Pier plan revised over surfers’ concerns

A LOCAL authority has lodged revised plans for a contentious €6 million pier development in response to surfers’ concerns for ‘world-class’ waves at the location.

Last month, Clare County Council confirmed it was withdrawing a previous plan in response to claims the proposed pier would destroy Crab Island and Doolin Point waves off the coast at Doolin.

More than 60 objections were lodged, including one from a two-time world pro surf champion, Australian, Mick Fanning.

Now, the council has lodged its revised plan, which relocates the pier 25 metres further away from the waves and reduces its length by 15 metres.

In a Wave Modelling Plan lodged by consultants, Malachy Walsh & Partners, they state the revised plan “was a reasoned response to concerns regarding impacts on surfing activities”.

The pier is to act as a gateway to the Aran Islands and the council has confirmed that surfers and other interested parties have until February 28 to make submissions.

The council has confirmed that in order to draw down the €6m in state funding, the project must be complete in 2011.

Council official Tom Tiernan said the new plan was reasonable and fair and also took account of the concerns raised.

Mr Tiernan hopes the planning application will come before the council’s March meeting. A simple majority of the 32 councillors is required to vote the plan through and there is no recourse to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanála by third parties.