16 Dec 2009
UPDATE ; BORD PLEANALA INSIST ON SMALLER MARINA - DEC 2009.
In Dec 2008 a number of individuals and groups exercised their rights to appeal the decison of Cork Co Council to allow the marina as designed by the developers, to An Bord Pleanala.
Bord Pleanala have now (8th Dec 2009) issued a decision which states firmly that they do consider Courtmac an appropriate place for a smaller marina than that proposed.
They state that a marina of 100 berths with 50 car park spaces, that has only as much infill as is necessary for the parking and building may be appropriate. They also state that the building should be reduced and the lodge maintained and that a formal flood risk analysis must be done. They have offerred the developers the opportunity to redesign the marina along these lines and produce the flood risk assessment by March 9th next.
Courtmac Concerns are happy with this news as it vindicates our position that a well designed, appropriately scaled, sized and located marina would be good for the village but that the one on offer was not such a proposal.
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2008- MARINA DEVELOPMENT PROPOPSAL FOR COURTMACSHERRY.
A consortium of developers is proposing a large new marina for the quiet west Cork village of Courtmacsherry. Many local people are in opposition for very good reasons.
See below and The Marina Proposal page for full details.
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Cork County Council on November 20th 2008 announced its preliminary decision to grant planning for the marina with 48 conditions-none of which affect the main impacts of the development. This announcement triggers the beginning of a 4 week appeal period. Any members of the public who made submissions during the planning application and further information periods (the first 5 weeks of each) assmuimg they have the acknowledgement letter in hand may make an appeal.
The decison and conditions seek a number of of pre-construction submissions meaning the developers must clarify many details to the council before construction starts, including on the protection of the lodge, traffic managament and other aspects. They are also required to make a number of modest contributions to the public purse. Many of the conditions relate to archaeology. Sea level rise due to climate change must be taken account of, meaning - probably- that the developers will raise the utility building another 400mm (1 foot 4 inches). They have not been asked to put up an insurance bond to cover repair costs in case the marina fails and the village is left with a half built or failing structure. 20 parking spaces are to be omitted in favour of more public space but the infill area would remin the same size.
What does this mean ?
The decison and conditions does not take account of any of the concerns raised by many local people in public meetings, newspaper articles etc on the proposal. For a list and discussion of these concerns see Concerns page of this website.
If there are no appeals to Bord Planala within 4 weeks of the decision deate (ie by December 16th 2008) this decison will become a grant of planning permission. If appeals are lodged to Bord Pleanala, the grant of planning is suspended pending their decison on the appeal, which would normally take 6-8 months to consider.
Courtmac Concerns and a number of other affected local people will be appealing this decison but the more appeals from those who object ot this development, the better.
If the appeal is decided in favour of allowng the marina development, the developers will then have to seek a foreshore development licence in order to start construction. It is our belief that Bord Pleanala will overturn (ie reverse) Cork County's decision.
Appealing The Decision.
If you are interested in apeal the decision please refer to the What to Do Page of this website
Please
see the following pages for more detail on the developers proposals and
the reaction to their planning application
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