pleanála inspector was of the view that there had been a misinterpretation. “In my opinion,” wrote the planning inspector, “the Planning Authority have incorrectly applied the appropriate ‘last resort’ test in this instance. The test they applied relates to ‘larger towns and in city suburbs’.” The inspector was also of the view that the facility was required, due to the poor state of coverage in the area. “I have reviewed ComReg’s online Outside Coverage Map1 for this area and note that for Ireland’s three main service providers coverage generally ranges from ‘Fringe’ to ‘No Coverage’ for 4G, from ‘Fringe’ to …