*Photograph: Arthur Ellis
US PRESIDENT, Donald Trump will not know the planning fate of the planned ballroom proposals for the Trump Doonbeg resort by the time of his expected visit to the resort in September for the Amgen Irish Open.
An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) was due to make a decision on the appeal on Thursday against the green light for the ballroom by a sole objector to the proposal, Liam Madden of Convent Rd, Longford.
In his appeal against the planned ballroom, Mr Madden has urged ACP to “please refuse this nonsense” and stated that ACP must refuse planning permission for a number of reasons.
Mr Madden contends that the planning documentation lodged with the application doesn’t comply with the Planning and Development Act “and cannot be remedied”.
The operator of Trump Doonbeg, TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd has also lodged a first party appeal to ACP against a planning condition concerning the tiny 2mm whorl snail, the Vertigo Angustior attached to the planning permission for the new ballroom.
However, in its letter to parties received on Friday, ACP has stated that it has not been possible to meet its July 9th deadline due to the necessity of ACP in seeking additional documents in the case by issuing a notice under Section 132 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
ACP states that the Commission regrets the delay in determining this case.
The letter states that the Commission now intends to determine the appeal before November 25th.
It states that the Commission “will take all such steps as are open to it to ensure that the appeal is determined before that date”.
On the plan to replace existing “outdated” temporary events structures, including a marquee, with the new permanent ballroom, planning consultants for Trump Doonbeg, Cunnane Stratton Reynolds have stated that the need for the ballroom “is reinforced by the socio-economic role of Trump International Golf Links and Hotel within West Clare”.
Resort General Manager at Trump Doonbeg, Joe Russell has commented that the scheme “represents a very important step in the continued evolution of the resort”.
He said at the time of planning permission granted in February. “The ballroom will significantly strengthen our ability to grow the weddings, corporate, incentive and events markets, while complementing the scale and character of the existing property”.
As part of its appeal, consultants for Trump Doonbeg, CSR Land Planning and Design stated “it is not within our client’s control to restore favourable status of this protected species (Vertigo Angustior).”
The appeal argues that such onerous conditions concerning the snail “is not achievable in its current form as it goes beyond what was reasonably anticipated by both the (Council) planning officer and the Environmental Assessment Officer”.
The Trump Doonbeg appeal states that it is seeking the change of just two words in the condition concerning the Vertigo Angustior where the words ‘restore favourable’ conservation status would be replaced by ‘support the’ conservation status of the snail.
