The concept of visitor facilities at Mullaghmore, Co Clare, in the Burren National Park is fundamentally flawed and not environmentally sustainable, a Bord Pleanala oral hearing was told yesterday.
Environmental consultant Mr Jack O'Sullivan was making the opening statement on behalf of the Burren Action Group (BAG) on the second day of the hearing into the appeal by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, Ms de Valera, against Clare County Council's decision to refuse planning for visitor facilities at Mullaghmore. "The concept of the entry point in a relatively remote location which is not peripheral to the park, but which is centrally located, is fundamentally flawed, is not environmentally sustainable and will not serve to maximise the economic benefits to the local communities," said Mr O'Sullivan.
He added the proposal would lead to an increase in the number of visitors to an area which was not capable or suitable for dealing with such numbers, thereby causing local damage to the internationally recognised habitats and environment which the Burren National Park is designed to protect.
BAG, along with An Taisce, has also appealed the council's decision in an attempt to strengthen the terms of the council's refusal. It ruled that the application materially contravened the county development plan.
Ms de Valera's application seeks to develop an entry point - which would contain toilets, ranger accommodation and a covered waiting area - on the site of the ill-fated interpretative centre.
The Minister is also seeking to retain a carpark, which will provide space for 76 cars, and part of the existing sewage treatment plant on a site 2 km south-west of Mullaghmore.
Ms Jeanne Meldon of An Taisce told the hearing that the key issue in the appeal was the principle of permitting a development at Mullaghmore, not the detail of the design of any proposed building.
She urged the board to refuse planning due to the impact of the proposal which would lead to an unacceptable degradation of the physical environment in an area of unique international scientific significance and outstanding landscape.
In his evidence, consultant Mr David Hickey, also acting on behalf of An Taisce, stated that if the development proceeded, it would set a highly undesirable precedent for special areas of conservation in general.
In a submission on behalf of Clare County Council, Mr Ciaran Lynch acknowledged that the council would have been likely to grant permission for the development had it not contravened the development plan.
Mr Lynch stated that the facilities proposed were seen as a minimal response to the inevitability of visitors to the site.
He said: "If the facility is not an attraction in its own right and given its location, which is relatively remote from the main tourist traffic flows, it was considered unlikely that it would attract large numbers of visitors."
The hearing continues today. A decision on the application is not expected before October 13th.
