Addiction clinic faces threat of closure over planning dispute
An investigation into the planning status of 'Forest,' which opened near the
picturesque village of Laragh last week, is underway at Wicklow County Council.
This follows a complaint by local councillor Mr Pat Casey, who claims the clinic opened on the site of a former guest house without applying for the requisite change of use planning permission.
"It's nearly impossible for a bona fide applicant to get planning permission to build a house in Wicklow for their family and all of a sudden they can come along and open an exclusive addiction clinic without any problem," Mr Casey said.
The councillor said he raised the matter after receiving objections from around 25 local residents who were concerned that a rehabilitation centre treating for drug and alcohol abuse should open in an area of significant "natural beauty."
"People just weren't aware of it they'd received no notification ," he said. "If it does have planning, it's a mystery to me how they got it."
The location of the clinic which is rumoured to cost 3,500 a week for treatment is in an area which relies heavily on tourism and farming for its livelihood.
Mr Casey said he could find no record of any planning application and he believed the owners were exploiting the private setting to attract rich, celebrity clients.
While no one from 'Forest' was available to comment on the controversy, the clinic's website described it as a "new highly private therapeutic resource in County Wicklow."
Using images of Wicklow's mountains and lakes, the website declares 'Forest' is "directly adjacent to a national park in County Wicklow, considered 'The Garden of Ireland.' Our guests have easy access to lakes, farmlands, mountains, and beautiful valleys."
Ms Sheila O'Leary, senior executive officer for the Council's planning office, confirmed the investigation was underway.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
