Villagers see red over bypass
For the last two years, all planning has been refused in a Red Box zone imposed around the village through which the bypass will eventually go.
The Red Box covers about a three-mile radius of Adare.
One local businessman was ready to go ahead with a five-star luxury hotel but has been unable to get permission for the building because of the planning restrictions.
“I had outline permission and when my architects met with council road officials they were told that if the hotel went ahead and was in the line of the new bypass road, the hotel would have to be knocked,” said Jim Hickey.
The outline planning time has lapsed for his proposed hotel and he will have to start all over again if he wishes to proceed with the 50-room hotel on lands adjacent to Adare Manor.
“This has cost me a lot of money already,” said Mr Hickey.
Locals wishing to sell land for sites have also been hit by the Red Box situation.
Adare auctioneer John Giltenane said: “the Red Box situation is a disaster for local people, either wanting to build on a site or sell a site.
“All permission is being refused within the Red Box until the council make a final decision on where the bypass road will run,” he said. “It has also affected property sales in the village. People who want to sell their house in the village in order to buy a site and build near the village are snookered.
“This has disconnected the supply and demand situation in the local housing market.” Local county councillor Niall Collins said the council have been looking at the new route for two years and a decision will have to be made to enable people get on with their housing and development plans.
“This has been going on for too long and people should not have to put up with these restrictions any longer. People can’t buy or sell sites in the Red Box zone as they can’t proceed with planning. It shouldn’t be too major a task to decide on a route for a bypass of Adare that is about 10 miles long,” said Cllr Collins.
A spokesperson for Limerick County Council said it was awaiting a consultant’s report on route options. It hopes to have the final route selected by the end of the year and enable people to proceed with planning in the Red Box area.
