The great stalactite in the Pol-an-Ionain cave near Doolin, Co Clare, reputed to be the largest free-hanging stalactite in the world. Photograph: Steve Wray
Plans to develop Pol-an-Ionain cave - which according to the Guinness Book of Records contains the largest free-hanging stalactite in the world - as a tourist attraction was yesterday given the go-ahead by Clare County Council.
The applicants, John and Helen Browne, of Roadford, Doolin, were also granted planning permission by the council to develop a visitor centre with interpretative facilities, a shop, restaurant, sewage-treatment plant and space for 70 cars on a six-acre site at Craggydorryan West, Doolin, subject to 66 conditions.
The council made its ruling although it had been advised by independent consultants it had hired that the applicants had failed to identify fully and assess the impact of the proposal on the renowned seven-metre stalactite.
Planning and geotechnical consultants Mr John Barnett and Associates Ltd stated: "Our review of the latest batch of additional information provided by the applicants is that it is more notable for the issues it fails to address and the additional concerns it raises in respect of the proposed development."
The consultants also said the applicants had yet to address the matter of how vulnerable the stalactite was to detachment from the roof, given its geometric and geotechnical properties and those of the overlying rock mass.
The council earlier disregarded a recommendation from the consultants that an environmental Impact assessment (EIA) be carried out by the applicants into the plan.
The move by the council to grant planning permission for the development was severely criticised yesterday by An Taisce and the Pol-an-Ionain Action Group. Both groups have said they will appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala.
A spokesman for An Taisce said: "To permit the proposal to proceed without identifying and assessing fully and professionally all the potential impacts, which An Taisce has asserted are likely to be highly negative, is irresponsible."
Mr Dermot McKinney, spokesman for the Pol-an-Ionain Action Group, said it was saddened and shocked that the council had granted permission for the development.
He said: "It is striking that the outside consultants commissioned by the council strongly recommended to the council that permission be refused.
"It all leads us to believe that the great stalactite is now in serious danger as is this cave environment in general."
He added: "It is hard to imagine that the council even had enough quality technical information supplied by the applicants in order to make this decision."
First discovered by a caver in 1952, the stalactite is 150 feet underground.
Currently, the cave is relatively inaccessible to the public. The stalactite can be seen only by potholers and cavers.
Planning permission was first granted by the council to the Brownes in 1991 and subsequently upheld at An Bord Pleanala on appeal in 1992.
However, permission for the development lapsed after five years when the Brownes became embroiled in a High Court dispute with a local farmer in relation to lands near the cave.
