Recent newspaper reports concerning Santry Cross in Ballymun appear to contain a number of points which portray the development in a light which is disputed by residents Having received emails regarding an article reproduced on this blog complaining about mis-leading comments, I have withdrawn this article.
Santry Cross residents consider the development to have met their expectations. Teething issues appear to have been experienced, but, according to emails received, these have been and are being addressed.
Brendan Buck
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Bono meets match with searing attack on 'brazen' hotel plan
BONO is not a man known to be short of words but he may have met his match in an opponent to his hotel expansion plans.
The U2 frontman and his bandmate, The Edge, who are partners in the Clarence Hotel in Dublin city centre, have been accused of "brazenness", "pique" and "anachronistic insensitivity" in their plan to demolish all but the famous facade of the protected building and create an enlarged premises behind.
Their critic is environmentalist Michael Smith, former chairman of heritage group An Taisce, who has lodged a formal objection with An Bord Pleanála urging rejection of the proposal, which was approved by Dublin City Council last month.
In a searing 22-page attack on the rock stars, Mr Smith says the proposed development is too big, out of character with the area, damaging to neighbouring buildings and destructive to the Liffey riverscape.
"The proposal is contextually illiterate, showing no awareness of the importance, subtlety or uniqueness of Dublin's quays. It provides for a parodying ragbag Leviathan of all the three forms, oversailed by a greedy cybership.
"The effect is to create a silly setpiece on the scale of the civic offices but comprising a mismatch of eviscerated typologies under a single roofscape which is somewhat redolent of the civic offices."
Mr Smith accuses Bono and The Edge of bastardising the original building when they took it over in the 1990s and mocks the reported losses the venture has racked up.
"The fact that the current owners are not up to running a hotel does not give them a right to demolish and start again. The owners clearly still have not found what they are looking for. Without presuming too much, I venture it is not a hotel," he writes.
Objections have also been lodged by An Taisce and a neighbouring firm of solicitors. A decision is due from An Bord Pleanála by April 22 next year.
Caroline O'Doherty
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The U2 frontman and his bandmate, The Edge, who are partners in the Clarence Hotel in Dublin city centre, have been accused of "brazenness", "pique" and "anachronistic insensitivity" in their plan to demolish all but the famous facade of the protected building and create an enlarged premises behind.
Their critic is environmentalist Michael Smith, former chairman of heritage group An Taisce, who has lodged a formal objection with An Bord Pleanála urging rejection of the proposal, which was approved by Dublin City Council last month.
In a searing 22-page attack on the rock stars, Mr Smith says the proposed development is too big, out of character with the area, damaging to neighbouring buildings and destructive to the Liffey riverscape.
"The proposal is contextually illiterate, showing no awareness of the importance, subtlety or uniqueness of Dublin's quays. It provides for a parodying ragbag Leviathan of all the three forms, oversailed by a greedy cybership.
"The effect is to create a silly setpiece on the scale of the civic offices but comprising a mismatch of eviscerated typologies under a single roofscape which is somewhat redolent of the civic offices."
Mr Smith accuses Bono and The Edge of bastardising the original building when they took it over in the 1990s and mocks the reported losses the venture has racked up.
"The fact that the current owners are not up to running a hotel does not give them a right to demolish and start again. The owners clearly still have not found what they are looking for. Without presuming too much, I venture it is not a hotel," he writes.
Objections have also been lodged by An Taisce and a neighbouring firm of solicitors. A decision is due from An Bord Pleanála by April 22 next year.
Caroline O'Doherty
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry developments breach planing permissions
Hundreds of developments are the subject of enforcement procedures in Kerry and up to 400 files are "open and active" at any one time, according to a report published by the county council yesterday.
Quarries as well as waste outlets are the subject of enforcement proceedings and several developers of housing estates in Kerry are in breach of their planning permissions. A number are not complying with footpath completion, street lighting and wastewater disposal, while two large-scale developments are not adhering to the social and affordable housing provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Some of the issues go back to 1999, the councillor who requested the report stated.
A number of houses in the 42-house development at Drimabeg, Sneem, were found to have floor levels higher or lower than granted permission for, and, following notice from the council, the developer, Coolfada Ltd, Bandon, had ceased the unauthorized building and was in discussion with the council, according to the report.
