Cuan an Ri in Carrigart
A planning application for the retention of a basement at the beachfront development at the Cuan na Ri holiday complex at Carrigart is to be strenuously opposed by the local residents.
The Tirconail Tribune reports that Michael and Patrick Preston of T&G Developments have made the application in the past week to seek the council’s approval to allow the basement to remain on site along with its completion.
The Council’s Planning Dept. has sought to have the basement and store area at the Cuan na Ri development demolished to comply with the original schedules.
On November 25th the Council issued a number of enforcement notices to the Prestons on foot of the development not being complaint with the original grant of planning.
A major level of objection is now underway and the issue has been a matter of much controversy ever since the local community found their right of access to the beach blocked off by locked gates last September.
The news comes as Marian Harkin MEP prepares to visit Aghadachor on Saturday week to hear the concerns of the community and to explore EU perspectives from an environmental perspective.
Meanwhile, a Divisional Ecologist, at the National Parks & Wildlife Service in the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, has told the Aghadachor Action Group that encroachment and infilling of the Special Area of Conservation did occur during the construction of the beach activity centre.
The spokesman said they had brought the matter to the attention of Donegal County Council and the developer, and this issue was subsequently rectified.
“Issues still remain on the beach at Aghadachor. We are of the opinion that some works have resulted in damage to the Special Area of Conservation and have been considered as unauthorised development by Donegal County Council.
“It is our position that any environmental damage is fully rectified. We are working with Donegal County Council, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the developer to achieve this,’ added the Divisional Ecologist.
In a new development last November the Council issued an enforcement order against the developers on a number of grounds.
The Council said that a basement area added to the main building without planning permission and must be demolished.
The enforcement notice required: “the said developments to cease.” and the measures listed to be addressed within four weeks from the date of issue on November 25th.
The enforcement order was sent to Michael A and Patrick G Preston. The Council had identified six areas of ‘unauthorised construction and installation’ and subsequently moved to have the development made compliant with the planning permission, which was originally granted.
This additional element of the basement has been added extending for 393 square metres (4230 sq. feet) and the Council says it now incorporates effectively a 3 storey appearance, whereas a 2 storey structure was permitted in the grant of planning.
The enforcement order was based on grounds that the terms of planning permission granted in 2012 not having been fulfilled.
T&G Developments was told the Beach activity centre had not been constructed in accordance with the plans, and particulars submitted under the planning application.
Insofar as the impact of the demolition might impact on the area, the Council has already requested that all rubble and associated materials are removed in consultation with Donegal County Council.
The other main component in the enforcement order is the construction of a mechanical pipe on the shoreline to address issues of erosion.
And they have asked that the construction of the Geo-Tube, an anti erosion mechanism within the foreshore area be removed since it does not have planning permission.
This particular mechanism has caused much controversy locally with community leaders claiming that nobody has a right to claim territory below the high water mark.
The Tube extends for a length of 280 metres and the Council is also seeking its removal and all its element parts.