Paintball plan put on hold over concerns for rare bat

CONCERNS for a colony of the protected and rare lesser horseshoe bat has resulted in a local authority putting plans for a proposed paintball facility on hold.

Last year, Horatio Vasiu and Stranislav Goreancschi, of Cois Coille, Tralee, Co Kerry, lodged plans to operate the paintball facility on Coillte lands at Collaun near Quin, Co Clare.

In response to the application, the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht lodged a submission with Clare County Council stating that the ruins of Cullaun House 600 metres from the proposed development is home to a maternity and hibernation roost of the EU-protected, lesser horseshoe bat.

The department state that the bat uses the surrounding area for foraging. The Government is legally bound through the EU Habitats Directive to protect the bat.

The species is one of the world’s smallest bats, weighing only 5 to 9 grams, with a wingspan of 192mm-254mm and a body length of 35mm-45mm.

The council has now put the plan on hold, stating that it has concerns that the proposed development may result in the fragmentation of habitat, population and breeding area of the bat along with birds and mammals.

The council has also told the applicants that it has concerns that the paintball facility may result in the disturbance of breeding, commuting and foraging ground for the bats and bird species through ground clearance, noise, traffic and lighting.

The council has asked the applicants to submit “a species and habitat survey of the subject site for the proposed development and an ecological assessment of the site”. The council state that the work should be carried out by an appropriately qualified ecologist and at the correct time of year for such work to be carried out.

The local authority states: “Mitigation measures should be proposed to minimise disturbance to wildlife in the area. Please submit your detailed proposals in order to address this concern.”

In a letter to the council, the applicants write that they are experienced operators of a similar facility and at this stage, paintball is the only activity currently proposed, but that the council might allow some flexibility and provide for other compatible outdoor activity.

The applicants also state that the proposal will involve minimal intervention in the Coillte woodland with no felling of trees proposed. “We feel the facility, if permitted, will expand and complement the range of outdoor activities available in the area.”

Coillte has told the council that it has no objection to the plan.

A decision on the application is expected later this year.