A proposal by the owners of the five-star Dromoland Castle in Co Clare to build a golf operations facility on its grounds has been opposed by a local man who says it will have an adverse impact on nearby houses, writes Edel Morgan.

In his appeal to An Bord Pleanála, Ken Power with an address in Newmarket-on-Fergus says some of the buildings associated with the development will be at least 27ft high and "will be visible from the front of my house". He says a planning report by Hughes, Rowan & Associates in support of the development "confirms that the proposed site for the golf course facility has a medium to high landscape sensitivity due to views from adjacent residences including my own".

He also refers to a report by golf course manager Paul Coleman which says the maintenance facility should be away from the castle so as to minimise disruption to guests. "This confirms an acceptance that the proposed operations facility will result in a reasonable cause for complaint due to noise, odours etc emanating from the facility. However it is acceptable to the Dromoland Castle Management to inflict this disruption on adjoining householders as long as it minimises disruption to guests of their hotel."

Among his other concerns is the additional traffic generated given the existing poor local road infrastructure.

In August, management at Dromoland Castle hotel said plans for a €30 million expansion were to be put on ice after the Aer Lingus announcement to axe its Shannon to Heathrow service.

Doonbeg Golf Course has also called a halt to a planned €35 million expansion.