*Photograph: John Mangan
A GOVERNMENT department has intervened in plans by Clare GAA to expand and redevelop its Centre of Excellence due to concerns for the EU protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.
This follows the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage telling Clare County Council that it should carry out a study to determine if the Clare GAA proposal will significantly impact on the nearby Newgrove House which is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the presence of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.
According to the Department submission lodged with the Council on the Clare GAA planning application, Newgrove House SAC “is considered to be of international importance”.
The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is one of the world’s smallest bats, weighing only five to nine grams with a wingspan of 194-254mm and a body length of 35 to 45 mm and is afforded legal protection through the EU Habitats Directive.
Last month, in a bid to help unearth the next Tony Kelly or Shane O’Donnell, Clare GAA lodged plans for a large extension to its Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan, near the village of Tulla in East Clare.
The long awaited upgrade includes two new full length playing pitches; the construction of a new all-weather synthetic playing pitch served by six 25 metre high floodlights and the construction of a new hurling ‘ball-wall’.
The plans also include the installation of twelve 25-metre high floodlights serving existing pitches three and four and the construction of new covered spectator stand serving Pitch 3.
The proposal also includes the construction of a two storey extension to the existing Clare GAA Centre of Excellence building accommodating additional player welfare facilities including new dressing rooms, a gymnasium, dining and administrative areas.
In its submission, the Department state that the site of the proposed development at its closest point is 1.7km from Newgrove House.
The Department state that Newgrove is a hibernation site for the Lesser Horseshoe Bat and as such connectivity with the numerous maternity sites in the vicinity is an important consideration.
The submission states that it should be considered if the Clare GAA works “have the potential to impact the bat population in the vicinity. In particular, the potential for the proposed additional lighting to reduce the amount of foraging habitat available must be assessed before planning can be granted”.
The Department state that “there is no ecological impact assessment supplied with the application”. The Department states that it takes this opportunity to remind Clare County Council of its obligations under the Habitats Directive where competent national authorities, are to authorise activity only if they have made certain that it will not adversely affect the integrity of a European site and, consequently, not likely to give rise to deterioration or significant disturbances.
The Department has told the Council in order for Lesser horseshoe bat SACs to achieve/maintain a favourable conservation status there should be no significant decline in potential foraging habitat within 2.5 kilometres of qualifying roosts and no significant loss of linear features within 2.5 kilometres of qualifying roosts.
No objections have been lodged against the Centre of Excellence upgrade plans and a decision is due on the application next month.
