An Taisce savages journalist’s plans for extension
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Home improvement or crime scene?
An Taisce savages journalist’s plans for extension
PLANS by journalist Fintan O’Toole to more than quadruple the size of his second home have been described by An Tasice as “criminal”.
In a hard-hitting objection, lodged with Clare County Council, to the plans for his holiday home near the coastal village of Ballyvaughan, An Taisce has lambasted the proposal.
“We have been requested by the locals to object to the design of the development, which they find is not in keeping with the landscape and could be likened to an infection on the west coast road and is unacceptable and criminal,” the objection reads.
The Clare Association of An Taisce says it is objecting to the proposal “as it lies along a protected coastline within the Burren complex, along a scenic route, would be visually obtrusive, and the density is not in keeping with the original dwelling, nor is its design”.
In a separate submission, An Taisce stated: “This is a holiday home, as the applicants live in Dublin, and may not be in keeping with the local development plan.”
The O’Toole family bought the two-bedroom house home that lies along the coast road south of Ballyvaughan overlooking Galway Bay in 2002 and the Dubliner does much of his writing there.
In the plan, Mr O’Toole is seeking to increase the floor area from 39 square metres to 180 square metres, with a split-level extension that includes a living room, kitchen and additional bedroom.
The Irish Times columnist, who is currently working in China, expressed regret over the language used by An Taisce.
Ironically, Mr O’Toole has supported An Taisce in the past against attacks from politicians.
In 2004, he wrote that “in some parts of Ireland, admitting membership of An Taisce is to invite the pariah status of a paedophile”.
Speaking yesterday, he said he fully accepted An Taisce’s role in the scrutiny of planning applications, especially in an area as sensitive as the Burren.
“My one regret in this case is that An Taisce itself might be discredited by the use of wildly disproportionate language.
“I don’t see how the rational discussion of the place of contemporary architecture in sensitive landscapes is furthered by labelling people who try to put forward responsible plans as part of an open and democratic planning process as criminals.
“For more than 20 years now, we’ve spent a great deal of time in Ballyvaughan and hope to live there eventually. The house is not intended primarily as a holiday home but as a place to write. Most of my last book, ‘White Savage’, was written there.
“In submitting plans for the house, we have been extremely conscious of the special nature of the landscape and have tried to be environmentally responsible. We engaged a very distinguished locally-based architect with a superb record of designing buildings that are sensitive to the Burren landscape.
“The project involves the restoration of an old house with features more in keeping with its original design. The water supply will be from the mains, so no septic tank is proposed. A geothermal ground pump will supply clean, renewable energy.
“We always expected the planners to look very closely at our proposals and are completely open to their suggestions.”
The plan has now been put on hold as the council has stated that it has a number of concerns over the proposal.
The council has told Mr O’Toole it has concerns over “the visual impact of the proposed extension upon the landscape and scenic route” and has requested that revised plans be submitted that omit the first-floor study.
It has also stated that it has “serious concerns” that the plan as it stands “will pose a major traffic hazard on this regional route”.
The Council also points out that the visual impact of the proposed parking forecourt to the front of the house contravenes the Clare County Development Plan.
The council will make a decision on the plan, probably later this year, after further information has been submitted to it by Mr O’Toole.
Gordon Deegan, Irish Independent, Wednesday 5th July 2006.
The objection does sound well over the top and I doubt the words used will do them any favours. However, if the locals, the county council and An Taisce all have a beef with it and/or him, then it’ll probably get the bullet. Surely a compromise could be reached. I’d be interested to see the location as The Burren are has suffered a lot in the last few years. But this is a ”pre-existing dwelling” and 180 sq.m does not a mansion make!
The use of the word ‘criminal’ is most unfortunate and I have to say most un-taiscan
@Thomond Park wrote:
The use of the word ‘criminal’ is most unfortunate and I have to say most un-taiscan
It is unfortunate.
I am a supporter of AT but have been aware of this tendancy for some time (see thread ‘AT – vilified for vigelance’ where I stated:
“Thirdly they need to moderate their language. Strident opinions may (?) be acceptable in a discussion forum but they are inappropriate for a publically funded organisation – also unwise.”
