Clare County Council's decision to review its County Development Plan offers the opportunity to redress the damage done to the county's image by its ban on "non-locals" building in parts of Clare, according to former Labour TD Dr Moosajee Bhamjee.
Dr Bhamjee said the "non-locals" ban, which had been criticised by councillors, should be deleted from the plan, which was passed by council members in December. "In its place should be a policy based solely on land use and planning issues. Questions in relation to the background of the applicant are intrusive and not relevant and bring the plan into disrepute," he said.
Following Monday's review decision, a council subcommittee is to meet. This will be followed by a series of area council meetings, with a report due to go back to the council.
A local authority spokesman said it was unlikely the report would be ready for the council's June meeting. If any changes are made, the plan will be on public display for a statutory three months. The "non-locals" policy, which applies to large swathes of the county designated under high or medium development pressure, has resulted in a large increase in the number of planning applications refused, which has angered council members.
In the first three months of this year, the refusal rate more than quadrupled on the corresponding period in 1999, with the council refusing 18 per cent of planning applications.
After listening to councillors express their dissatisfaction with the plan at Monday's meeting, county manager Mr Willie Moloney said: "It is obvious members are not happy with the plan. If that is the feeling, let's change it." PD councillor Mary Mannion said yesterday the policy was making it very difficult for people to come back to live in Clare. "The planners have placed a very narrow interpretation on the word `local'. In most instances, it seems you are only considered local if you are from the townland in question," she said.
"In no way do I favour ribbon development and we have a duty to protect the environment, but we do need to be more flexible."
The council is already facing a number of challenges from people who have appealed decisions to An Bord Pleanala, though the bord's first decision is not expected until July.
