THE WESTERN Rail Corridor project has stalled again as Iarnród Éireann continues to negotiate with a third-party developer, it has emerged. Planning permission was granted for the new station at Crusheen along the Ennis to Athenry route last June, but work has yet to commence.
Read the article @ The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Rural dwellers ‘are scared this is just the start’
Just two out of the 31 Fine Gael and Labour councillors on Cork County Council are outwardly opposed to the planned septic tank charge and inspection regime, which has generated massive resistance across the county.
The 31 councillors were all contacted by the Irish Examiner by telephone this week.
Goleen-based county councillor, Dermot Sheehan was the most vociferous in his opposition.
"I am not happy with the charge. I have written to Minister Hogan and Fine Gael headquarters repeatedly about this". He says the Department of the Environment has told him, however, that "there is no question of people having to upgrade their tanks to comply with the EPA’s 2009 code of practice". His belief is that any septic tank built before that date will just have "to function properly" as was required at the time of its planning permission.
In Macroom, Labour’s Martin Coughlan criticised the Government’s approach to the new charge, saying it has been a public relations disaster.
"They went around it the wrong way. If the inspections were free, there wouldn’t be half as much agitation."
In Mallow, Fine Gael’s Noel O’Connor wasn’t against the planned inspection regime, but believes the charge was not a wise political decision:
"The thing is the €50 won’t raise a lot of money. I’m not sure about the wisdom of the charge as they should have got the money in some other fashion as everyone is watching their money and only a small percentage of rural dwellers will be at fault.
"Also, it’s a bit like clamping in the cities. Nobody wants to see them attempting to use power excessively to clean up a small amount of offenders," he said.
In Ballincollig, Fine Gael’s Derry Canty said he understood how rural dwellers "are scared that this is just the start and that the charge will increase in time".
A large number of the Fine Gael and Labour TDs have called on the Government to soften the blow for their constituents by establishing a retrofit scheme, similar to the green energy system, so they can get help with any upgrades that might be necessary.
Bantry-based Tom Sheahan said: "I feel very strongly about water being protected. If there are problems with some tanks, there’s a serious need for grant aid then to help those people out. But first we need to identify the problems"
Fine Gael’s John O’Sullivan, based in Courtmacsherry, said people need to realise that the cost of contaminating a neighbour’s water supply is far higher than €50.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The 31 councillors were all contacted by the Irish Examiner by telephone this week.
Goleen-based county councillor, Dermot Sheehan was the most vociferous in his opposition.
"I am not happy with the charge. I have written to Minister Hogan and Fine Gael headquarters repeatedly about this". He says the Department of the Environment has told him, however, that "there is no question of people having to upgrade their tanks to comply with the EPA’s 2009 code of practice". His belief is that any septic tank built before that date will just have "to function properly" as was required at the time of its planning permission.
In Macroom, Labour’s Martin Coughlan criticised the Government’s approach to the new charge, saying it has been a public relations disaster.
"They went around it the wrong way. If the inspections were free, there wouldn’t be half as much agitation."
In Mallow, Fine Gael’s Noel O’Connor wasn’t against the planned inspection regime, but believes the charge was not a wise political decision:
"The thing is the €50 won’t raise a lot of money. I’m not sure about the wisdom of the charge as they should have got the money in some other fashion as everyone is watching their money and only a small percentage of rural dwellers will be at fault.
"Also, it’s a bit like clamping in the cities. Nobody wants to see them attempting to use power excessively to clean up a small amount of offenders," he said.
In Ballincollig, Fine Gael’s Derry Canty said he understood how rural dwellers "are scared that this is just the start and that the charge will increase in time".
A large number of the Fine Gael and Labour TDs have called on the Government to soften the blow for their constituents by establishing a retrofit scheme, similar to the green energy system, so they can get help with any upgrades that might be necessary.
Bantry-based Tom Sheahan said: "I feel very strongly about water being protected. If there are problems with some tanks, there’s a serious need for grant aid then to help those people out. But first we need to identify the problems"
Fine Gael’s John O’Sullivan, based in Courtmacsherry, said people need to realise that the cost of contaminating a neighbour’s water supply is far higher than €50.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Kerry masts stay despite objection
Telecommunications masts dominating the skyline of north Kerry will remain in place.