It is especially unwise when making a submission on the application of a nationally prominent and supportive journalist.
I feel that the observation is tainted by this language and should be withdrawn by AT – regardless of the context. An apology to the applicant might even be appropriate?
PR
They are no longer publicly funded but even as a membership organisation open to members of the public the langauge used was a as you say real own goal and all the more frustrating in that it undermines the dilligence of all invloved.
I can understand Clare Association being very miffed by this application given all the unpaid work they have done in their managment of the Burren. However no applicant deserves to be labelled a criminal in any any planning application and if they have an opportunity to make a submission on the further information submitted by the applicant they should have the heritage officer formally withdraw that remark.
no sometimes you have to give a someone a good kicking , just to let every know that you are still around lest they forget about you. an taisce were left out of the heritage thingamajig announced by roche the clownman.
it is why politicians rarely ,but regularly have little explosions in front of the tele, to make sure we take them seriously (ha.)
@CTR wrote:
an infection on the west coast road and is unacceptable and criminal
😀 ..Rofl its so daft and ott, the only reaction is lol…almost.’Dems sneaky reds are invading’…and at FoT? Talk about gun and foot.
On a more serious note, does this show up the flaws of a necessary watchdog being volunteer-based?…
(…or was it just a ‘one-off’ incident? 😀 :o)
@hutton wrote:
On a more serious note, does this incident show up the flaws of a necessary watchdog being volunteer-based?
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head here, hutton. While the head office in Dublin can make some pronouncements in strong language, they are generally aimed at deserving targets. But I get the impression that many of the regional branches, while doing stirling work, can occasionally stray offside a bit.
The other part of the article that caught my eye concerned the locals asking AnT to get involved. For an organisation usually on the end of fierce (and usually inappropriate) criticism in the rural context, this must have been an interesting development.
But calling the proposal ‘criminal’ can’t be far short of libellous. Fortunately FOT seems to be handling this in a dignified manner. There are many others out there who wouldn’t be so understanding.
@ctesiphon wrote:
calling the proposal ‘criminal’ can’t be far short of libellous. Fortunately FOT seems to be handling this in a dignified manner.
Agreed. They is lucky 😉
@ctesiphon wrote:
The other part of the article that caught my eye concerned the locals asking AnT to get involved. For an organisation usually on the end of fierce (and usually inappropriate) criticism in the rural context, this must have been an interesting development.
I don’t dispute that AT are unpopular in some rural areas but in many others their role is accepted and in areas where AT has actively assisted rural communities in bringing quarries or environmental rogues in relation to EPA breaches to book they are in fact greatly appreciated.
As they are anywhere where they manage a property such the Burren where the local popualation fought side by side with AT against the interpretive centre and overturned it working together against the type of professional consultancy that changes the odds.
@Thomond Park wrote:
I don’t dispute that AT are unpopular in some rural areas but in many others their role is accepted and in areas where AT has actively assisted rural communities in bringing quarries or environmental rogues in relation to EPA breaches to book they are in fact greatly appreciated.
As they are anywhere where they manage a property such the Burren where the local popualation fought side by side with AT against the interpretive centre and overturned it working together against the type of professional consultancy that changes the odds.
Yeah, but in fairness TP the timing of this couldnt be worse for An T – right when they should be showing up the exclusive nature of Dick Rs Heritage Trust :rolleyes:
@CTR wrote:
Home improvement or crime scene?
The objection does sound well over the top and I doubt the words used will do them any favours. However, if the locals, the county council and An Taisce all have a beef with it and/or him, then it’ll probably get the bullet.
The way that the planning appeal process operates in the West of Ireland reminds me of clay pidgeon shooting. As soon as An Taisce pulls the lever the Board blasts the poor unfortunate applicant out of the sky.
While I have sympathy for Fintan O’Toole he will have to accept that this is the price of celebrity. It is ironic that after 25 years of political correctness he is now in the same box as Ivor Callelly TD.
