A proposal to build a 35-bedroom hotel overlooking Ventry Harbour on the Dingle Peninsula has been turned down by An Bord Pleanála, after objectors appealed the decision by Kerry County Council to grant it permission with conditions.
It is the second time in recent weeks a hotel in a rural area alongside a major tourist route in Kerry has been refused permission by the appeals board.
The board ruled the hotel, bar and function room on a site adjacent to the Slea Head scenic route, would interfere with views of special amenity value which it was necessary to preserve. It also said it was not satisfied the site could be drained properly and the development would therefore be prejudicial to public health.
In a third reason for refusing permission, the appeals board said the hotel and bar in a prominent location would injure the scenic amenities of the area.
Appeals board inspector John O'Donnell noted that evidence had been provided of the economic difficulty in maintaining hotel accommodation in the area. Dún an Óir hotel at Baile an Fheirtéaraigh had converted to apartments and the short season was undoubtedly a contributing factor in the difficulty in maintaining a hotel, he said.
"While the proposed development may provide a more convenient location for local functions (possibly diverting custom from other establishments), the contribution of the proposed development to the development of tourism, including the extension of the season, is not demonstrated," Mr O'Donnell said in his report.
Initially, there were some 30 letters of objection to the planning authority in Kerry. They concentrated on a large number of issues, including scale, proximity to the blue-flag beach of Fionn Trá, impact on the Irish language and oversupply of hotels and accommodation in Kerry.
Mr O'Donnell said the issue of "light pollution", particularly from floodlighting, was of concern. It would be difficult to mitigate the impact of external lighting to the access road and car parks in the absence of skilful screening by planting, which in any case is unlikely to be effective in the initial years, he said.
Agents for the developers, Michael and Nóirín O'Connell c/o Declan Noonan of Upper Main Street, Dingle, argued there was no hotel in the area for 13 km (eight miles).
Last week, An Bord Pleanála also turned down an appeal to build a hotel on the Ring of Kerry Golf Course at Templenoe, near Kenmare.
Again, the need to protect the general rural character was given as a reason for the refusal. In that case too, objectors had noted the over-development of tourism accommodation in the area.