An Bord Pleanála has again reversed a decision by Kerry County Council and allowed Towercom Ltd to retain a 35-metre mast on Knockanore mountain, near Ballybunion.
The council has been refusing planning permission for the retention of masts under its policy not to allow such masts within 1km of houses and residential buildings due to health concerns.
The Knockanore mast is about 600 metres from the nearest house.
Hugh Mannion, an inspector with the planning board, dismissed the council’s reservations about possible dangers of non-ionising radiation and said their stance is contrary to national policy on telecommunications.
Towercom submitted that it was strategically important to retain the mast for emergency services, adding its loss would impair telecommunications in the area.
An Taisce told the planning board the mast was one of a number in the area, describing it as visible and bulky and "by far the worst in the cluster".
An Taisce said the option of sharing the facility with other operators, as well as screening, had not been fully considered by Towercom.
While Mr Mannion acknowledged the mast was visible over a wide area, he said he felt the alternative might be several masts at more dispersed locations with consequent visual intrusion.
He also pointed to the lack of natural vegetation at the site and its exposed, windswept nature. It was unlikely a substantial impro-vement could be achieved by screening, he said.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
An Bord Pleanála has again reversed a decision by Kerry County Council and allowed Towercom Ltd to retain a 35-metre mast on Knockanore mountain, near Ballybunion.
The council has been refusing planning permission for the retention of masts under its policy not to allow such masts within 1km of houses and residential buildings due to health concerns.
The Knockanore mast is about 600 metres from the nearest house.
Hugh Mannion, an inspector with the planning board, dismissed the council’s reservations about possible dangers of non-ionising radiation and said their stance is contrary to national policy on telecommunications.
Towercom submitted that it was strategically important to retain the mast for emergency services, adding its loss would impair telecommunications in the area.
An Taisce told the planning board the mast was one of a number in the area, describing it as visible and bulky and "by far the worst in the cluster".
An Taisce said the option of sharing the facility with other operators, as well as screening, had not been fully considered by Towercom.
While Mr Mannion acknowledged the mast was visible over a wide area, he said he felt the alternative might be several masts at more dispersed locations with consequent visual intrusion.
He also pointed to the lack of natural vegetation at the site and its exposed, windswept nature. It was unlikely a substantial impro-vement could be achieved by screening, he said.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Controversial structure won many fans for its bold styling
background
The former Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street has been making the news for five decades.
The purpose-built offices were constructed between 1968 and 1978 in an uncompromising "modernist" style that was controversial. It can still shock first-time visitors to Dublin's mostly Georgian-era Baggot Street.
The distinctive green-brown facade's exposed steel and tinted glass reportedly used so much bronze manganese that global markets for the commodity were affected during construction. It was designed for the bank by Donald Tallon of Dublin architects Scott Tallon Walker.
Reactions
Public reactions to the building have always been mixed but it served as a home to Bank of Ireland for 40 years before it was sold to the Derek Quinlan investor consortium in 2006.
The three-block building housed around 1,700 Bank of Ireland staff until 2010 when the bank moved most of its head-quarters to Mespil Road.
The Quinlan-led group paid around €200m for the property, seeing off rival offers from underbidders understood to have included investment company Bank of Ireland Private, Green Property, Bernard McNamara, Shelbourne Developments and Treasury Holdings.
Despite the brutality of its facade, the building has always had its admirers. Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney emerged as part of a successful campaign to block the Quinlan-led investors getting planning permission to develop a two-story extension in 2008.
New owners Bank of Scotland and its partners will be hoping the distinctive property can win over a new generation of corporate titans before too long.
Read the article @ The Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The former Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street has been making the news for five decades.
The purpose-built offices were constructed between 1968 and 1978 in an uncompromising "modernist" style that was controversial. It can still shock first-time visitors to Dublin's mostly Georgian-era Baggot Street.
The distinctive green-brown facade's exposed steel and tinted glass reportedly used so much bronze manganese that global markets for the commodity were affected during construction. It was designed for the bank by Donald Tallon of Dublin architects Scott Tallon Walker.
Reactions
Public reactions to the building have always been mixed but it served as a home to Bank of Ireland for 40 years before it was sold to the Derek Quinlan investor consortium in 2006.