@hutton wrote:
Yeah, but in fairness TP the timing of this couldnt be worse for An T – right when they should be showing up the exclusive nature of Dick Rs Heritage Trust :rolleyes:
I think that they show up Roche’s big house trust inadvertently by having the Burren highlighted]The Revenue Commissioners have recently published the list of properties which qualify for tax breaks for 2004 under the scheme known as Section 482. There are some well-known historic houses, as well as high profile owners, included on the list.[/QUOTE]
Not only has this government failed to assist the owners of the big house with proper grants to date but now they have excluded all but 3 to 5 big houses and will permit the owners of same to live in these houses whilst the taxpayer shells out millions and Ireland has in the governments eyes 3 to 5 properties worth real help and no national trust funding.
An Taisce has been the National Trust since 1946 and if thats all Dick has to offer they will continue to be the only National Trust in town
There is a problem with the Independent Group reporting of An T. … (perhaps Sir Anthony was appealed!)
The Indo is a rag anyway, and they know it.See here also:
Over the last year, An Taisce has faced increased political and media attacks on its role in seeking EU Directive and national policy compliance in protecting biodiversity, landscape, architectural and archaeological heritage. Recently this has concentrated on submissions and appeals on inappropriate development in historic city and town centres such as Kilkenny and Cahir; peripheral shopping threatening town centre retail, hotel development and unauthorised sewerage polluting caravan parks. This been orchestrated by vested interests who, very often, control local media, with a number of articles in the newspapers of the Independent Group also reflecting this trend.
An Taisce has not been able to communicate with any effectiveness in the media the fact that submissions made by it at planning application stage to local authorities are simply recommendations for compliance with relevant local and national policies; and any appeals taken to An Bord Pleanala arise only where there is a demonstrable failure to have regard for such policies, or the protection of public safety and public health. Indeed, the majority of appeals in relation to one-off rural houses and consequent refusals by An Bord Pleanala have been taken on public health and drinking water, ground water and surface water contamination grounds.
The stated objectives of the planning system to ensure delivery of sustainable land use and transport, heritage protection and other government policy contrasts with the reality of its implementation at local level where nothing is allowed to conflict with local vested interests. The fact is that contemporary Ireland is in a period of sprawling development. Planning at local level is determined by largely under-resourced local authorities under enormous political, management and vested interest pressure to uncritically accommodate development in all categories from one-off housing, retail and other development. The short-term and the vested local interest is nearly always allowed to prevail over EU Directives on EIA, Water and Habitats; the strategic long-term, the common good and, more explicitly, national planning and sustainability policy.
While Government can then say that there is an independent review procedure through recourse to An Bord Pleanala, and a range of independent Prescribed Bodies, this of course occurs only if an individual, local community or environmental group; or An Taisce or another Prescribed Body, appeals.
What is remarkable is that when an appeal is lodged against a development (based on failure to comply with a particular Government policy), or a refusal decision is then made by An Bord Pleanala (on the basis of that policy), the local political or media attack is not on the Government policy or the idea or protecting public health or public safety, but on the individual or organisation that took the appeal. Because of this, the level of pressure on individuals and organisations who take appeals not to do so or to withdraw appeals, is mounting. Intimidation against anyone raising concern is rife on all categories of development in rural areas, including windfarms, and now increasingly in urban areas.
Assessment of Individual Planning Applications & Taking of An Bord Pleanala Appeals
In terms of direct impact, An Taisce’s most effective intervention in environmental and heritage protection in Ireland is through the exercise of its prescribed status and the use of that status in the manner in which the legislation dating back to 1963, was intended to be used. The political and media perceptions that An Taisce has had to face is that it occupies some sort of privileged position that it is then using to impose an environmental policy of its own concoction, which bears no relation to development needs or the concerns of “real” people. The opposite is in fact the case, since it would be pointless to make submissions on developments on the basis of the particular individual policy of an individual environmental NGO. All submissions and appeals to An Bord Pleanala are taken on the basis of the requirements of which both local authorities and An Bord Pleanala are legally obliged to have regard to in making decisions, namely, European law, National law and Guidelines, local authority development policy and public health and public safety. In comparison to the other State sector and State funded prescribed bodies, the efficiency and input of An Taisce on the planning system is enormous.Experience has shown that outside the Dublin planning authority areas, the making of a submission to a local authority on a planning application has little impact on the actual Decision or attached Conditions. This is because in a significant number of authority areas, planning applications, both large and small, are already decided by pre-application meetings, telephone calls, or other undocumented communications between the applicant, managers and local councillors. The lodging of the application itself is merely a formality; and even when the professional planners recommend refusal, that recommendation will be overturned. In general, most local authorities use standard ‘cut and paste’ conditions which they are reluctant to alter whether they are for urban or rural applications.