A number of houses in a 33-house development granted permission at Garranearagh, Caherciveen, were built in the wrong location. Retention had been granted for some, but legal proceedings were also pending against the developers, Threejay Construction Ltd, Waterville, and John Reeve, Beenbawn, Waterville.
A hotel in Killorglin on the former site of the Goat Inn had no underground car park as agreed in the original planning permission and the building itself was "larger towards the rear than originally intended".
Dingle developer Southbound Properties Ltd was granted planning for 64 houses at Gortorna, Dingle, and had not signed an agreement with the council housing department with regard to social and housing provision. It is also the subject of proceedings.
Cllr Brendan Cronin (Ind), who requested the report by council resolution last month, said four housing estates granted planning in 1999 still had no public lighting.
Only the Christmas decorations were lighting the way, he said.
Cllr Cronin said developers who had not complied with the public part of their obligations should not be granted permission for further developments until they had complied.
"Every person that buys into a development is entitled to public footpaths, roads and lighting. This is a condition of planning."
Council director of planning services Michael McMahon said a 2006 amendment to the planning acts allowed the local authority to take past performance into account, and the council intended to do so.
He said quarrying was also the subject of enforcement proceedings. Some 24 cases had reached the Circuit Court in the 12-month period to August 2007 and a number of structures had been demolished.
Enforcement took "enormous resources", Mr McMahon said.
Anne Lucey
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Quarries as well as waste outlets are the subject of enforcement proceedings and several developers of housing estates in Kerry are in breach of their planning permissions. A number are not complying with footpath completion, street lighting and wastewater disposal, while two large-scale developments are not adhering to the social and affordable housing provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
Some of the issues go back to 1999, the councillor who requested the report stated.
A number of houses in the 42-house development at Drimabeg, Sneem, were found to have floor levels higher or lower than granted permission for, and, following notice from the council, the developer, Coolfada Ltd, Bandon, had ceased the unauthorized building and was in discussion with the council, according to the report.
A number of houses in a 33-house development granted permission at Garranearagh, Caherciveen, were built in the wrong location. Retention had been granted for some, but legal proceedings were also pending against the developers, Threejay Construction Ltd, Waterville, and John Reeve, Beenbawn, Waterville.
A hotel in Killorglin on the former site of the Goat Inn had no underground car park as agreed in the original planning permission and the building itself was "larger towards the rear than originally intended".
Dingle developer Southbound Properties Ltd was granted planning for 64 houses at Gortorna, Dingle, and had not signed an agreement with the council housing department with regard to social and housing provision. It is also the subject of proceedings.
Cllr Brendan Cronin (Ind), who requested the report by council resolution last month, said four housing estates granted planning in 1999 still had no public lighting.
Only the Christmas decorations were lighting the way, he said.
Cllr Cronin said developers who had not complied with the public part of their obligations should not be granted permission for further developments until they had complied.
"Every person that buys into a development is entitled to public footpaths, roads and lighting. This is a condition of planning."
Council director of planning services Michael McMahon said a 2006 amendment to the planning acts allowed the local authority to take past performance into account, and the council intended to do so.
He said quarrying was also the subject of enforcement proceedings. Some 24 cases had reached the Circuit Court in the 12-month period to August 2007 and a number of structures had been demolished.
Enforcement took "enormous resources", Mr McMahon said.
Anne Lucey
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Monday, 17 December 2007
RPS announce route Corridor variations for Corrib onshore pipeline
RPS, the consultants appointed by Shell E&P Ireland Limited (SEPIL) to facilitate the identification of a new pipeline route for the Corrib gas project, have announced two further Corridor options within the core study area.
These Corridors (Corridors A1 and C1) are variations of two of the previously short-listed corridors. They were identified following further technical and environmental studies, as well as feedback from the public consultation process.
Corridor A1 deviates south of Corridor A and, therefore, limits the distance that the pipeline traverses intact blanket bog in Rossport. Corridor C1 limits the distance that the pipeline traverses Sruwaddacon Bay. All of the Corridors are further away from housing than the original pipeline route.
All of the Corridor options have pros and cons and the final route will need to strike a balance between community, environmental/legal and technical issues.