The three-block building housed around 1,700 Bank of Ireland staff until 2010 when the bank moved most of its head-quarters to Mespil Road.
The Quinlan-led group paid around €200m for the property, seeing off rival offers from underbidders understood to have included investment company Bank of Ireland Private, Green Property, Bernard McNamara, Shelbourne Developments and Treasury Holdings.
Despite the brutality of its facade, the building has always had its admirers. Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney emerged as part of a successful campaign to block the Quinlan-led investors getting planning permission to develop a two-story extension in 2008.
New owners Bank of Scotland and its partners will be hoping the distinctive property can win over a new generation of corporate titans before too long.
Read the article @ The Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
UCC to develop new centre of excellence
UCC are set a develop a new centre of excellence for sport in the third-level institution on a 100 acre site on the western outskirts of Cork city.
The acquisition of the land at Curraheen, to the south of the N25 Ballincollig bypass, is a joint venture with the Munster Agricultural Society. The land will be divided between the two organisations, with UCC planning to use the development to cater for the needs of the university’s 60 sports clubs. It will augment their existing facilities at nearby The Farm in Curraheen and the major €12m investment programme which is close to completion in the Mardyke Arena and Pavilion, near the college campus.
World-class grass and all-weather pitches, along with modern changing-rooms and indoor support facilities, are all in the pipeline to be constructed at the new Curraheen site.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
The acquisition of the land at Curraheen, to the south of the N25 Ballincollig bypass, is a joint venture with the Munster Agricultural Society. The land will be divided between the two organisations, with UCC planning to use the development to cater for the needs of the university’s 60 sports clubs. It will augment their existing facilities at nearby The Farm in Curraheen and the major €12m investment programme which is close to completion in the Mardyke Arena and Pavilion, near the college campus.
World-class grass and all-weather pitches, along with modern changing-rooms and indoor support facilities, are all in the pipeline to be constructed at the new Curraheen site.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
West Clare railway link for Kilrush
PLANS HAVE been announced to extend the famous west Clare railway into the market town of Kilrush within the next two years. Jackie Whelan, originally of the committee for the Restoration of the West Clare Railway, said yesterday that after Kilrush, he was planning to extend the line to Kilkee and to provide a rail-link to the €150 million Doonbeg Golf Club resort on the Clare coast.
Read the article @ The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Read the article @ The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Anxious planning wait for hotelier
CELEBRITY hotelier John Brennan faces an anxious wait before learning if his dream of developing a luxury holiday complex near Kenmare, Co Kerry, will be allowed to proceed by planning officials.
It has emerged that his ambition to redevelop a hotel property he bought last year, for an estimated cut-price €2 million, has been stalled as the project would materially contravene the county development plan.
Mr Brennan and his wife, Gwen, purchased Dromquinna Manor in south Kerry with a view to developing a top-class conference and wedding facility, separate from the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare which he operates with his brother Francis.
He plans to remove outbuildings and extensions to construct spacious ground floor function facilities, 12 bedroom suites and a modern reception area in the protected building. The first phase of the redevelopment would cost an estimated €1m.
Mr Brennan, star of the hit RTÉ series At Your Service, has also sought permission to accommodate 32 VIP-style tents and 62 vehicle stands on the grounds to cater for the growing "glamping" luxury holiday market as well as support facilities, including a shop, launderette, kitchen and dining facilities, a games room and parking for 152 vehicles.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
It has emerged that his ambition to redevelop a hotel property he bought last year, for an estimated cut-price €2 million, has been stalled as the project would materially contravene the county development plan.
Mr Brennan and his wife, Gwen, purchased Dromquinna Manor in south Kerry with a view to developing a top-class conference and wedding facility, separate from the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare which he operates with his brother Francis.
He plans to remove outbuildings and extensions to construct spacious ground floor function facilities, 12 bedroom suites and a modern reception area in the protected building. The first phase of the redevelopment would cost an estimated €1m.
Mr Brennan, star of the hit RTÉ series At Your Service, has also sought permission to accommodate 32 VIP-style tents and 62 vehicle stands on the grounds to cater for the growing "glamping" luxury holiday market as well as support facilities, including a shop, launderette, kitchen and dining facilities, a games room and parking for 152 vehicles.
Read the article @ The Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)