Environment plea over poor planning in coastal areas

CLEAR planning guidelines must be put in place for all new coastal and off-shore developments as poor building decisions are wreaking havoc with the environment, the country’s heritage watchdog said yesterday.

The Heritage Council called on Environment Minister Dick Roche to heed its warnings to protect Ireland’s maritime and coastal areas.

Beatrice Kelly from the Heritage Council said: “Ireland’s maritime and coastal heritage provides a vast array of wealth to the country, including food, tourism, amenity areas, ports, transport and protection from flooding. Greater national protection and a comprehensive management system needs to be put in place.

“We need to protect these resources more thoroughly because of the rapid rate of development and in light of climate change. Many coastal towns and villages are suffering from inappropriate development that will impact on our economy and environment.”

Unique maritime heritage features such as sand dune systems, salt marshes, Martello towers and fishing villages are under threat from poor planning decisions, the council warned.

It urged the Government, state agencies, businesses and local communities to put national maritime heritage at the core of planning and development decisions.

The council called for a national backed framework to support local coastal management initiatives. It said guidance should be provided for new developments which would include advice on the position of new housing, density and design.

The advice document on Ireland’s Marine Heritage highlighted badly sited tourism developments in counties Clare, Donegal, Waterford and Wexford.