Blaskets plan in ‘jeopardy’

AN €8.5 million plan to make the Great Blasket island a national historic park is in “grave jeopardy” following the refusal of An Bord Pleanála to give planning permission for a café, the biggest landowner on the island warned yesterday.

Peter Callery, whose company, Blascaoid Mór Teoranta, owns 17 of the 25 holdings on the island, said he wasn’t going to waste more time and money dealing with “impossible people.”

Kerry County Council had already granted the company planning for the café, but its decision has been overturned by An Bord Pleanála.

Mr Callery, a Dingle solicitor, said his company had spent €40,000 on planning applications, but would not apply again.

The development would have included service buildings, toilet facilities for the public, a kitchen, ranger room and study area.

“Eighteen months ago, planning permission was given for a new pier on the island, but now we’re being refused planning for facilities that would cater for up to 400 people who would be coming on to the island each day,” Mr Callery said.

“These plans have been fully supported by Kerry County Council and the Blasket Forum.

“The Bord Pleanála decision is unbelievable, absurd and grotesque, but not surprising. The decision gives the ‘finger sign’ to us and all the other groups and individuals who want to conserve the island.

“I would describe the decision as negative vandalism, with people stopping something being done to protect treasures,” he said.

Part of the State-funded plan for the island is to stabilise the ruins of the old village, where many of the Blasket writers lived.

However, Mr Callery warned the ruins would now crumble into the hill and become grassy mounds.

In its explanation of the decision, An Bord Pleanála said the café was proposed for a prominent elevated site on the western edge of the existing village settlement.

It was felt that because of its location, scale, bulk and design in a raised site, it would be “visually obtrusive” in a unique and sensitive landscape and would adversely affect the character of the island.

The board also felt the development would be premature pending the finalisation of a management plan for the island, which, it said, should identify the location and scale of such a facility.

It expressed concern the landing and transportation of heavy material might adversely affect the habitat of grey seal in the area.

An Bord Pleanála has agreed to the temporary retention for five years of the ground floor of an existing house for a café, on the condition that it fully reverts to use as a dwelling.

The board also agreed to the granting of permission, subject to conditions, for bathrooms and toilets at the rear of several private dwellings on the island.