Clare County Council has announced that a series of public consultations in relation to the Draft Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan 2012-2018 will take place next week.
The plan, which is the first stand alone town plan that has been produced for Shannon, was placed on public display last month and will provide a framework for the future development and enhancement of Clare’s second largest town and its environs for the next 6 years.
Public consultations will take place at Unit A16 (Shaney Macs) in Shannon’s Skycourt Centre on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (16-18 January) from 2:00PM to 5:30PM, and on Thursday 19th January from 3:00PM to 7:30PM. A further public consultation will be held at Rineanna House in the Shannon Free Zone on Friday 20th January from 12:30PM to 3:30PM.
According to Councillor Gerry Flynn, Chairperson of Shannon Electoral Area: “The public consultation process presents members of the public with a valuable opportunity to have their say on the future development of their local community. I would encourage people from Shannon and its environs areas to inspect the Draft Local Area Plan before the submission deadline of 1st February, 2012. They will not get a better opportunity than over the next few weeks to influence the future economic and social development of their town and community.”
The plan, which is the first stand alone town plan that has been produced for Shannon, was placed on public display last month and will provide a framework for the future development and enhancement of Clare’s second largest town and its environs for the next 6 years.
Public consultations will take place at Unit A16 (Shaney Macs) in Shannon’s Skycourt Centre on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (16-18 January) from 2:00PM to 5:30PM, and on Thursday 19th January from 3:00PM to 7:30PM. A further public consultation will be held at Rineanna House in the Shannon Free Zone on Friday 20th January from 12:30PM to 3:30PM.
According to Councillor Gerry Flynn, Chairperson of Shannon Electoral Area: “The public consultation process presents members of the public with a valuable opportunity to have their say on the future development of their local community. I would encourage people from Shannon and its environs areas to inspect the Draft Local Area Plan before the submission deadline of 1st February, 2012. They will not get a better opportunity than over the next few weeks to influence the future economic and social development of their town and community.”
The public consultation has also been welcomed by the Mayor of Shannon, Councillor Mary Brennan who stated ‘The preparation of a new Plan for Shannon and Environs is very positive news and I would encourage the people of Shannon to engage with the process. If you have any queries, the Council officials will be on hand to deal to answer any questions during the public consultation sessions.’
Gordon Daly, Senior Planner, Clare County Council stated : “‘It is an objective of Clare County Council to ensure that Shannon, as a linked Gateway with Limerick in the National Spatial Strategy is a driver of county and regional prosperity by harnessing its strategic location and access on the Atlantic Corridor, in addition to its employment base, international airport and other competitive advantages.”
For the first time there will be a strong focus on consulting with children and the Council hopes to visit primary and post-primary schools as part of the process. The initiative to secure to a greater degree the views of children arises from a change inserted in the Planning & Development (Amendment) Act 2010 which encourages submissions from children or groups or associations representing the interests of children.
Senior Planner, Gordon Daly commented: “The views and perspective of younger people and children are invaluable, they are the future of any community and encouraging civic awareness at an early age can only be a good thing. We are pleased to be doing this for the new Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan”.
The Council has also adopted an innovative approach for the location of the public consultation events by choosing to occupy a vacant unit in the Skycourt Shopping Centre.
The Draft Local Area Plan, and associated SEA Environmental Report and Habitats Directive Assessment are available on the Council’s website www.clarecoco.ie. The Draft Plan can also be viewed during normal working opening hours from Monday to Friday within the period from Monday 12th December, 2011 to Wednesday 1st February, 2012 (inclusive) at the following locations:
- Shannon Town Council, Town Hall, Shannon;
- Clare County Council Offices, Planning, Land Use & Transportation, New Road, Ennis;
- Sean Lemass Library, Shannon; and
- De Valera Library, Ennis and Local Study Centre, Harmony Row, Ennis.
A copy of the Draft Local Area Plan may also be purchased at the offices of Clare County Council and area offices of Shannon at a cost of €25.00 (hard copy) or €10.00 (CD).
Written submissions and observations (two copies) with respect to the Draft Local Area Plan and/or its accompanying SEA and HDA may be made to the Forward Planning Unit. Planning Department, Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare or by e-mail to forwardplan@clarecoco.ie (max. document size by e-mail: 4MB) or may be faxed to 065-6892071 on or before 4.00 p.m. on Wednesday 1st February, 2012.
