DEPARTMENT officials are “dictating to planners” in Clare County Council, a local councillor has claimed while calling for more land to be zoned specifically for housing across the Ennis Municipal District.
Barefield, Clarecastle, Doora, Ennis, Kilnamona and Spancilhill form part of the Municipal District and efforts to zone more land for housing in each area must intensify, county councillors have stressed.
In a proposal before Tuesday’s meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) cited “the severe shortage of houses both social and private” in the MD. “I believe it is important that all seven councillors with the planners work together in securing as much zoned land as possible to service the population of the Ennis MD with future development of houses, through the upcoming County Development Plan”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo from University Hospital Limerick (UHL) where he has been for the past eleven days, Cllr Daly outlined, “We really need to make efforts to put more social and particularly more private housing in place”.
He added, “The Department are dictating to planners and we need to stand up to them”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Mark Nestor (FF) felt the matter was “very timely” given the current housing situation. He acknowledged that the Mayor of the Ennis MD had planned to facilitate a meeting of elected representatives to put forward ideas on how best to deliver private and social housing for the area. This meeting took place on lunchtime on Tuesday.
Councillors must be ready to fight when it comes to the upcoming County Development Plan, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) felt. “I know it pertains to our County Development Plan and the relevant workshops, we need to prepare ourselves for a battle with the planners,” he said.
Murphy referenced the future development of Clarecastle village and noted that an eight acre site opposite the primary school was touted for housing. “It is way below the level of the road, making that ready for infrastructure in terms of sewerage and water, I don’t think it is suitable for any developer,” he admitted.
