*Photograph: John Mangan
PLANS to build 28 houses on Station Rd in Lahinch have been rejected by Clare County Council.
Several objections were made once Victoria Cross Retail Ltd lodged an application to construct 28 homes on Station Rd in Lahinch in February of last year. Further information had been sought by the Council before reaching a decision.
Inadequate wastewater infrastructure was cited by the planning authority when announcing its decision. The development “would set an undesirable precedent for development of further housing estates served by such ad hoc treatment systems. Taken in conjunction with the level of existing and approved development in the vicinity (it) would result in a risk of pollution and would be prejudicial to public health,” the Chief Executive Order detailed.
Objectors referenced “at capacity” water utilities, “compromised” water quality and the inability of the infrastructure to cater for the 4,000 inhabitants of Lahinch during peak season. Pharmacist, Sasha Wealleans noted in her submission, “During holiday periods, there is an increase incidence of gastrointestinal complaints that present in the pharmacy”.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Denis Vaughan (LAB), Chairperson of the Labour Party’s Clare branch commented, “While we celebrate the acknowledgement of a lack of sewage infrastructure in Doolin, Ennistymon and Lahinch implicit in Clare County Council decision to reject planning permission for 28 luxury houses at Station Road, Lahinch, we remain appalled that Council are content to ignore the underlying problem. Untreated raw sewage is pouring into the Atlantic and rivers North Clare. This is Clare County Council’s responsibility. They have the power to stop this now”.
He claimed that swimmers in Lahinch have developed e-coli with the regularity of do not swim notices also flagged. “We ask the Council to consider that their inaction in this matter may well be responsible for rising cancer cases in the county. Action now will save lives and save our tourist industry. We call on our elected representatives, the Clare County Council, to immediately allocate the funds required to upgrade the local effluent treatment and water system. Ignoring this scandal is not the solution”.