An appeal is taken by An Taisce to An Bord Pleanala only in cases where examination of the application document and the Planner’s Report made on the Decision does not satisfactorily establish that the Decision has complied with the range of considerations which the planning authority is required to have regard to, under the Act, including public health and public safety. It is significant to note that outside the Greater Dublin Area, the majority of appeals taken by An Taisce are on public health and public safety grounds. Within the Greater Dublin Area, the majority of appeals would relate to heritage protection and compliance with the Land Use and Transport provisions of the Regional Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area, in particular concerning curtailment of car-based congestion generating sprawl. None of the many national and local critics of An Taisce’s role in the planning process have ever chosen to examine, let alone address this fact which is overwhelmingly transparent from the reading and analysis of An Bord Pleanala refusals, which are nearly always written with admirable conciseness.
– An Taisce Annual Report, 2006
I bet that An Taisce report was written by the Dublin branch. You can tell by the absence of words like “criminal” and “infection”.
Most people I would have a pint with would agree the Indo is a rag, Lord Castlewarden is a pri** who, now in his dotage, is reduced to telling rugby stories of 70yrs ago , his companies are crap, his nepotistic management is worse (think of what the clan did to the shareholders of Atlantic, Crean, Fitzwilton, Eircom and now Waterford… to mention but a few) BUT (rant over) face facts ………this has nothing to do with him and his stable of second-rate hacks and all to do with yet another example of An T shooting themselves in the foot. Cannot An T management stand back from this and see that this type of localised b.s. is indefensible and damaging all that AT deserves support for? How often does AT need to be told that the crap that pours forth from the old biddy membership alienates all those who support heritage and would support AT were they to depart? Local people asked AT to get involved? My arse! Some auld wan phoned a friend after a coffee morning …..that’s “local request for support.”
FOT (and what he stands for) never before had my support, but I hope he gets his permission. And paints it pink.
KB😀
Yes, unfortunately inflammatory language – what AT could very much do without. Indeed rather silly language to be honest – ‘criminal’ doesn’t even make sense!
However, as dodgy as its inclusion is regardless of who wrote it, from my interpretation of the article it would seem that AT are quoting the local residents. Is this not the case?who wrote the submission, name him/her
it seems like something you’d write as opinion piece not a submission
It wasn’t Ian Lumley or any of the central planning team and it wasn’t the County Chairperson
I fully agree that it read like a diary entry as opposed to a planning submission.
An appeal is taken by An Taisce to An Bord Pleanala only in cases where examination of the application document and the Planner’s Report made on the Decision does not satisfactorily establish that the Decision has complied with the range of considerations which the planning authority is required to have regard to, under the Act, including public health and public safety.
To get planners reports can be very difficult with some local authorities posting them literely 2 days prior to the appeal cut off date which makes it very difficult for AT.
That needs to be changed
How many appeals are are made by An Taisce in a county like Clare per year? Maybe the county chairperson should sign them off rather than allowing a damaging submission like this to be made.
Oh, for the love of God. I have often believed that the whole opposition to one-off houses, and “monstrosities” down the country is mere culchie bashing ( from people not opposed to the monstrosities , or one-offs, in either Howth, or Sorento road) and this thread proves it. Normally An Taisce can do no wrong. This time, when the Bishop of D4ism is destroying an old cottage of remarkable charm, An Taisce becomes the bad guys; and the country folk are backward once again.
A forum which is shocked, SHOCKED!, when the someone replaces some old windows in the third floor of a nondescript pub in a nondescript Irish country town, is not SHOCKED! if Bishop O’Toole needs more lebensraum and the country cottage is just too quaint for him: so he just must convert it into a Cal-Mex hacienda (but architect designed, roysh) from where he can pen more devasting attacks on Celtic Tiger materialism.
utter bollocks.
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