*Custy Construction had applied for planning permission for the housing development.
PLANS FOR 55 HOUSES to be built at Ballymaley have been halted by Clare County Council.
The planning authority is seeking further information due to perceived loss of privacy from the development, boundary disputes, a lack of open space, lighting and poor cycle connectivity as well as other issues.
Custy Construction Ltd are seeking permission to construct fifty five houses consisting of eight four-bedroom detached two-storey houses, eight four-bedroom semi-detached houses, five three-bedroom detached two-storey houses, twenty six three-bedroom semi-detached two-storey houses and eight three-bedroom detached bungalows.
In their ruling, Clare County Council stated they had “serious concerns” over the layout of the development. The Council have questioned the “potential for loss of privacy and impact on residential amenity, orientation of dwellings adjacent to the access road and public open space, lack of safe and usable public open space within the proposed development”.
Local residents have objected to the development as they feel it may encroach onto their properties. Imelda O’Dwyer is the owner of a bungalow adjacent to the site and stated that she was “concerned with the proposed ground level or floor level of the new property into my property, leading to the loss of privacy and amenity which has been enjoyed by me and my family for years”. Olivia Frawley of Ballycorey has also issued an objection to the development as she feels it is too close to her home.
Gillian and Shane Shannon feel that the proposed development will result in a lack of privacy for their home in Ballycorey, “Currently we overlook agricultural lands and have optimum privacy. As a consequence of the proposed scheme our privacy and security will be greatly undermined”.
The planning authority has also noted what it calls “over-proliferation” of boundary walls throughout the public realm of the development which it feels will impact on third party lands as well as public surveillance of the site. The Council has asked that revised boundary treatments be provided. The planning department has found that what little public space is available is not satisfactory due to “the extreme sloping nature of the space” and “thin strips of land and pockets proliferated by parking spaces and turning heads”.
Conor and Sinead Galvin of Ballycorey, Barefield, questioned the lack of amenities close to the site. They objected to the development over fears that “the area currently lacks sufficient amenities such as schools, healthcare facilities and recreational facilities to support a development of this scale. This would place additional strain on an already overstretched services, impacting both existing and new residents of the area”.
Concerns have also been raised over “poor cycle and pedestrian connectivity to the site from Ennis town and that future residents may not be able to access the site safely by foot or bicycle in the absence of upgrade works along the Gort Road”. The planning department has asked Custy Construction to make amendments to this in their application by engaging directly with Ennis Municipal District and the Road Design Office. The Council has also noted a lack of appropriate signage in the application and has asked that a road safety audit be conducted.
Bridget Ginnity, a local election candidate for the Greens cited a number of issues in her objection on the grounds of access to and from the site. She stated that “A pedestrian crossing on the main road should be included as part of the development, as well as safe pedestrian / cycling access to Ballyalla, a significant amenity in the locality. The current 60 km/hour road speed limit should be reduced to at least 50km/hour”.
The proposed site is in close proximity to a large lesser horseshoe bat population, causing Clare County Council to seek clarification on the impact the proposed development will have on their habitat. The Council has asked that details be made clear in relation to the impact of light and noise pollution from the proposed development. Custy Construction have included plans for a bat box in their application but the planning authority has stated that any natura impact statement must be signed off on by a qualified ecologist.
Local residents have also raised concerns over the impact on the local bat populations. Pamela Wall stated, “Developing the site would result in the loss of foraging, commuting, and roosting habitat for several bat species. Most notably, the development would lead to the loss of a night roost used by Lesser Horseshoe Bats and add to the habitat fragmentation that has affected this species in the Ennis area”.
Other environmental issues have caused objections to be issued to Clare County Council. Michael Duffy of Kilfenora took issue with the impact the development could have on groundwater at the site. He stated in an objection notice that “The infiltration rates submitted are extreme and such than any polluted surface waters will infiltrate rapidly to the already at risk groundwater. The design should facilitate natural treatment methods for the treatment of groundwater prior to discharge to ground or surface waters”.
Fears of increased traffic congestion have caused Catherine Freney of Ballycorey to object. She feels that “Current infrastructure is inadequate to accommodate the additional traffic, potentially resulting in safety risks for pedestrians and drivers alike, particularly pedestrians as the closest public footpath is approx. 280m away”.
Many locals feel the development would have a negative visual impact on the area. Ballycorey resident John Coote has objected on the grounds that “The scale and design of the development may not be in keeping with the rural character of the Ballymaley and Ballycorey area”. Issues have also been found in landscaping with Niamh Coote stating “The proposed landscaping plans include a number of species along the dividing boundary. I would have grave concern that these trees would have a negative impact on the natural light I currently enjoy”.