RPS is now seeking input and views on these corridors from landowners and the local community, as well as other stakeholders and statutory bodies. The public consultation period that is now underway will finish on January 18th 2008.
Commenting, PJ Rudden, Director RPS said - "We have been engaging in public consultation for nearly a year and, during that time, we have heard many views from the local community. I would urge people to once again take the time to consider the corridor options and give us their feedback."
He added - "Due to some delays in conducting surveys and the fact that we want to ensure we have allowed adequate time for consultation, the process of identifying a final route is taking longer than anticipated. However, I feel that this time is being put to very good use and will help to make sure that the final outcome will be the identification of a route that strikes the best balance between all of the issues and selection criteria."
Further details on all of the corridors options are available in the Community Update Brochure that is being distributed to the Erris community.
All of the information is also on public display in the RPS Project Office in Seafield House, Belmullet. People can visit the office or make an appointment to view the Corridors and meet with RPS staff during office hours. The office can also be contacted by telephone - (097) 20720.
www.buckplanning.ie
These Corridors (Corridors A1 and C1) are variations of two of the previously short-listed corridors. They were identified following further technical and environmental studies, as well as feedback from the public consultation process.
Corridor A1 deviates south of Corridor A and, therefore, limits the distance that the pipeline traverses intact blanket bog in Rossport. Corridor C1 limits the distance that the pipeline traverses Sruwaddacon Bay. All of the Corridors are further away from housing than the original pipeline route.
All of the Corridor options have pros and cons and the final route will need to strike a balance between community, environmental/legal and technical issues.
RPS is now seeking input and views on these corridors from landowners and the local community, as well as other stakeholders and statutory bodies. The public consultation period that is now underway will finish on January 18th 2008.
Commenting, PJ Rudden, Director RPS said - "We have been engaging in public consultation for nearly a year and, during that time, we have heard many views from the local community. I would urge people to once again take the time to consider the corridor options and give us their feedback."
He added - "Due to some delays in conducting surveys and the fact that we want to ensure we have allowed adequate time for consultation, the process of identifying a final route is taking longer than anticipated. However, I feel that this time is being put to very good use and will help to make sure that the final outcome will be the identification of a route that strikes the best balance between all of the issues and selection criteria."
Further details on all of the corridors options are available in the Community Update Brochure that is being distributed to the Erris community.
All of the information is also on public display in the RPS Project Office in Seafield House, Belmullet. People can visit the office or make an appointment to view the Corridors and meet with RPS staff during office hours. The office can also be contacted by telephone - (097) 20720.
www.buckplanning.ie
World agrees road-map to post-2012 climate pact
World governments agreed a negotiating framework to decide a new global climate policy by 2009 at the UN climate conference in Bali, Indonesia on Saturday.
The Bali road-map commits all developed countries to quantified greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and says "deep cuts" will be needed. Developing countries will commit to "appropriate mitigation actions".
Upon the insistence of the US, the road-map suggests no concrete emission reduction targets. But a footnote makes reference to documents from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) which say reductions of up to 40 per cent by 2020 are needed to head off dangerous climate change.
The agreement came on Saturday afternoon after a sleepless night of high drama. Emotional speeches led by UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang eventually prompted the US to drop opposition to wording changes on developing country commitments. This led to cheers for the US delegation.
"We consider this to be a historical day with a historical outcome, everything will be different in relation to climate change," Portuguese environment minister Francisco Correia Nunes said on behalf of the EU.
The UN climate convention's secretary, Yvo de Boer, described the new agreement as "ambitious" - because it "very clearly" references the IPCC science - "transparent" - because it specifically asks business and civil society for input - and "flexible" - because it brings on board all developed and developing countries.
The business community welcomed the deal. "We are deeply satisfied," said Guy Sebban of the International chamber of commerce (ICC). "Now that we have a better perspective of what lies ahead, companies can better design their research and development programmes and their investment plans."
But others reached different conclusions. Carbon market expert Abyd Karmali of Merrill Lynch said the absence of concrete emission reduction targets in the road-map was a disappointment. And Greenpeace lamented the lack of references to "crucial cuts" and the "relegation of science to a footnote".
Meanwhile there was general approval for consensuses reached on development and transfer, and on stimulating financial flows to fund all climate change-related action.
