FURTHER INFORMATION has been requested by Clare County Council to plans by The Armada Hotel to construct a 4.3km water pipeline and two wastewater pumping stations.
Estimated to be in the region of €1.5m, the plans from Armada Hotel Holdings Ltd have received strong support in Spanish Point and Miltown Malbay but backlash within Quilty.
This week, Clare County Council informed the applicant it was seeking further information to decide on the plans.
Armada Hotel Holdings Ltd lodged plans in March for the development of a primary wastewater pumping station at Armada House, a secondary wastewater pumping station at the Armada Hotel and a rising main wastewater pipe stretching 4.3km in length located within the L6224, the R482 and N67 in the townlands of Leagard South, Dough, Annagh, Caherrush, Emlagh and Quilty West. The development will consist of the decommissioning and removal of the existing wastewater treatment units.
Senior executive planner Gareth Ruane in his ruling this week ordered that further information or revised plans be submitted to the Council to allow for a decision to be reached on the application.
Ruane’s ruling covers four different areas. The first asks for the submission of a water framework directive assessment “which assesses the assimilative capacity of the receiving waters to accept the proposed additional load on the Kilmurry Ibrickane watewater treatment plant together with an assessment of the impacts the additional load would have on the plant and the receiving environment should UV disinfection be removed and licenced standards for nitrogen changed in line with the licence review currently under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency”.
Proposed variations to the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 which provides for additional lands to be zoned for residential development in both Quilty and Mullagh, must be noted by the developer, particularly assessment and potential impacts on water quality of wastewater treatment capacity.
With the development to remain in private ownership, the planner has ordered that proposals for the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of all aspects including the water main be outlined and how potential issues such as blockages or breakages along the main would be managed.
Bealaclugga Bridge was also flagged by the Council, as proposed works within the road “build up over” the bridge and all water crossing points are along the route of the main. A construction method statement is to be submitted “which is informed by comprehensive site investigation which demonstrates that the proposal would not have adverse impacts on the capacity and performance of the bridge and culvert structures”.
A traffic management plan for the installation of the 4.3km water pipeline must be included in revised plans, the Council instructed. “This management plan should seek to minimise disruption to traffic flows in the area” and it recommended that works be carried out outside of the main tourist season.
Technical specifications of the proposed road reinstatement works have been requested where any trenching is proposed.
Regarding the protection of adjacent amenities and land, the planning authority noted “that it is proposed to install a vent stack in close proximity to the proposed connection to the existing sewer network in Quilty. On the basis of the available information, it is unclear whether this would result in significant malodour issues for adjacent residents and land uses. Therefore you are requested to submit further information which specifically addresses this issue. In the instance where malodour may be a significant issue revised proposals should be submitted which adequately resolve this issue”.
Residents from neighbouring parishes have been split on the plans with elected members of the West Clare Municipal District also divided.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) commended John Burke for lodging the plans as an example of developer led infrastructure. “It is a brave step by an individual, it is a costly one and it needs to be recognised”.
Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) had urged the Council to seek further information to the plans and wanted “stringent conditions” imposed if planning was granted. There are concerns regarding “capacity constraints” in Kilmurry Ibrickane, he said. “We want freedom to grow in Quilty, Mullagh and Kilmurry Ibrickane into the future”.
Spanish Point Community Group labelled the pumping stations and pipeline as “a critical and urgent piece of economic and social infrastructure”. Quilty Tidy Towns in their objection said, “The Armada complex has been successful but it is not the only tourism provider in this area. There are several businesses in the Quilty and Seafield areas which provide tourist facilities and accommodation and they may also seek to expand their businesses”.
