There is “devastation” at the decision by Clare County Council to withdraw flood relief plans at Springfield.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the local authority, Cllr Cathal Crowe criticised environmentalist Peter Sweetman for filing an objection against works in Clonlara which led to the Council deciding to shelf plans for necessary works at the location which had residents forced to leave their homes three years ago due to severe floods.
“I don’t believe he has ever walked these fields. He runs a company called the Swans and Snails Ltd, when did we decide to put swans and snails before people”, the Fianna Fáil councillor asked.
Cllr Crowe added, “It is devastating to see our Council has pulled back from these plans, all the hard work put in by our engineers and staff on the ground is being scuppered by environmentalists. They shouldn’t have any hand, act or part in the process. I hope ye do everything to get them back on track. Peter Sweetman’s interventions are not well representative of the people of our county”.
Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and Clonlara native, Cllr Michael Begley was hopeful an updated Part VIII application would be completed shortly. “There were two submissions made, the Council felt it prudent that it would be more beneficial to withdraw the Part 8 process and submit a new application. I would be hoping this would be done in the shortest possible time, this is more a glitch in the process”.
Council CEO, Pat Dowling admitted “we share the sentiments” of Cllr Crowe. “We have to go through the process and will do so as quickly as we can”.