Despite the optimism generated by the outcome at Bali, the next two years of talks promise to be difficult. Some observers say the US's ongoing "major emitters" initiative may complicate the process.
Several media reported US officials saying that they had "serious concerns" about the Bali deal. White House spokesman Dana Perino said climate negotiators "must give sufficient emphasis to the important and appropriate role that the larger emitting developing countries should play" - a clear reference to India and China.
In a separate agreement in Bali, parties to the Kyoto protocol agreed to be fully guided by the IPCC's recommendations in setting a second round of commitments by 2009. It is intended for the two tracks - the Bali road-map and Kyoto - eventually to merge. A review of the protocol, which will focus also on how to enhance carbon markets, was also launched.
Follow-up: UNFCCC Bali website http://unfccc.int/2860.php, plus meeting outcomes http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php and UN press release http://www.un.org/climatechange/blog/index.asp. See also European commission reaction and analysis http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/588 and ENB coverage http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop13/. See reactions from the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071215-1.html, ICC http://www.iccwbo.org/iccbidba/index.html and Greenpeace http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/bali. For more detail and a graphic first-hand account of the conference and its outcome visit the ENDS Bali Blog http://endsbali.wordpress.com/.
Friends of the Irish Environment
www.buckplanning.ie
The Bali road-map commits all developed countries to quantified greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and says "deep cuts" will be needed. Developing countries will commit to "appropriate mitigation actions".
Upon the insistence of the US, the road-map suggests no concrete emission reduction targets. But a footnote makes reference to documents from the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) which say reductions of up to 40 per cent by 2020 are needed to head off dangerous climate change.
The agreement came on Saturday afternoon after a sleepless night of high drama. Emotional speeches led by UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang eventually prompted the US to drop opposition to wording changes on developing country commitments. This led to cheers for the US delegation.
"We consider this to be a historical day with a historical outcome, everything will be different in relation to climate change," Portuguese environment minister Francisco Correia Nunes said on behalf of the EU.
The UN climate convention's secretary, Yvo de Boer, described the new agreement as "ambitious" - because it "very clearly" references the IPCC science - "transparent" - because it specifically asks business and civil society for input - and "flexible" - because it brings on board all developed and developing countries.
The business community welcomed the deal. "We are deeply satisfied," said Guy Sebban of the International chamber of commerce (ICC). "Now that we have a better perspective of what lies ahead, companies can better design their research and development programmes and their investment plans."
But others reached different conclusions. Carbon market expert Abyd Karmali of Merrill Lynch said the absence of concrete emission reduction targets in the road-map was a disappointment. And Greenpeace lamented the lack of references to "crucial cuts" and the "relegation of science to a footnote".
Meanwhile there was general approval for consensuses reached on development and transfer, and on stimulating financial flows to fund all climate change-related action.
Despite the optimism generated by the outcome at Bali, the next two years of talks promise to be difficult. Some observers say the US's ongoing "major emitters" initiative may complicate the process.
Several media reported US officials saying that they had "serious concerns" about the Bali deal. White House spokesman Dana Perino said climate negotiators "must give sufficient emphasis to the important and appropriate role that the larger emitting developing countries should play" - a clear reference to India and China.
In a separate agreement in Bali, parties to the Kyoto protocol agreed to be fully guided by the IPCC's recommendations in setting a second round of commitments by 2009. It is intended for the two tracks - the Bali road-map and Kyoto - eventually to merge. A review of the protocol, which will focus also on how to enhance carbon markets, was also launched.
Follow-up: UNFCCC Bali website http://unfccc.int/2860.php, plus meeting outcomes http://unfccc.int/meetings/cop_13/items/4049.php and UN press release http://www.un.org/climatechange/blog/index.asp. See also European commission reaction and analysis http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/588 and ENB coverage http://www.iisd.ca/climate/cop13/. See reactions from the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/12/20071215-1.html, ICC http://www.iccwbo.org/iccbidba/index.html and Greenpeace http://www.greenpeace.org/international/news/bali. For more detail and a graphic first-hand account of the conference and its outcome visit the ENDS Bali Blog http://endsbali.wordpress.com/.
Friends of the Irish Environment
www.buckplanning.ie
Newbridge development stalls over state of sewers
BUILDERS in the Newbridge area are losing out on millions of euro as local development is stalled owing to inadequate sewerage facilities.
