Council agrees to public consultation on plan for Doolin pier

CLARE County Council is to withdraw its planning application for a contentious €6 million pier at Doolin and re-lodge scaled down plans.

The move is in response to concerns expressed by surfers on the impact the pier will have on ‘world-class’ waves at Doolin and on the council’s public consultation process for the pier.

At their meeting last night, the 32 councillors were due to vote on the local authority’s latest plan to construct a gateway to the Aran Islands at Doolin.

However, surfers across Ireland, along with two-time World Pro Surf Champion, Australian Mick Fanning, have lodged objections against the plan, stating that the pier will destroy world class waves close to the pier at Crab Island and Doolin Point.

Surfers filled the public gallery at the council chamber yesterday and heard county manager, Tom Coughlan state that he was “concerned at the fact that I have received correspondence from a number of surfing representative bodies which suggest that the council is in some way deficient in relation to the public consultation process for the development.”

Mr Coughlan said the council’s legal adviser confirmed that councillors could have voted on the plan for yesterday’s meeting. “However, I remain concerned at any suggestion or perception which might be created that the council is in some ways deficient in terms of public consultation.”

Mr Coughlan recommended that the revised plans be put through a fresh public consultation period.

The planning application will now be withdrawn to allow a fresh Part 8 planning application be lodged by the council. There is no recourse for third parties to appeal to An Bord Pleanála under such a process.

Objectors had not had the opportunity to make submissions on the revised plan as it was only lodged in recent days.

Mr Coughlan said the scaled down plan will be located 25 metres further away from the waves and would be 15 metres shorter in length.

Green Cllr Brian Meaney said surfers had raised very specific issues in relation to the wave modelling undertaken by the council and that it was important the council’s consultants’ work was peer reviewed.

The council has stated that the project must be completed by the end of next year if it is to draw down the €6m funding.

Cllr Martin Conway (Fine Gael) said that “it is vital that we do not lose the €6m in funding, but also making sure that the integrity of the waves are protected”.