Top UK Planners Visit Mid West

 

Some of the UK’s most senior planners visited County Clare this week as part of a “5 Administrations” visit to the Mid West Region. 

The Heads of Planning in each of the 4 UK administrations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and their counterpart in Ireland meet twice yearly to discuss issues of mutual concern and share experiences on planning matters including in relation to EU Directives.

As part of their visit to the Region, the group met with senior planning officials from Clare County Council to hear about planning and development in the County.

The group received a briefing from Clare County Council Senior Planner, Gordon Daly and Senior Executive Planner, Brian McCarthy including on plans and strategies underway in relation to the Shannon Estuary, Renewable Energy, the Shannon Free Zone and Shannon Airport. 

Commenting on the visit, Jim MacKinnon, Director of the Built Environment and Chief Planner in the Scottish Executive said: “Clare County Council clearly has a compelling vision for the future of the County based not just on Clare’s natural assets such as the Shannon Estuary, but also a willingness to embrace and share the future through harnessing the potential of renewables.”

Mr. MacKinnon added: “Too often planning is about numbers and procedures. In Clare, however, the County seems to me to be on the front foot not just in relation to planning for the future, but also ensuring that planning plays its full part in delivering that future.”

The group of planners also visited the Cliffs of Moher where they met with Director, Katherine Webster.

Commenting on the visit, Senior Planner with Clare County Council, Gordon Daly said: “It was a great opportunity to showcase the County to this high level group and to hear their perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing Clare. The group appeared particularly impressed as to how sensitively the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre has been integrated into the landscape and that a project of this scale was delivered by the local authority”. 

Emergency Fire Drill Takes Place At Foynes

 

A  fire and rescue drill simulating a fire on a ship in the Shannon Estuary was held this week. 

Clare To Bloom Again This Summer

Local community groups across the County are being urged to participate in the 2012 ‘Clare in Bloom’ competition this summer.

‘Clare In Bloom’ adjudication occurs from mid-June to mid-August and considers such factors as colour, size, variety, location and appropriateness of the various planting schemes along with the management of litter.

The annual competition is based on three population categories. Category 1 caters for towns and villages with a population in excess of 700, Category 2 applies to population centres of between 300 and 700 people and Category 3 features villages with a population less than 300.

The competition is promoted by Clare County Council and offers a generous prize fund. The initiative is sponsored by ESB Moneypoint, Shannon Development and Roche Ireland with matching funding from the Local Authority.

Commenting on the Clare in Bloom competition, the Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes stated: “It is great to see so many people volunteering their time to local initiatives and being so actively involved in their communities. This competition rewards that effort and we hope that local groups and communities will participate again this year”.

Nicola Cullinan from Clare County Council’s Tourism & Community Development section noted that ‘Clare in Bloom’ not only helps to make the County a more attractive place to live in and visit, but it also acts as a springboard for communities to consider taking part in other competitions such as TidyTowns or Pride of Place.

“The success of the competition to date shows what can be achieved when Clare County Council, Shannon Development, local businesses and local communities work together,” she stated.

Communities and groups interested in participating in the ‘2012 Clare in Bloom’ competition can obtain application forms and further information from Clare County Council by contacting the Tourism & Community Development Department at 065 6846428 / 511 or www.clarecoco.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications is 4pm on Thursday, 31st May 2012.