While developers and builders are generally regarded as the chief beneficiaries of the recent boom years, it appears that some of those who purchased land in the Newbridge area, zoned for residential development, are now left sitting on literal-ly hundreds of acres as permission to build cannot be granted.
One builder told the Kildare Nationalist that he had purchased land three years ago and was still awaiting planning permission because the necessary infrastructure was not in place. Others have been given permission, but only on condition that development does not go ahead until the new sewerage facility is in place. In all, it is estimated that a land bank totalling around 300 acres in the Newbridge area is at present zoned residential but is unable to be developed for reasons of inadequate infrastructure.
The builders are frustrated because they say that the council would have been aware for years that the sewerage system needed to be upgraded. Furthermore, they point out that huge sums of money have been handed over by developers towards infrastructure, in the spate of building that took place over the past decade. The builder who spoke to the Kildare Nationalist stated that his company had paid almost •2m in levies designed to fund infrastructure, as part of his last residential development.
Given the current slowdown in the housing market overall, the delay in getting new homes built and onto the market is a considerable concern to developers in the area. In recent weeks, a mixed residential and commercial development in the Rickardstown area was also rejected by Kildare Co Council, citing the inadequacy of the sewerage service as one of the major reasons for the refusal.
A recent statement from the local branch of Fine Gael, however, indicated that according to calculations it carried out, an estimated •150m was paid by Newbridge people in stamp duty and VAT on new houses built between 2002 and
2007. The Fine Gael state-ment was intended to highlight the need for money collected locally in this way to be spent in the area, in terms of providing local facilities and amenities.
Asked for a comment on the issue of the sewerage capacity for Newbridge, county council spokesman Charlie Talbot said on Monday: "We have a proposal that has been approved by the Department of the Environment for the improvement of the Osberstown waste water treatment plant, which takes the sewage from Newbridge.
"This is in design review at the moment and we hope to go to public consultation by the end of 2008. This major project will be completed in 2011/2012.
"In addition, there are two advance elements to be put into place at an earlier date. These include a storm water, storage and pump house facility at Kilbelin and a new pumping station and storage capacity for foul sewage at Newhall. We would hope that these works would be completed by June 2009."
Acknowledging that the Osberstown plant is at present operating at close to capacity, Mr Talbot said that the council was currently giving planning permission priority to projects that involved an element of longer-term employment. "We would assign high priority to developments which offer local employment beyond just the construction phase itself and that applies to Newbridge and to anywhere else served by the Osberstown plant."
Mr Talbot said the reason for this was that the council had a long-term aim of tackling the problems of commuting, and creating "sustainable local employment" was viewed as a key element in resolving this issue.
Kildare Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
While developers and builders are generally regarded as the chief beneficiaries of the recent boom years, it appears that some of those who purchased land in the Newbridge area, zoned for residential development, are now left sitting on literal-ly hundreds of acres as permission to build cannot be granted.
One builder told the Kildare Nationalist that he had purchased land three years ago and was still awaiting planning permission because the necessary infrastructure was not in place. Others have been given permission, but only on condition that development does not go ahead until the new sewerage facility is in place. In all, it is estimated that a land bank totalling around 300 acres in the Newbridge area is at present zoned residential but is unable to be developed for reasons of inadequate infrastructure.
The builders are frustrated because they say that the council would have been aware for years that the sewerage system needed to be upgraded. Furthermore, they point out that huge sums of money have been handed over by developers towards infrastructure, in the spate of building that took place over the past decade. The builder who spoke to the Kildare Nationalist stated that his company had paid almost •2m in levies designed to fund infrastructure, as part of his last residential development.
Given the current slowdown in the housing market overall, the delay in getting new homes built and onto the market is a considerable concern to developers in the area. In recent weeks, a mixed residential and commercial development in the Rickardstown area was also rejected by Kildare Co Council, citing the inadequacy of the sewerage service as one of the major reasons for the refusal.
A recent statement from the local branch of Fine Gael, however, indicated that according to calculations it carried out, an estimated •150m was paid by Newbridge people in stamp duty and VAT on new houses built between 2002 and
2007. The Fine Gael state-ment was intended to highlight the need for money collected locally in this way to be spent in the area, in terms of providing local facilities and amenities.
