An Taisce should be told to ‘get lost’, says councillor
A county councillor PJ Kelly laid the charge after the Dublin-based HQ of An Taisce lodged appeals against a Clare County Council decision to grant planning permission for one-off homes in Ballyvaughan, New Quay, Feakle and also a site near Ennis.
The FF councillor said: “An Taisce should be told to get lost.”
He called on the new government to remove it as one of the bodies local authorities must consult on certain planning applications.
Mr Kelly said: “An Taisce is anti-rural, anti-development, anti-community and anti-jobs.
“Are they appealing only for the sake of it?”
In its appeal against plans by Orla Sheedy to construct a home at Newhall, Ennis, An Taisce state “neither the applicant nor the council has established site suitability in an area of ecological sensitivity which is a significant bat habitat in proximity to a Special Area of Conservation”.
An Taisce also noted: “The applicant has failed to establish a site-based need for a development of a dwelling in this area.”
In its appeal against Margaret Howard constructing a home at Cahermacun, Ballyvaughan, the National Trust body claimed the applicant’s site, because of karst ground conditions, was unsuitable for development.
In its appeal against John and Simone Moloney building a home at Gortavrulla, Feakle, An Taisce said the proposal was located in the Slieve Aughty Special Protection area and had not been subjected to an appropriate assessment. The objector also raised concerns over waste water disposal.
In relation to another one-off home, An Taisce said a decision to grant planning to Anthony Daly to construct a home at New Quay, Burren, contravened the Clare County Development Plan. They claimed the site was unsuitable because of pollution risk underlying the limestone karst ground conditions.
Decision on the appeals are expected later this year.
An Taisce did not comment yesterday.
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