Residents of the Beara peninsula have said they are "bitterly disappointed" after plans for a holiday village and leisure centre were refused following objections by other holiday home owners, including film director and writer Neil Jordan. Liam Reid reports.
Yesterday, for the second time in 12 months, An Bord Pleanála rejected plans for the development near Castletownbere at Wheel Inn, Cappaghavuckee.
The development, made up of 41 holiday homes, a clubhouse, swimming pool and leisure centre, had been approved by Cork County Council, after a larger proposal had been rejected by An Bord Pleanála last year following objections by Neil Jordan and others.
Neil Jordan, who lives at Sorrento Terrace, Dalkey, Co Dublin, and Mr Roibeard MacGiollarnaith, Glenmaroon Road, Dublin, who also owns a holiday home in the area, objected to the revised application.
Solicitors, writing to the board on behalf of the film maker and writer in February, said Neil Jordan was "not opposed in principle to appropriate development taking place on the site". However, the specific form, scale and layout of the development proposed and its phasing will impose serious and significant negative impacts on the amenity of our client as a neighbour and on the amenity of the community in general."
Neil Jordan's holiday home, in which he spends a number of weeks each year, is 700 metres from the proposed development, which is on a disused holiday home facility.
In their submission, Neil Jordan's solicitors said the size and design of the buildings were "not typical of holiday homes and apartments but more consistent with permanent residences.
"Our client is extremely concerned that the individual houses will be sold or alternatively let on a long permanent-residential basis, either on foot of subsequent planning applications or without authorisation. This concern is grounded on the fact that the holiday letting period in the Beara Peninsula is extremely brief. It is inconceivable that the developers could generate an economic return on holiday lettings alone."
Refusing permission for the revised scheme yesterday, An Bord Pleanála accepted other points raised by the writer and director. The board said the proposed development would contravene tourism development policy as outlined in the local development plan, and was not in line with the National Spatial Strategy. "The proposed development would militate against the existing rural environment and the proper development of nearby towns and villages and would, therefore, contravene the development objectives as set out in the development plan and be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area," the ruling said.
However, local community leaders said they were dismayed by the ruling.
Mr Denis Regan, chairman of the Beara Action Group, said there was no swimming pool or leisure facility in the area, and the development would have generated jobs in an area where traditional agricultural and fishing industries were in decline.
"We have people who come down here a few times a year, trying to dictate what Beara should or should not have, and that's not acceptable. In Dublin, where they live, they have all the facilities within a five-minute walk."