Asked for a comment on the issue of the sewerage capacity for Newbridge, county council spokesman Charlie Talbot said on Monday: "We have a proposal that has been approved by the Department of the Environment for the improvement of the Osberstown waste water treatment plant, which takes the sewage from Newbridge.
"This is in design review at the moment and we hope to go to public consultation by the end of 2008. This major project will be completed in 2011/2012.
"In addition, there are two advance elements to be put into place at an earlier date. These include a storm water, storage and pump house facility at Kilbelin and a new pumping station and storage capacity for foul sewage at Newhall. We would hope that these works would be completed by June 2009."
Acknowledging that the Osberstown plant is at present operating at close to capacity, Mr Talbot said that the council was currently giving planning permission priority to projects that involved an element of longer-term employment. "We would assign high priority to developments which offer local employment beyond just the construction phase itself and that applies to Newbridge and to anywhere else served by the Osberstown plant."
Mr Talbot said the reason for this was that the council had a long-term aim of tackling the problems of commuting, and creating "sustainable local employment" was viewed as a key element in resolving this issue.
Kildare Nationalist
www.buckplanning.ie
Protest over Oranmore flooding
Residents affected by flooding in Oranmore, Co Galway staged a protest at the weekend to highlight lack of official action.
The council blames the flooding on a poorly-maintained drain, while others say that poor planning and overdevelopment may be to blame.
Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames said she was totally dissatisfied at the response from Galway County Council over the past week, when flooding occurred around the Moneymore area.
She said she had received reports of a mother without a car who couldn't get her children to school, a school bus that couldn't travel, septic tanks filling up, and refuse trucks being prevented from picking up the rubbish.
"This is a very serious health and safety issue," Senator Healy Eames said.
"For more than a week now I have been trying to resolve this with Galway council. In their view they are free of all blame and the problem is all down to a single drain which hasn't been maintained by a local developer."
She said she wasn't convinced that the drain was the sole cause of the problem.
It is understood that both the local authority and the developer are taking legal advice. "In the meantime, there is much local hardship and people in Moneymore can't lead normal lives," Senator Healy Eames said.
As the local authority had granted planning permission in the first place, it should take the lead in terms of action, she said.
The impact of development on Oranmore's floodplains has long been a source of concern to Oranmore Community Development Association, given the pressure from construction companies to take advantage of its proximity to Galway city.
One developer pursued a successful legal case against Galway County Council over zoning of the floodplain as amenity/ environment.
In February, Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for a housing development on a sensitive floodplain. The proximity of the location to low-lying coastline and to the Frenchfort stream and its "associated ecological corridor" was cited by the appeals board as one of the main reasons for its decision. This corridor links two designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Lorna Siggins
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The council blames the flooding on a poorly-maintained drain, while others say that poor planning and overdevelopment may be to blame.
Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames said she was totally dissatisfied at the response from Galway County Council over the past week, when flooding occurred around the Moneymore area.
She said she had received reports of a mother without a car who couldn't get her children to school, a school bus that couldn't travel, septic tanks filling up, and refuse trucks being prevented from picking up the rubbish.
"This is a very serious health and safety issue," Senator Healy Eames said.
"For more than a week now I have been trying to resolve this with Galway council. In their view they are free of all blame and the problem is all down to a single drain which hasn't been maintained by a local developer."
She said she wasn't convinced that the drain was the sole cause of the problem.
It is understood that both the local authority and the developer are taking legal advice. "In the meantime, there is much local hardship and people in Moneymore can't lead normal lives," Senator Healy Eames said.
As the local authority had granted planning permission in the first place, it should take the lead in terms of action, she said.
The impact of development on Oranmore's floodplains has long been a source of concern to Oranmore Community Development Association, given the pressure from construction companies to take advantage of its proximity to Galway city.
One developer pursued a successful legal case against Galway County Council over zoning of the floodplain as amenity/ environment.
In February, Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for a housing development on a sensitive floodplain. The proximity of the location to low-lying coastline and to the Frenchfort stream and its "associated ecological corridor" was cited by the appeals board as one of the main reasons for its decision. This corridor links two designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).
Lorna Siggins
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
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