Council rapped over zoning

THE Department of the Environment has hit out at Clare County Council zoning land for development that could include a stadium on an active floodplain that contains the protected butterfly, the Marsh Fritillary.

In the new draft variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan, the local authority has zoned a large site on a floodplain adjacent to the Ennis by-pass.

According to the council, the zoning provides for a mixed site development that can include a stadium, residential development, a retail park, enterprise development and a hotel.

The council states no development shall be permitted until flood protection measures are in place.

However, in submission on the proposal, the department states the stadium site was “a known area of active floodplain and a wetland site that supports wetlands of high ecological value for habitats and species, particularly birds and invertebrates — including the EU Habitats Directive species, the Marsh Fritillary”.

The Marsh Fritillary is the only one of 12,000 Irish insects that is afforded protection under EU law.

The butterfly is deemed to have unfavourable conservation status, but the state has little knowledge of exactly how many of the butterflies there are in Ireland.

The department pointed out that the council has zoned an additional two sites for industry in areas of active floodplain.

In relation to the proposed stadium site, the department stated major developments in this area would:

- Cause environmental damage as defined in the European Liability Directive.

- Be contrary to the Department of the Environment guidelines on “The Planning system and Flood risk Management”.

- Be contrary to proper planning and sustainable development.